Automated Optical Imaging for Bird and Bat Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wind farm mitigation methods cannot specifically identify birds or bats, leading to unnecessary curtailment of wind turbines, resulting in energy loss and high capital costs.
Innovation Solution
An automated optical imaging system with sensors and controllers that identify protected species like Golden Eagles or Bald Eagles at a safe distance, allowing targeted curtailment or deployment of deterrents to mitigate risk.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing mitigation methods are used to detect birds or bats, then risk mitigation is achieved, but operation of wind turbines is curtailed more often than necessary, resulting in loss of energy and revenue
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces existing non-specific detection methods with automated optical imaging technology that uses cameras and image processing algorithms to specifically identify protected bird and bat species. This substitution enables accurate species identification from images, allowing curtailment to occur only when protected species are detected, thereby reducing unnecessary energy loss while maintaining reliable risk mitigation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary system consisting of optical imaging sensors, image processing algorithms, and species identification software between the detection process and the curtailment decision. This intermediary enables specific identification of protected species before triggering curtailment, resolving the contradiction by ensuring curtailment occurs only when necessary while maintaining effective risk mitigation.
2Reliability
If existing mitigation methods are used, then risk to protected species is addressed, but capital cost is high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex and expensive existing mitigation systems with automated optical imaging technology comprising cameras, image processing units, and species identification algorithms. This substitution achieves effective risk mitigation at lower capital cost by using readily available optical imaging components and automated processing rather than more complex or expensive detection systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements self-service through automated image capture, processing, and species identification without requiring continuous human monitoring or intervention. The system automatically analyzes images, identifies protected species, and triggers curtailment decisions, reducing operational complexity and capital cost compared to systems requiring human operators while maintaining effective risk mitigation.
3Measurement precision
If automated optical imaging technology is implemented, then species identification accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the optical imaging system into distinct functional components: image capture devices (cameras), image processing units, species identification algorithms, and control systems. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently for its specific function, achieving high species identification accuracy while managing overall system complexity through modular architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs universal image processing algorithms and species identification software that can analyze images from multiple camera types and identify various protected species using the same technical approach. This multi-functionality achieves high identification accuracy across different species and imaging conditions without proportionally increasing device complexity, as the same core technology serves multiple identification purposes.
Data Source
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AI summary
An automated system for mitigating risk from a wind farm. The automated system may include an array of a plurality of image capturing devices independently mounted in a wind farm. The array may include a plurality of low resolution cameras and at least one high resolution camera. The plurality of low resolution cameras may be interconnected and may detect a spherical field surrounding the wind farm. A server is in communication with the array of image capturing devices. The server may automatically analyze images to classify an airborne object captured by the array of image capturing devices in response to receiving the images.