Automatic learning for vehicle classification
The present disclosure provides an automatically updating vehicle classification system and method. The system comprises a processor which extracts from a vehicle image at least one of: a unique vehicle identifier from the vehicle image and visual features of the vehicle in the vehicle image. If the visual features are below a probability threshold for matching a vehicle class in a local database, the processor looks up the unique vehicle identifier in a registration database. The registration database stores vehicle registration information including unique vehicle identifiers and associated vehicle class information. If the vehicle class information associated with the vehicle identifier is not a class recognized by the processor, the processor creates a new vehicle class associated with the visual features of the vehicle.
1. An automatically updating vehicle classification system, comprising:
a processor which extracts from a vehicle image a unique vehicle identifier from the vehicle image and visual features of the vehicle in the vehicle image;
wherein if the visual features are below a probability threshold for matching a vehicle class in a local database, the processor looks up the unique vehicle identifier in a registration database;
wherein the registration database stores vehicle registration information including unique vehicle identifiers and associated vehicle class information;
wherein if the vehicle class information associated with the vehicle identifier is not a class recognized by the processor, the processor creates a new vehicle class associated with the visual features of the vehicle; and
wherein the probability threshold is determined based on sample data sets to determine where matching accuracy is below a particular level.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein vehicle class information includes at least one of or any combination of: make, model, body type, seat capacity, engine size, manufacture date, number of axles, and color.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the new vehicle class is not activated for use until the processor has looked up a predetermined minimum number of unique vehicle identifiers associated with the new vehicle class.
4. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a camera that captures the vehicle image.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor looks up the unique vehicle identifier in the registration database during a low volume time period.
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein if the new class has only a single vehicle in it for a defined period of time, the single vehicle is designated as an outlier.
7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the processor designates outliers for manual review.
8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor creates new classes while the system is deployed for use.
9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor updates classes while the system is deployed for use.
10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the unique vehicle identifier is displayed on a number plate.
11. A method for automatically updating a vehicle classification system, comprising:
providing a vehicle image;
extracting, with a processor, a unique vehicle identifier from the vehicle image and visual features of the vehicle in the vehicle image; and
if the visual features of the vehicle are below a probability threshold for matching a vehicle class in a local database, looking up, with the processor, the unique vehicle identifier in a registration database;
wherein the registration database stores registration information including unique vehicle identifiers and associated vehicle class information;
wherein if the vehicle class information associated with the unique vehicle identifier is not a vehicle class recognized by the processor, creating, with the processor a new vehicle class associated with the visual features of the vehicle; and
wherein the probability threshold is determined based on sample data sets to determine where matching accuracy is below a particular level.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein vehicle class information includes at least one of or any combination of: make, model, body type, number of axles, seat capacity, engine size, manufacture date and color.
13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the new vehicle class is not activated for use until the processor has looked up a minimum number of unique vehicle identifiers associated with the new class.
14. The method of claim 11 , further comprising capturing, with a camera, the vehicle image.
15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the processor looks up the unique vehicle identifier in the registration database during a low volume time period.
16. The method of claim 11 , further comprising designating the vehicle as an outlier if the new class has only the single vehicle in it for a defined period of time.
17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising designating the outliers for manual review.
18. The method of claim 11 , further comprising creating, with the processor, new vehicle classes while the system is deployed for use.
19. The method of claim 11 , wherein the processor updates vehicle classes while the system is deployed for use.
20. The method of claim 11 , wherein the unique vehicle identifier is displayed on a number plate.