PASSIVE SINGLE CAMERA IMAGING SYSTEM FOR DETERMINING MOTOR VEHICLE SPEED

• US 20100111365A1
• Filed: 11/07/2007
• Published: 05/06/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: University of Florida Research Foundation, Incorporated (State University System of Florida)
• Original Assignee: University of Florida Research Foundation, Incorporated (State University System of Florida)
• Inventors: Gupta, Sumit, Dixon, Warren E., Gans, Nicholas R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,401,240 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/105
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 11/12 using electromagnetic waves other than radio waves
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/246 using feature-based methods, e.g. the tracking of corners or segments
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/052 with provision for determining speed or overspeed speed measuring in general G01P
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/16 Anti-collision systems road vehicle drive control systems for predicting or avoiding probable or impending collision otherwise than by control of a particular sub-unit B60W30/08

Abstract

A system for passively determining a speed of moving vehicles includes a single imaging device (103) for acquiring a plurality of images at a first time and at least at one second later time, wherein each image includes a moving vehicle (406) on a vehicle pathway (402) and at least one fixed object (404) proximate to the vehicle, defining a first plane (π₁) intersecting an adjacent portion of the vehicle pathway (402), wherein no geometric lengths of the vehicle (406) are known a priori. The system can also include a processor (121) operable to receive data associated with the images and determine a speed of the vehicle (406) in the images, wherein the processor (121) estimates at least one geometric length of the vehicle (406) by applying homography using the plurality of images, and where the processor (121) determines a speed of the vehicle (406) from the plurality of images and the estimated geometric length using a velocity estimation method.

Claims

1. A system for passively determining a speed of moving vehicles, comprising:

a single imaging device for acquiring a plurality of images at a first time and at least at one second later time, wherein each of said images includes a moving vehicle on a vehicle pathway and at least one fixed object proximate to said moving vehicle defining a first plane which intersects an adjacent portion of said vehicle pathway, wherein no geometric length of said vehicle is known a priori; and

a processor operable to receive data associated with said plurality of images and determine a speed of said moving vehicle in said images, wherein said processor estimates at least one geometric length of said vehicle based on applying homography using said plurality of images of said vehicle at said first and said at least one second later time, and wherein said processor determines a speed of said moving vehicle from said plurality of images and said estimated geometric length using a velocity estimation method.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said processor is remotely located from said imaging device.

3. The system of claim 2, further comprising a removable memory element for storing said images acquired by said imaging device, and wherein said processor is operable to retrieve said images from said removable memory element.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein said imaging device is communicatively coupled to said processor, wherein said system includes a transceiver operable to transmit said data associated with said plurality of images from said imaging device to said processor.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said imaging device is an infrared imaging device.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a second imaging device for recording license plate information associated with said vehicle.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said homography is based on a geometric length of said fixed object.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein said geometric length of said fixed object is determined by homography using a plurality of images acquired using said camera from a plurality of different positions.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein said homography is based on a geometric length of said fixed object.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said geometric length of said fixed object is determined by homography using a plurality of images acquired using said camera from a plurality of different positions.

9. A method for passively determining a speed of moving vehicles, comprising:

acquiring a plurality of images at a first time and at least at one second later time using a single imaging device, wherein each of said images includes a moving vehicle on a vehicle pathway and at least one fixed object proximate to said moving vehicle defining a first plane which intersects an adjacent portion of said vehicle pathway, wherein no geometric length of said vehicle is known a priori;

estimating at least one geometric length of said vehicle based on applying homography using said plurality of images of said vehicle at said first and said at least one second later time; and

determining a speed of said moving vehicle from said plurality of images and said geometric length using a velocity estimation method.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein a location of said imaging device is different from a location for processing said images.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said acquiring step further comprises storing said images in a removable memory element at said location of said imaging device, the method further comprising:

prior to said estimating step, moving said memory element to said processing location and retrieving said images from said memory element.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

prior to said estimating step, transmitting said images to said processing location using at least one among a wireless and a wireline transmission.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein said imaging device comprises an infrared imaging device.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

recording license plate information associated with said vehicle.