Vehicle Occupant Counting via Timestamped Image Selection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for determining the number of persons in a vehicle lack efficiency and accuracy, especially in rapidly moving vehicles, due to limitations in image capture and analysis technology.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method using a camera to record images chronologically, combined with a sensor to detect vehicle arrival and velocity, allowing for the selection of images around the arrival time for analysis by artificial intelligence to determine the number of persons, with optimized lighting and high recording rates to minimize blinding effects and ensure sharp images.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If images are recorded continuously at high speed to capture moving vehicles, then image capture accuracy improves, but data storage requirements and processing complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-records images in the recording area before the vehicle arrives and stores them with time stamps. When a vehicle is detected approaching, the system has already captured the necessary images and can quickly retrieve them without needing to process continuous video streams in real-time, thus maintaining high capture accuracy while reducing processing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system extracts only the relevant images from the continuous recording stream that correspond to the vehicle's position in the recording area. By using time stamps and vehicle position data, the system isolates and processes only the necessary frames, reducing data processing complexity while maintaining measurement precision.
2Measurement precision
If a light source is used to illuminate the recording area, then image quality improves, but driver blinding and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The light source operates periodically rather than continuously, activating only during the brief moment when images are being recorded in the recoding area. This pulsed illumination provides sufficient light for high-quality images while minimizing exposure time to prevent driver blinding and reduce energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The illumination occurs in very short bursts synchronized with the rapid image capture process. The light source flashes briefly during the exposure moment and remains off otherwise, rushing through the illumination task quickly to achieve image quality without prolonged exposure that would blind the driver.
3Productivity
If the vehicle moves at high speed through the recording area, then productivity improves, but image sharpness and person detection accuracy deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The camera system operates continuously to record images throughout the vehicle's passage through the recording area, capturing multiple frames. This continuous recording ensures that at least one sharp image is captured even when the vehicle is moving at high speed, maintaining person detection accuracy while allowing high vehicle throughput.
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-positions the camera to capture images at the optimal moment when the vehicle is within the recording area. By having the recording ready in advance and synchronized with vehicle arrival, the system can capture sharp images of persons in the vehicle without needing to slow down the vehicle, thus maintaining both high speed processing and detection accuracy.
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
This method provides accurate and rapid determination of the number of persons in a vehicle, even at high speeds, with reduced power consumption and minimal disruption to the driver, using multiple images for redundancy and improved image quality.
Implementation Method 1
Multiple images of a recording area are recorded in chronological succession with the aid of a camera
Implementation Method 2
The arrival point in time of the travelling vehicle in the recording area is determined with the aid of a sensor. The velocity can be determined, for example, with the aid of a laser signal.
Implementation Method 3
The recording area is illuminated by a light source at the recording points in time at which the camera records the images
Data Source
AI summary
Certain aspects relate to a device and a method for determining a number of persons in a travelling vehicle, wherein multiple images of a recording area are taken in chronological succession by a camera and the images are stored in a data memory, wherein an arrival point in time of the travelling vehicle in the recording area is determined, wherein at least one image, which was recorded in a time range around the arrival point in time, is selected from the data memory on the basis of the arrival point in time, wherein the number of persons in the vehicle is determined on the basis of the at least one selected image.