Vehicle Capture and Recognition System (VCARS™)
The UTS VCARS™ accurately captures high-resolution stereoscopic color images at levels that support video tolling capability.
Design Benefits
- High-resolution stereoscopic digital color image capture
- Multiple cameras capture vehicle front, rear, or both, as well as straddle and shoulder images in Open Road Tolling (ORT) environments
- Integrated dual strobe – These long life, low energy, minimal maintenance strobes ensure excellent image quality, even in poor visibility conditions, by enhancing the reflective properties of the license plate. This is done without requiring large 1000 watt flood lights which consume power, distract the drivers, and require intensive maintenance
- Operates reliably for both High-Speed and Stop & Go traffic - Provides assurance that plates are captured using defined and precise trigger points
- License plate region-of-interest (ROI) image isolation – UTS VCARS™ images are digitally analyzed to isolate the license plate area of the image
- Optical Character Recognition/Optical State Recognition (OCR/OSR) analyses – Plate images may be digitally processed for recognition of state of origin and plate type as well as for individual characters
- Single-lane configuration option included in the UTS Traffic Control Pedestal – One piece of hardware accommodates several lane configurations without the need to purchase different models
- Video tolling option supported – If video tolling is desired, the hardware is already in place for implementation
The UTS 5MP high resolution digital cameras capture over 16 million colors. In contrast, most other violation enforcement systems use lower resolution black and white images from infrared cameras. ORT lanes feature the VCARS™ dual-camera imaging systems, while single lanes use the single camera solution integrated in the UTS traffic control pedestal. Both solutions allow for complete maintenance of the systems without the need for lane closures. Both solutions minimize the chances of sun glare or an obstruction (such as a trailer hitch) affecting or blocking the same portion of the license plate. In unattended lane types, an optional system can also be setup to capture front images of every vehicle. Each IP addressable camera houses a dedicated microprocessor for remote camera setup, image quality monitoring, and subsequent camera adjustment over the LAN or Virtual Private Network (VPN). Lanes do not need to be closed to make camera adjustments or to perform maintenance.
In many systems provided by other vendors, satisfactory license plate imaging depends on appropriate lighting in varying weather conditions. To meet the challenge, UTS has developed our process using specialized redundant filtered strobes that flash for just 200 microseconds. Light intensity is controlled by the camera computers to optimize the lighting on the license plate for the prevailing conditions. The two industrial strobes are designed for use in excess of ten years. These strobe lights not only increase the quality of images, but also significantly reduce energy consumption and maintenance when compared to multiple 1,000 watt incandescent bulb lighting as an ambient light source.
Another UTS design, the fast plate locator, identifies the region of interest (ROI) in the captured digital image. A special patent-pending process is applied to the images for transmission and storage without compromising their value for enforcement.
Images can be processed by the OCR/OSR system in the lane or they can be queued for manual processing by image review personnel; or a combination of these based on set thresholds of confidence, that are established by the Authority’s business rules.