Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) continue to evolve with increasing sophistication, and a notable trend is the growing adoption of machine vision (MV) cameras. At Adimec, we’ve observed a surge in customer inquiries for our cameras in intelligent traffic applications, particularly high-speed license plate recognition systems. Other traffic-related use cases can be explored further here.

Transition from Analog to Digital

Interfaces like GigE Vision and CoaXPress are accelerating this shift by enabling long-distance communication between high-data-rate digital cameras and processing units (PCs). These standards support the move away from analog systems, offering greater efficiency and reliability.

Replacing Multiple Cameras with a Single High-Resolution Unit

To simplify setups, reduce data overload, and cut costs, one high-resolution camera—often HDTV caliber—can replace two or more lower-resolution cameras. The goal is to achieve configurations like one camera per lane or two lanes covered by each unit. This trend aligns with the broader machine vision industry’s push toward higher resolutions (e.g., 4, 8, or 12 megapixels).

Industrial Cameras as a Replacement for SLRs

Mounting cameras above roadways is ideal to avoid obstructions and skew issues that arise from ground-level positioning. This requires extreme reliability—any camera failure could necessitate costly road closures for repairs. Robust industrial-grade cameras are essential here.

Camera-Based Triggering vs. Induction Loops

Traditional triggering systems embedded in roads are expensive to install and maintain, often introducing latency. High-speed machine vision cameras combined with software offer a cost-effective alternative while ensuring faster response times.

Multi-Purpose Cameras

A single camera can serve multiple functions within an ITS:

  • Triggering other processes (e.g., initiating recording)
  • Capturing high-resolution OCR images for color analysis
  • Measuring vehicle speed by comparing images from different distances
  • Classifying vehicles (bus, car, truck, etc.) for differentiated pricing

The Shift to CMOS Sensors

CMOS image sensors are increasingly preferred in traffic systems due to their improving quality—enhanced dynamic range, high frame rates, and low power needs. Unlike CCDs, they don’t suffer from blooming or smear artifacts—a critical advantage for demanding applications.

On-Camera Processing to Reduce PC Load

To minimize the data burden on PCs, cameras can perform certain tasks locally (e.g., processing regions of interest). This allows them to operate at lower resolutions until an object is detected, after which they switch to high resolution mode—cutting down unnecessary data transmission.

Wrapping Up

High-performance machine vision cameras are becoming indispensable in intelligent transportation systems. While these applications present unique challenges, ongoing innovations from companies like Adimec continue to push boundaries and improve reliability across the board. Stay tuned for more insights on this topic throughout the month.

Last Updated: 2025-09-04 18:50:09