Weatherproof Camera-Logger System for Harsh Environment Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Environmental scientists face challenges with poor camera and logger performance, limited data acquisition capabilities, high power consumption, and limited communication options in rugged and remote environments, as well as time-consuming image analysis processes.
Innovation Solution
A digital imaging and analysis system comprising a weatherproof camera-logger system with customizable sensors that can acquire imagery in multiple color spaces, programmable for repeat imaging, and integrated with a data logger for efficient data storage and analysis, allowing for customizable visualization and spectral analysis of regions of interest.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If off-the-shelf camera solutions are used, then initial deployment is simple, but ruggedness and reliability in harsh environments deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple components (digital camera, data logger, environmental sensors, power management, housing) into an integrated camera-logger system. This merging creates a unified ruggedized unit that maintains ease of deployment while achieving reliability in harsh environments through coordinated design of all components together rather than as separate off-the-shelf devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs multiple functions within a single integrated platform: digital imaging, environmental data logging, sensor monitoring, power management, and data storage. This multi-functionality allows the system to be deployed in harsh environments while maintaining simplicity, as one universal platform replaces multiple separate devices that would require individual deployment and integration.
2Ease of operation
If standard camera and logger systems are used, then initial setup is straightforward, but performance and data acquisition capabilities deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
By merging the camera and logger into a single synchronized system, the patent enables coordinated data acquisition where environmental sensors, camera, and data logger operate together. This integration maintains straightforward setup while dramatically improving productivity through simultaneous multi-parameter measurement and synchronized imagery capture that separate systems cannot achieve.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated system acts as an intermediary that coordinates between the camera, sensors, and data logger, synchronizing their operations. This mediator function enables the system to maintain ease of operation while achieving enhanced data acquisition capabilities through coordinated timing and data correlation that would be complex to implement with separate systems.
3Measurement precision
If repeat imaging is implemented, then spectral change analysis capability is improved, but power consumption and operational complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic repeat imaging at predetermined time intervals to capture spectral changes over time. This periodic action improves measurement precision for temporal spectral analysis while managing power consumption by using fixed, predetermined intervals rather than continuous imaging, allowing the system to balance analytical capability with energy constraints in remote deployments.
4Measurement precision
If custom software for image analysis is developed, then analysis accuracy is improved, but time consumption and complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-processing images during capture and organizing data in structured formats as imagery is acquired. This preliminary organization and preprocessing reduces the time required for subsequent custom software analysis while maintaining analysis accuracy, as the data is already prepared and structured for efficient processing rather than requiring extensive post-capture preparation.
Data Source
AI summary
A digital imaging and analysis system and method. The digital cameras and logger is encased by a weatherproof housing for easy deployment and maintenance of the camera and logger and protection from harsh conditions. The digital camera is associated with a memory to which imagery acquired by the digital camera is saved. The digital camera and logger can be customized and pre-programmed and the imagery subject to custom visualization. Sensors are electronically associated with the digital camera and are triggered to permit the digital camera to acquire the imagery and image the same image footprint in RGB, HSV, l*a*b* color spaces. Selectable regions of interest with respect to the imagery are saved in the memory.