Automated rip current detection system
First Claim
1. A system for detecting rip tides in the vicinity of a seashore by identifying a number of telltale traits, wherein rip tides strike the shore directly and bounce back sharply as opposed to normal waves which hit the shore obliquely and dissipate their energy before bouncing back, and wherein rip tide waters have different color characteristics than normal seashore waves, and have a different surface texture than normal seashore waves;
- said system comprising;
at least one image recorder providing video images;
a computer analyzing said images to detect the presence of rip tides, said analysis involving image pre-filtering enhancing the telltale signs of typical rip tides, and converting said images into digital data processed for classification as NORMAL or RIP TIDE.
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Abstract
A system substitutes digitized images for human vision, in determining the presence or absence of rip tides among sea water wave patterns at a public swimming beach. Computer analysis of these images involves image pre-filtering that enhances the telltale signs of rip tides, before the digital data is processed for classification as NORMAL or RIP TIDE. The classification itself can proceed along by expert systems which mimic the manner in which a human observer performs the detection; or by building a neural network, that determines its own classification criteria for identifying rip tides.
42 Citations
45 Claims
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1. A system for detecting rip tides in the vicinity of a seashore by identifying a number of telltale traits, wherein rip tides strike the shore directly and bounce back sharply as opposed to normal waves which hit the shore obliquely and dissipate their energy before bouncing back, and wherein rip tide waters have different color characteristics than normal seashore waves, and have a different surface texture than normal seashore waves;
- said system comprising;
at least one image recorder providing video images;
a computer analyzing said images to detect the presence of rip tides, said analysis involving image pre-filtering enhancing the telltale signs of typical rip tides, and converting said images into digital data processed for classification as NORMAL or RIP TIDE. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
- said system comprising;
Specification