Modular Camera with AI Photo Analysis for Wastewater Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wastewater monitoring systems for detecting storm water leaks into sewage pipes are expensive and complex, making them inaccessible to small municipalities that need a simple and inexpensive solution for long-term monitoring.
Innovation Solution
A modular camera system comprising a battery module, camera module, and lens module that can be connected to form a waterproof unit, equipped with AI photo analysis for real-time categorization of images and activation of external devices, allowing for autonomous detection and response to alarm conditions without constant remote connection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a constant connection to a remote computer system is used for monitoring, then the system can transmit data and receive commands, but the system becomes more complex and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The camera system performs self-service by autonomously analyzing photos using integrated AI photo analysis tools and automatically detecting alarm conditions without requiring constant remote connection. The system can independently categorize photos, detect alarms, and activate external devices, eliminating the need for continuous external system dependency while maintaining reliable monitoring functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the core monitoring and analysis functions from the remote computer system and integrates them directly into the camera unit. The camera module includes built-in AI photo analysis tools, processors, and memory that enable independent operation, separating the essential monitoring capabilities from the complex remote infrastructure
2Reliability
If multiple cameras and remote computing systems are deployed for monitoring, then comprehensive monitoring coverage is achieved, but the cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The camera system is designed as a multi-functional universal unit that combines photography, AI photo analysis, alarm detection, and external device activation in a single integrated module. This universal design eliminates the need for separate remote computing systems and multiple specialized devices, reducing overall system cost while maintaining comprehensive monitoring capabilities
Solution Approach 2:
By enabling the camera to autonomously perform photo analysis and alarm detection without requiring expensive remote computing infrastructure, the system achieves reliable monitoring coverage at a significantly reduced cost, making it accessible to small municipalities
3Productivity
If AI photo analysis is performed in near real-time within the camera, then alarm conditions can be detected immediately, but the processing requirements and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The camera system segments processing tasks by using a dedicated processor and AI photo analysis tools that are specifically designed for image analysis. This segmentation allows near real-time photo categorization and alarm detection to be performed efficiently within the camera module without overwhelming the entire system, managing complexity through functional division
Data Source
AI summary
A modular camera includes a battery module, a camera module, and a lens module that can be connected together to make a water-tight camera suitable for monitoring wastewater in wet environments. The camera module includes multiple different external device interfaces that allow the camera to be directly connected to external power, a number of different analog and/or digital sensors, an auxiliary camera, and one or more control outputs. The camera module includes an artificial intelligence (AI) photo analysis tool that analyzes photographs taken by the camera based on an AI model to automatically categorize each photo in near real-time, thereby allowing the camera itself to detect alarm conditions based on an assigned category for a photo, to take action in response to the alarm, and optionally to activate one or more external devices in response to the alarm.