We can define artificial intelligence (AI) as a computerized system in which a feedback loop changes the behavior of a machine or a piece of software based on its experience.
In a simple example, a robot runs into a wall. The position of the wall on a GPS grid is fed back to the robot’s control system, and after the first experience, the robot either stops before it hits the wall or turns to avoid the wall. Multiple cycles of this reprogramming can train the robot to navigate around a room without hitting anything.
AI has proven to be effective in robotics and many other applications. Robots and other systems can learn more advanced behaviors as the algorithms become more complex.
How can this be applied to traffic monitoring systems? Here’s a simple video demonstration of how mixing a few AI-controlled vehicles into a busy traffic scene can prevent or reduce traffic jams. The effect of a few cars being driven more smoothly is dramatic, in some cases doubling the cars’ average speed through a bottleneck point.
Since this video was made in November 2018, more recent advances in self-driving technology could soon make such a system feasible. The video also looks at controlling traffic lights with AI, resulting in a significant improvement in traffic flow.
In a deeper dive into AI systems Space Coast TPO considers the value of citywide traffic light coordination and feeding information to motorists through Bluetooth links.
As technology advances, some of the enhancements to traffic flow considered in these videos are likely to be realities soon.
In the meantime, let’s see what currently available AI applications can do for traffic management based on license plate recognition.
- Want to use your existing camera system or computer software and adapt it to become plate-recognition smart? Carmen® AI-enhanced systems can do that.
- Would you prefer your cameras take the guesswork out of camera set-up and adjustment? Vidar can do all that automatically with AI.
- Are you interested in limitless traffic monitoring on-the-go? An Android smartphone app called Carmen® Mobile powered by Carmen® ANPR Cloud gives you the mobility you’re looking for.
Adaptive Recognition – the creator of all of the aforementioned solutions – is a company developing and improving license plate recognition hardware and software since the company was founded, in the industry’s infancy.
Carmen® Software for Your Traffic Monitoring System
If you have an existing network of high-resolution IP cameras in your security system, you can make them ANPR cameras with Carmen® software. The software is entirely camera-agnostic, so regardless of who built your system, Carmen® can work with it. Its video-stream-optimized version, Carmen® ANPR Stream – formerly Carmen® GO – can set itself up and is ready to produce data in as little as 3 minutes.
Adding Adaptive Recognition’s Carmen® software to your traffic monitoring system not only gives you all the benefits of license plate recognition at a minimal capital cost; it also brings you artificial intelligence. AI automatically separates the images in your video stream that contain vehicles.
Additionally, Carmen® software can connect with any database or other software to allow you to identify your customers or to single out unauthorized or crime-related vehicles. Want to arrange an automatic payment arrangement for a service you provide? The software can interact with whatever system you choose.
Your data will come to you with country-specific information – thanks to the region-specific software engines – and it recognizes plates and characters in many languages.
Carmen® ANPR Stream can even connect your smartphone to the software – courtesy of the Android-only Carmen® Mobile app – so now your phone can become a traffic monitoring system too, giving you endless flexibility and mobility options.
Carmen® ANPR Cloud (SaaS)
Imagine a computer application that you can set up within an hour that gives you the full benefit of a sophisticated hardware/software traffic monitoring system. All you need is a digital camera – that includes smartphones as well – that produces an image with sufficient resolution for reading a license plate and a computer with sufficient memory to upload the application.
The system automatically reports license plate identification, make, model, and color of the vehicle.
Carmen® ANPR Cloud is a great option when:
- You want to limit capital expenditure
- You’re unsure of how much traffic you’ll be analyzing, so you don’t know how robust a permanently installed system needs to be
- You want to learn more about license plate recognition with little financial commitment.
The Cloud system offers options from only a few Euros/month depending on how many transactions you want to start monitoring.
Vidar ANPR/ALPR Camera for High-Speed Traffic Monitoring Systems
Here’s an excellent example of AI in a plate-recognition camera that can recognize license plates at vehicle speeds up to 300 km/h (185 MPH).
The Vidar ANPR/ALPR camera for high-speed traffic monitoring systems analyzes its surroundings, and a built-in gyroscope helps you select the best tilt angle. It automatically adjusts camera settings to capture vehicle images and recognize license plates. It can include make/model/color recognition, speed measurement- via a 4D multilane radar – and other optional features.
AI makes traffic monitoring systems smarter all the time. As the developments of autonomous vehicles continue, the potential for smoothing traffic flow is almost endless.
City-wide coordination of traffic lights and other controls already has the potential to improve traffic flow significantly.
While these developments continue, ANPR cameras and their connected systems also make good progress in monitoring and controlling traffic. Adaptive Recognition, a leader in license plate and other electronic recognition and identification systems since 1991, offers some of the most sophisticated systems in the market. They’re constantly developing smarter systems to incorporate the capabilities of AI.
Their website offers much more information on all their systems and provides the opportunity for you to discuss your traffic monitoring needs with their experts.
