Stop Violation Detection Using TOF Laser Light Shields
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for detecting school bus stop-arm violations require labor-intensive and costly manual review of extensive video recordings, as they rely on human observation to identify violations from video cameras mounted on buses.
Innovation Solution
A stop violation detection system utilizing time-of-flight (TOF) laser sensors and image capture devices to automatically detect and record breaches of an invisible light shield, reducing false positives by creating customizable zones and triggering image capture only when specific criteria are met, thereby reducing unnecessary recording.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If video cameras are mounted on buses to detect stop-arm violations, then violation detection capability is improved, but the amount of video requiring manual review increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by establishing invisible light shields and customizable zones before violations occur. TOF laser sensors continuously monitor these pre-defined zones, so when a vehicle enters or breaches the zone, the violation is immediately detected and recorded without requiring subsequent manual review of all video footage. This preliminary setup enables automatic filtering of relevant events from irrelevant footage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/manual system of human reviewers watching video footage with an automated optical detection system. TOF laser sensors create invisible light shields that automatically detect vehicle presence and breaches, substituting human observation with automated optical measurement and triggering image capture devices only when violations occur.
2Loss of information
If video sequences are recorded for each bus stop, then complete violation documentation is improved, but storage requirements and review workload increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts only the essential information needed for violation detection by using TOF laser sensors to monitor specific customizable zones. Instead of recording all video sequences, the system extracts and records only those moments when vehicles enter or breach the defined zones, separating relevant violation data from irrelevant footage and significantly reducing data volume while maintaining documentation completeness.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies partial action by recording only the specific portions of time and space where violations can occur (within the customizable zones), rather than continuously recording all bus stops. Image capture devices are triggered only when vehicles enter or breach the zones, capturing partial but sufficient evidence for violation determination without excessive recording.
3Measurement precision
If manual review of video sequences is used to identify violations, then detection accuracy is improved, but labor costs and processing time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-service by automatically detecting, recording, and flagging potential violations without human intervention. TOF laser sensors continuously monitor the customizable zones and automatically trigger image capture devices when violations occur, enabling the system to serve itself in identifying and documenting violations, thereby eliminating the need for labor-intensive manual review while maintaining detection accuracy.
4Reliability
If invisible light shields with customizable zones are created using TOF laser sensors, then false positives are reduced, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system reduces false positives by enabling parameter changes in the form of customizable zones with adjustable parameters such as zone boundaries, height thresholds, and detection sensitivity. TOF laser sensors can be configured with specific parameters to define the invisible light shields, allowing the system to adapt to different bus types, road conditions, and violation scenarios, thereby improving detection accuracy while managing complexity through flexible configuration.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Automatically detects and records stop-arm violations with reduced false positives and unnecessary recording, significantly decreasing the time required for review and enabling more efficient enforcement of motor vehicle laws.
Implementation Method 1
utilizes a time-of-flight (TOF) laser sensor/scanner 110 to create an invisible light shield 140
Implementation Method 2
one or more time-of-flight (TOF) laser sensors/scanners 110
Data Source
AI summary
A stop violation detection system and method includes at least one sensor mounted to establish a light shield adjacent a first vehicle, at least one image capture device mounted to record at least one image adjacent the first vehicle, and a control unit operatively coupled with the at least one sensor and the at least one image capture device to detect breach of the light shield by a second vehicle and record the breach of the light shield by the second vehicle with the at least one image capture device.