MULTILANE VEHICLE INFORMATION CAPTURE SYSTEM
A system and method for accurate express tolling of highway vehicles. A multilane tolling system comprises a tolling (MVIC) unit that collects information from tolling subsystems arranged to take various vehicle measurements. Preferably, an intelligent vehicle identification subsystem sends vehicle information to the MVIC unit many times per second. Preferably, a vision tracking system (VTS) communicates with the MVIC unit and sends the latter information about the vehicle position using vision tracking sensors. Preferably, an RF subsystem conducts multiple reads of a transponder on a passing vehicle and forwards the read information to the MVIC unit. Preferably, a vehicle image capture unit (VICU) captures images of the passing vehicle when a camera in the VICU receives a trigger from the MVIC unit. Preferably, a driver alert module is used alert a driver passing through a tolling point as to account balance associated with a silent toll tag or pay by plate system.
1 . A vehicle tracking system for tracking of a passing vehicle in a highway environment, comprising:
at least one capture unit for continuously capturing vehicle images from the passing vehicle;
a set of lane straddling sensors arranged at a location on the highway near the capture unit and providing vehicle position information;
an image capture program operable on the capture unit to provide trajectory information using the captured vehicle images; and
a central process unit that compares the vehicle position information and trajectory information associated with the passing vehicle.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the capture unit comprises a videocamera and a video tracker light for illuminating the passing vehicle.
3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the capture unit is positioned on a gantry located over at least one lane of the highway.
4 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the video camera is positioned in line with a lane straddling sensor.
5 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the video camera is positioned between borders of a lane containing a pair of adjacent lane straddling sensors.
6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the image capture program comprises:
a stabilization process to stabilize pixels to account for camera movement;
an identification process to locate moving objects within the continuously captured vehicle images;
a segmentation process to group together pixels associated with a moving object; and
a trajectory calculating process to plot a trajectory of a moving object.