Applications

Embedded LPR camera applications:

ANPR system is the main part in a wide range of intelligent transport and violation enforcement projects. Therefore, Karabin embedded ANPR is able to be the key for implementing a variety of projects, and the respected executants can safely focus on the rest parts of the project. Generally, the system can be used in the following projects:

Karabin as an instantaneous velocity violence recorder

By measuring the external setup parameters of the Karabin embedded ANPR camera including height and angle, and using machine vision methods, the physical position of the license plate can be obtained in 3-D space. Having the position of the license plates, differentiating location with respect of time gives us the vehicle’s velocity. In this way, one of the most important applications of the Karabin embedded camera is its usage as a speedometer camera. But to improve the performance of the system, in terms of efficiency and stability, we can add a radar or stereo module to the system, so we will have a hybrid system in which detecting and speed sensing for each vehicle is done through several technologies simultaneously. This naturally will improve performance and stability.

The Karabin processing engine is able to identify and can be as a speedometer for all the vehicles based on single-camera image processing. The Karabin camera is considered as a tool with an appropriate price for instantaneous speed violation enforcement. Although, the essence of single-camera image processing has specific issues which are originated from technological limitations and, scientifically, there is no way to overcome them, except by adding hardware or other modules to the entire system. That’s why using a module that can detect vehicles and calculate their speed regardless of single-camera and LPR operation will enhance the overall final performance of the system.

Radar Karabin

If we add a multi-target radar module to the Karabin, we’ll have an Embedded Radar Speedometer camera, which will measure the speed of passing vehicles through the Doppler phenomenon, and thus the developmental and physical factors in the environment, as well as the location and setup situation of the plate, success and accuracy of ANPR operation, and other factors that are due to the nature of the single-camera image processing and LPR will not affect the final performance of the system.

But, in practice the appropriate combination of radar and image processing technology improves the efficiency of radar Karabin to a level higher than each technology alone. For example, one of the issues of radar systems is that it is possible to use a detector or jammer to detect or interfere with the radar function. But when both technologies are combined in radar Karabin systems, if there is a problem with radar function by jammer, the image processing unit still continues to detect the speed of the offender, Traffic and violation recording are also done for it, and related pictures would be provided.

Karabin with stereo module

The use of the stereo module is also a solution for adding a subsystem to the comprehensive system which detects the location and speed of vehicles regardless of the performance of the Karabin camera alone. As a result, they kind of complete each other’s performance. Stereovision camera calculates 3-D XYZ coordinates for each point in the picture based on the parallax principle. Thus speed and 3-D location are computed for each moving object in the scene. Thus, by combining a stereo set with the Karabin camera, we can consider the Karabin responsible for reading and preparing the appropriate color images for day and night up to it. Therefore by having the speed and acknowledged location of this scene, higher efficiency and accuracy can be achieved. For example, Stereo Technology measures the 3D volume of each vehicle and it is the most precise way to classify cars, which obviously can be attained by merging two technologies in the final system.

The achievements of technology integration

The combination of Karabin embedded camera which can detect the speed and perform speedometer tasks, with a module based on other technologies, provides special advantages to the hybrid system. Let’s assume that we have two systems (first being a Karabin camera and the second being radar or stereovision), which each individually detects vehicles and calculates their speed. So it is impossible for both systems based on two discrete technologies, to have the same error for a case, and thus the stability and accuracy of the combined system of radar Karabin or stereo Karabin will be significantly higher.

Another advantage of merging two technologies would be the self-calibration process, which becomes more important due to the sensitivity of the single-camera image-processing operation, toward the camera’s installation angle, and the developmental and site physical conditions, type and installation state of the license plate.

Systems based on single-camera image processing needs to be recalibrated and reset in relatively short time intervals. But the process of recalibration takes place automatically in hybrid systems, thus human physical presence is needed less frequently. It both reduces the maintenance cost and also increases its stability and reliability of the system.

Emerging Embedded Karabin camera with another recognition system (Radar or stereovision) may lead to a system with high accuracy, stability, resolution and other special features, which is used for enforcing the instantaneous speed low in global level in practice. Therefore, single-camera Speedometer technology is mostly recommended for statistical considerations and traffic management applications. While hybrid systems such as radar Karabin or stereovision Karabin are recommended for law enforcement and punishment. But in the price competition, if the employer intends to take advantage of single-camera image processing systems, they almost sufficed to the instantaneous speed measurements with lower standards of accuracy and precision. Even in such cases, the Karabin presents one of the most advanced and complete single-camera speed-detection algorithms among other similar products. ¬By combining hardware design and software and processing algorithms into a single set that relies on the production experience of various violation detection and speedometer systems, we can mention low cost and high performance as two competitive advantages for the Karabin embedded camera compared to similar products at this level.

