Avian Detection Systems and Methods
First Claim
1. A detection system for detecting a flying object in an airspace comprising:
- a first imager having a wide field of view for detecting a moving object;
a second imager having a high zoom;
a positioner operably connected to the second imager for positioning the second imager to image the moving object detected by the first imager;
a processor operably connected to receive image data from the first imager, the second imager, or both to identify a moving object that is an artificially-constructed object or a flying avian based on said image data;
wherein the detection system provides substantially complete hemispherical coverage of said airspace surrounding the detection system.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Provided herein are detection systems and related for detecting moving objects in an airspace surrounding the detection system. In an aspect, the moving object is a flying animal and the detection system comprises a first imager and a second imager that determines position of the moving object and for moving objects within a user selected distance from the system the system determines whether the moving object is a flying animal, such as a bird or bat. The systems and methods are compatible with wind turbines to identify avian(s) of interest in airspace around wind turbines and, if necessary, take action to minimize avian strike by a wind turbine blade.
20 Citations
99 Claims
-
1. A detection system for detecting a flying object in an airspace comprising:
-
a first imager having a wide field of view for detecting a moving object; a second imager having a high zoom; a positioner operably connected to the second imager for positioning the second imager to image the moving object detected by the first imager; a processor operably connected to receive image data from the first imager, the second imager, or both to identify a moving object that is an artificially-constructed object or a flying avian based on said image data; wherein the detection system provides substantially complete hemispherical coverage of said airspace surrounding the detection system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 4, 7, 8, 10, 12, 14, 24, 30, 33, 34, 35, 40, 43, 45, 46, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 98)
-
-
3. (canceled)
-
5. (canceled)
-
6. (canceled)
-
9. (canceled)
-
11. (canceled)
-
13. (canceled)
-
15-23. -23. (canceled)
-
25-29. -29. (canceled)
-
31. (canceled)
-
32. (canceled)
-
36-39. -39. (canceled)
-
41. (canceled)
-
42. (canceled)
-
44. (canceled)
-
47-52. -52. (canceled)
-
58. A detection system for detecting a flying object in an airspace comprising:
-
a first imager having a wide field of view for detecting a moving object; a stereo imager comprising a pair of second imagers each independently having a high zoom; a positioner operably connected to the stereo imager for positioning said stereo imager to image said moving object detected by the first imager; and a processor operably connected to receive image data from said first imager, said stereo imager, or both and to determine a position and trajectory of said moving object, thereby identifying a moving object that is a flying avian or an artificially-constructed object based on image data from the first imager, the second imager, or both the first and second imager. - View Dependent Claims (59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 65, 99)
-
-
64. (canceled)
-
66. (canceled)
-
67. (canceled)
-
68. A method of detecting a flying object in an airspace, the method comprising the steps of:
-
imaging the airspace surrounding an imaging system; obtaining one or more threshold identification attributes for an output of a subset of pixels from the imaging step; analyzing the one or more threshold identification attributes to identify a moving object of interest; obtaining one or more identification parameters for the moving object of interest; comparing the one or more identification parameters to a corresponding one or more reference identification parameters to identify the moving object of interest as an avian or an artificially-constructed object; and wherein the method detects the moving object of interest within the airspace having a volume equivalent to an average-equivalent hemisphere with an average radius selected from a range that is greater than or equal to 0.5 km and less than or equal to 1.2 km. - View Dependent Claims (69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 78, 79, 83, 85, 86, 91, 92)
-
-
77. (canceled)
-
80-82. -82. (canceled)
-
84. (canceled)
-
87-90. -90. (canceled)
-
93. (canceled)
-
94. A detection system for detecting a flying object in an airspace surrounding a wind turbine comprising:
-
a plurality of imaging systems, each imaging system comprising; a first imager having a wide field of view for detecting a moving object; a second imager having a high zoom, wherein the first and second imagers determine a position and a trajectory of a flying object in the airspace; a positioner operably connected to the second imager for positioning the second imager to image the moving object detected by the first imager; a processor operably connected to receive image data from any of the first imager, second imager, or both, and to identify a moving object that is a flying avian or an artificially-constructed object based on said image data; wherein the plurality of imaging systems are positioned relative to each other to provide substantially complete hemispherical coverage of said airspace surrounding the wind turbine; and a controller that receives output from the processor, the controller operably connected to the wind turbine for decreasing or stopping wind turbine blades for a flying object identified as at risk of otherwise striking a moving blade of the wind turbine.
-
-
95-97. -97. (canceled)
Specification