Video speed detection system

• US 8,600,116 B2
• Filed: 05/22/2012
• Issued: 12/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: American Traffic Solutions Incorporated (Verra Mobility Corp.)
• Original Assignee: American Traffic Solutions Incorporated (Verra Mobility Corp.)
• Inventors: Wang, Jigang
• Primary Examiner(s): AZARIAN, SEYED H
• Application Number:
  US13/477,951
• Publication Number:
  US 20120229627A1
• Time in Patent Office: 560 Days
• Field of Search: 382/100, 382103-107, 382/155, 382/168, 382/173, 382/181, 382/193, 382/199, 382/203, 382/209, 382/232, 382/254, 382/260, 382/274, 382/276, 382286-291, 382/305, 382/312, 382/321, 1/1, 340/933, 340/937, 340/936, 701/32.4
• US Class Current: 382/107
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/20 Analysis of motion motion estimation for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals H04N19/43, H04N19/51
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/054 photographing overspeeding vehicles

Abstract

Multiple-object speed tracking apparatuses are disclosed, including a camera configured to capture a set of images of a monitored area (e.g., a roadway). The camera'"'"'s longitudinal axis may be positioned at any viewing angle relative to a longitudinal axis of a roadway such that at least two moving objects moving on the roadway are included in a set of high or low resolution images. A computer system is configured to analyze the set of images to detect the two moving objects and substantially simultaneously determine a calculated rate of speed of at least one of the two moving objects. The computer system also provides an on-site speed calibration process for transforming locations of an image among the set of images into real-world coordinates by considering both perspective and scale of the image. An apparatus mount for at least one of either the camera or the computer system is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A multiple-object speed tracking apparatus comprising:

a camera configured to capture a set of images of a monitored area, wherein a longitudinal axis of the camera may be positioned at any viewing angle in relation to a longitudinal axis of a roadway as long the viewing angle allows images of at least two moving objects moving simultaneously within the monitored area to be included in one of either a set of low resolution images or a set of high resolution images;

a computer system configured to analyze the set of images to detect the at least two moving objects and substantially simultaneously determine a calculated rate of speed of at least one of the two moving objects, wherein the computer system provides an on-site speed calibration process configured to transform locations in an image from the set of images into real-world coordinates by considering, in a single step, both perspective and scale of the image, wherein the computer system includes a homographic calibration process of determining the calculated rate of speed that includes a linear fit comparison of a set of elements related to a distance traveled to an observed time to travel the distance; and

an apparatus mount upon which at least one of either the camera or the computer system is positioned, wherein the apparatus mount is one of either a fixed mount or a mobile mount.

2. The multiple-object speed tracking apparatus of claim 1:

wherein the computer system is further configured to compare the calculated rate of speed to a predetermined speed value, and

wherein the computer system includes a process to ensure better accuracy of the calculated rate of speed by not indicating an object has exceeded the predetermined speed value until determining that a value of a residue of the liner fit does not exceed a preset maximum value of the residue of the linear fit.

3. The multiple-object speed tracking apparatus of claim 2 wherein a set of incident data is generated when the calculated rate of speed exceeds the predetermined speed value.