Vehicle Identification via Machine-Readable Optical Markers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle identification systems face limitations such as imprecision, high costs, and safety hazards due to reliance on wireless beacons, drones, RFID, and computer vision, which struggle with distance, motion, lighting, and obfuscation issues.
Innovation Solution
Implementing machine-readable optical markers, such as two-dimensional barcodes, on vehicle surfaces that encode identifiers like VINs or license plate numbers, which can be detected from various angles and are error-corrected, using non-visible spectrum materials for enhanced security and readability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If wireless beacons, drones, RFID, or computer vision are used for vehicle identification, then vehicle identification can be achieved, but the systems suffer from imprecision, high costs, safety hazards, and struggle with distance, motion, lighting, and obfuscation issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the identification function from complex active systems (wireless beacons, RFID transponders, drones) and places passive machine-readable optical markers directly on the vehicle. This removes the need for active transmission devices and complex tracking systems, reducing device complexity while maintaining identification accuracy through standardized optical marker recognition.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses machine-readable optical markers that encode vehicle identification information in a standardized format. Instead of relying on complex wireless communication protocols or active sensing systems, the system creates a visual copy of identification data that can be read from multiple angles and conditions, improving measurement precision while reducing system complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If machine-readable optical markers are used on vehicle surfaces, then accurate identification from multiple angles is enabled, but the markers may be damaged or obscured
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates error correction codes into the machine-readable optical markers during the marking process. This preliminary encoding of redundancy information allows the marker to withstand damage or obscuration while maintaining reliable identification, as the error correction capability enables successful reading even when parts of the marker are compromised.
Solution Approach 2:
The error correction codes act as a protective buffer against potential damage or obscuration of the marker. By building in this protective capability beforehand, the system ensures that the marker maintains its reliability and adaptability to various reading angles even when subjected to harsh conditions, scratches, or partial obscuration.
3Reliability
If non-visible spectrum materials are used for markers, then enhanced security and readability are achieved, but detection requires specialized equipment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses non-visible spectrum materials (such as infrared or ultraviolet reactive materials) for the machine-readable optical markers. This changes the optical parameters of the marker to enhance security by making it invisible to the naked eye and readable only under specific lighting conditions or with specialized detectors, thereby improving reliability while accepting the need for specialized detection equipment.
Data Source
AI summary
Various aspects generally relate to identifying a vehicle based on a machine-readable optical marker. In some implementations, a server device may receive one or more images of an object and metadata related thereto. In some implementations, based upon the one or more images, an image processing engine may identify at least one non-visible spectrum marker on a surface of the object (e.g., a machine-readable optical marker that encodes information associated with the object). The server device may determine that the object depicted in the one or more images corresponds to a particular vehicle based on the information encoded by the machine-readable optical marker corresponding to an identifier associated with the particular vehicle. Accordingly, the server device may associate information identifying the particular vehicle with information identifying a location based on the metadata related to the one or more images to permit subsequent determination of the location of the particular vehicle.