UAV Parking Enforcement via Image Comparison
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing parking management systems require substantial upfront capital investment for upgrades to automation, preventing many operators from implementing full automation, and lack integration with existing payment systems, limiting revenue opportunities and efficiencies.
Innovation Solution
A fully automated and autonomous parking management system using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to track vehicles and enforce parking regulations, integrating with existing payment systems by receiving images from cameras to identify vehicles, determine their usage of parking spaces, and enforce rules without the need for extensive sensor installations or hardware changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If legacy parking management systems are upgraded to full automation, then automation extent is improved, but capital investment cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses image copying and processing techniques where multiple images of vehicles are captured and analyzed to determine parking violations. Instead of installing complex sensor systems, the system creates digital copies of visual data from existing cameras and processes these images to identify moving versus stationary vehicles, enabling automated enforcement without substantial hardware investment
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical sensor-based detection systems with optical image-based detection. By using camera images and image processing algorithms to identify vehicle movement and parking violations, the system substitutes complex mechanical sensing infrastructure with simpler visual detection methods, reducing capital investment while achieving full automation
2Adaptability or versatility
If existing parking payment systems are integrated with new enforcement systems, then adaptability is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a multi-functional system that can work with various existing parking payment systems and enforcement methods. The image processing platform is designed to be universally applicable across different parking facilities and can integrate with multiple payment system providers, allowing the system to adapt to different existing infrastructures without requiring complex custom integrations for each case
3Measurement precision
If proximity sensors are used to identify vehicle presence, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and installation cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using proximity sensors that require physical installation near parking spaces, the patent uses digital copying of visual information from remotely positioned cameras. The system captures images and processes them to determine vehicle presence and movement, creating a sensor-free approach that maintains detection precision while eliminating complex sensor installation requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces image processing as an intermediary between vehicle detection and enforcement action. Rather than directly using sensor data from proximity sensors, the system uses image analysis as a mediating process to identify vehicle characteristics and movement, simplifying the detection infrastructure while maintaining measurement precision through visual analysis
Data Source
AI summary
Tracking an object using an unmanned aerial vehicle is disclosed. A plurality of images showing the object is received from a camera of the unmanned aerial vehicle. A first static characteristic, a second static characteristic, a first dynamic characteristic, and a second dynamic characteristic of the object are determined. The second static characteristic is compared to the first static characteristic, and the second dynamic characteristic is compared to the first dynamic characteristic. It is determined that the second static characteristic is approximately equal to the first static characteristic, and that the second dynamic characteristic is approximately equal to the first dynamic characteristic. Finally, it is determined that the object is moving.