Six brand new applications of the city license plate recognition system

License plate recognition technology is a powerful application of computer vision and image processing, specifically designed to identify vehicle license plates from complex backgrounds. This process involves several key steps: license plate detection, image enhancement, feature extraction, and character recognition. While current systems can achieve up to 96% accuracy for letters and numbers and 95% for Chinese characters, ongoing advancements have introduced six innovative technologies that significantly enhance performance and reliability.

1. High-performance embedded processing system Traditional high-definition systems rely on sending captured images to external processors like IPCs for analysis and storage. This setup often leads to high demands on transmission and processing hardware, making it challenging to meet system requirements efficiently. The new intelligent HD camera solution addresses this by embedding advanced processing directly into the camera. Each lane is equipped with a 2MP smart HD camera capable of capturing facial features, recognizing license plates, and detecting vehicle colors. These cameras send processed data via Ethernet to a dedicated terminal server, which runs an embedded Linux system to manage, store, and upload traffic information. With the ability to connect up to 20 cameras simultaneously, this system greatly improves overall performance and scalability.

2. Integrated design of image acquisition and processing The intelligent HD camera combines a high-quality CCD sensor with a fast DSP chip, enabling it to perform image capture, license plate recognition, color identification, and speed detection independently. Once the data is collected, it is packaged and transmitted through Ethernet to the terminal server. This integration simplifies the system architecture, enhances efficiency, and makes expansion easier for future upgrades.

3. Feedback control for all-weather high-definition imaging The imaging system consists of smart HD cameras, fill lamps, and specialized software that work together to ensure consistent image quality day or night. By managing light reflection, film conditions, and ambient lighting, the system uses a custom lens, advanced imaging strategies, and optimized device placement to reduce issues like glare from windshields or direct sunlight. This ensures clear visibility of the vehicle’s body, license plate, and front passenger's face in any weather condition.

4. Car color recognition This technology automatically identifies the depth and color of vehicles, offering valuable support for law enforcement and criminal investigations. It can distinguish between dark and light-colored vehicles and recognize 10 common car colors, including white, silver, gray, black, red, blue, yellow, green, brown, and others. The system achieves at least 80% accuracy in depth classification and over 60% accuracy in identifying standard car colors, providing reliable data for security applications.

5. Video-assisted triggering and speed monitoring In case of coil trigger failure, the system uses video-based triggering as a backup, quickly alerting users and allowing them to replace the faulty coil without losing continuous monitoring. This ensures uninterrupted road surveillance and timely response to any issues, maintaining operational efficiency even during maintenance.

6. Independent network structures for front-end and back-end The system employs two separate network configurations: one between the terminal server and the cameras, and another between the server and the central monitoring system. This approach reduces IP address usage on the public security network, simplifies equipment upgrades, and enhances overall network security, making the system more flexible and secure.