Red light violation detection

In order to use the Karabin embedded ANPR camera as a red light violation detection system, one or more camera (according to street width) must be installed before the pedestrian line and traffic light’s signal must enter to it through GPIO port. The user of specifies the stop line or pedestrian line. Then it automatically records the violation in case a vehicle passes the stop line.

The processing engine of the system is designed in a way that two images of the offending vehicle are provided. The first photograph is related to when the vehicle is starting to violate (passing the stop line or crossroads), and the second picture is when its violation has been established and it has entered the intersection. Functional margins are also defined for the Karabin camera so that if a car passes the line in the first few seconds of the red light, but immediately returns to the back of the line using reverse gear, no violation will be recorded for it. You can also set the system such that if the intersection is full of cars and the light becomes red, no violation is recorded for those that have already passed the line.

For red light violations, the following pictures are provided for each case in the system output:

1. ANPR infrared image at the beginning of the violation after crossing the first line
2. The color witness image at the beginning of the violation after crossing the first line
3. ANPR infrared image after violation confirmation
4. The color witness picture after violation confirmation
5. The cropped image of vehicles’ license plate

Time diagram of traffic light status and also the time of the violation occurrence are provided by the system. Time of the traffic light becoming red and it going back to green with the absolute and relative time of the violation occurrence are shown in the diagram.

Due to the capability of the Karabin camera image processing engine to detect and read the prospectively diagonal images, this system has no problems with recording vehicles turning to the sides and their plates are tilted and angled on the image. As a result, right and left turn over violations, direct passing as well as stopping on the pedestrian line, are recorded in this system.

Karabin embedded camera as a red light violation enforcement system, in addition to record the mentioned violence and stopping at the pedestrian line, also records the traffic on the intended route, along with the license plate and a color image for each case. This information is used to manage traffic and tracking, measuring the average speed of cars and also for security issues and law enforcement. Flash or continuous lighting can be used to provide night-time color photographs for automobiles depending on being visible or not.

Traffic zone violation enforcement

With the ANPR Karabin camera being installed on a camera pole, license plates of all the vehicles passing through the camera can be recorded all day long. By checking the database of authorized cars, it is possible to detect offending vehicles and record the corresponding violation. It is worth mentioning that we need to record a color photograph of vehicles for the issuance of driving fines, and the Karabin’s capability of recording suitable color photos at night and day will meet this need. Due to the high resolution of the cameras used in this system, fewer cameras are required to cover a wide street.

Karabin embedded camera needs the least calibrations and settings in order to traffic zone control, so the system can be installed and used within the shortest possible time. Obviously, this system is used to enforce traffic zone violations, in various ways and scheduling:

• The main traffic zone (vehicles are authenticated based on both traffic zone license and predefined list)
• Odd/even traffic zone (authenticated vehicles based on the last digit of the license plates)
• LEZ scheme (based on classification on vehicles’ emission)
• Traffic ID scheme (based on ID assigned to each license plate)

Bus lane control and especial lane entrance violations enforcement

Considering the high speed of processing and license plate recognition of the Karabin embedded system, rapid detection of vehicles and making decisions based on their license plate is provided in just a few milliseconds. In this way, by installing a Karabin camera on BRT and special lane, it is possible to detect and document vehicles illegally entering this route. The decision on vehicles to be allowed or not is made based on their license plates. This is done by defining some specific rules on the license plates so that vehicles with letters such as <<ع>> or <<پ>> would be allowable. Also, a list of about one million license plates can be defined for the system, including permitted vehicles (emergency vehicles, or other predefined vehicles per each route, etc.), for which the system does not record violations. All steps for recognizing and reading the license plate and comparing with the authorized list are done in a fraction of a second. In case of a violation being detected, the flash is activated via the corresponding port. Flashlight shines to punish the offender and also produce the perfect color photo.

Traffic recording

By installing Karabin embedded camera system in some points on the path all the license plates and images of the vehicles passing, can be extracted. Recording vehicle’s license plate and the exact time coming from GPS are valuable information which has great added value for road management.

Therefore traffic recording can be used in:

Calculating the average speed and speed violation enforcement based on the point-to-point method

Having installed the Karabin embedded ANPR camera at two points of the route, the average speed of the vehicle between these two points can be obtained through identification of the vehicle’s license plate at each point and transferring data to a central unit. This average speed, in turn, would be used as the criterion for recording the violation. As a result, an efficient and inexpensive violation enforcement system with the least need for power and network infrastructure is provided which controls the illegal speed at roads and reduces accidents and relevant offenses. Due to its modest power consumption and requiring low net bandwidth, it is possible to use solar energy and the mobile network.

Heavy vehicles traffic enforcement

Considering the constraints that are applied on the traffic in the streets and suburb paths, and the increasing importance of passing through the metropolitan ring roads as an air pollution control agent, the need for a system, recording the traffic for heavy vehicles with their respective images has become twofold. In this regard, the Karabin embedded ANPR camera provides the necessary data for illegal traffic, by recording license plates and taking an appropriate color image at day and night. In case of no license being found in the relevant database for the vehicle in question, fine can be issued by the color image documented.

In order to record traffic for heavy vehicles using the Karabin embedded ANPR camera and because of the need for color imaging in nights and the limitation of the flash mode, in this case, continuous pulsed lighting is used.

Road management through trip length calculation and traffic volume counting

Average travel speed measuring between the origin and destination is the raw data essential for statistical reports and road management. Combining this information with the license plate data provides the ability to separate the speed for a variety of vehicles such as personal, public, taxi and more vehicles. Due to the <

Recognizing pursued vehicles

In addition to the applications of the Karabin embedded ANPR camera in traffic police and road management, also it can be used to detect stolen and wanted vehicles in law enforcement fields. Thus, with the help of this database, if license plates of stolen or wanted vehicles are observed on the route, required alarms will alert to the relevant authorities. This system can be used at the entrance or exit point of cities or critical areas. It is also worth mentioning that this feature can be used as an additional option for other projects done through a Karabin camera.

In other words, other systems, such as mechanized traffic zone control, red light violation detection, parking license plate reader and etc. can be used to spot the pursued vehicles, if the essential coordination between the relevant organizations is established.

Parking lot license plate reader

Since the license plate number is a legal and unique ID for vehicle’s identification, therefore, it can be used to identify vehicles at the entrance and exit of parking lots. In this way, the Karabin embedded ANPR camera provides significant efficiency in managing public parking lots (calculation of parking time and cost), organizational parking (access control) or statistical traffic reports for places. The system is able to connect to other parking equipment, including gate barriers, magnetic loops, sensors, traffic light and more through the GPIO port.

One-way lane control and no entry

The high-frame Karabin embedded ANPR camera performs license plate reading work in all frames and then, by tracking the license plate of a vehicle in the sequence of frames, it is possible to identify it’s moving direction. Thus, by having a stream of violation frames, documented fines can be issued in case of moving opposite the direction of the one-way road. It is worth mentioning that this functionality can be installed as an additional option on other violation enforcement cameras such as red light control, traffic zone enforcement, speedometer, etc.

LPR vehicles used for side road parking violation enforcement

Since the number of cars in the metropolises is increasing, marginal park space management is becoming more important. Thus intelligent violation enforcement became even more serious issue than before. The problem here is that image cannot be taken straightly so a picture with a large-angle and significant Perspective impact from the plate will be provided and in this case, ordinary LPR systems will not respond perfectly. But some special strategies have been made to overcome these issues in Karabin embedded ANPR camera’s processing engine. It is also possible to customize the system to receive other sensor information, such as RFID and GPS, and printing them alongside the provided vehicles’ photos.

ETC or ORT electronic payment systems

In order to develop the culture and technology of electronic citizen, the electronic toll collection technology has been activated on the toll stations of the country. This has reduced the vehicle’s stopping time, fuel consumption and pollution. Also it has increased people’s satisfaction, integration and compatibility of toll collecting systems across the country. LPR cameras are needed, to take pictures of the vehicles passing through the electronic payment gate in this system. By reading these images, along with the performance of other units, the process of collecting tolls or issuing fines will be completed. The Karabin embedded ANPR camera is the right tool for due to its capability of operating in a variety of weather conditions, being responsive to high speeds and the use of a robust processor core that provides high output accuracy and reliability. Also, the system is also able to receive input signals such as vehicle detection sensors by using the GPIO port, so that a proper image will be taken from all vehicles, even in the absence of a license plate.