Overview
With the rise in electrical vehicles (EVs) on the road, EV manufacturers and governments have mass deployed charging stations in parking lots. Despite their best efforts to cope with the increasing number of EVs, the percentage of dedicated EV parking spots still accounts for minority of parking spaces in parking lots.
Hence we often see internal combustion engine vehicles ignoring the EV dedicated parking sign and taking up EV parking spot.
One of the solutions to counter this behavior is a machine vision system coupled with parking ground lock. The machine vision system can be programmed to recognize EVs on the market or to allow parking based on their EV dedicated license plate.
Electric car charging station in parking lot
EV dedicated parking sign
Challenges
Much like the charging stations, this machine vision solution will be placed directly in the parking spot, most probably underneath the charging station or as a part of the charging station. This gives the camera a direct line of sight of the license plate or the make of the vehicle (EV or not), and to control the parking ground lock.
Depending on the location of the charging station, whether in an indoor parking lot (the solution must endure constant high ambient temperature and accept the building's power delivery); if outdoor, the solution will need acclimate to the changing weather. The computer may need to have some form of wireless communication to upload data back to the server for analytics and future references.
Solution
The system integrator chose to implement Neousys' rugged embedded solution that offers PCIe form factor, to extreme compact, and compact dimensions. With powerful AI for vehicle/ license plate differentiation, wide range DC power input, the system can also endure rigorous conditions of underground or outdoor car parks with a wide operating temperature from -25°C up to 70°C. Neousys rugged embedded systems are also available with dust and waterproof rating (up to IP67 rated).
In addition to identifying EVs and controlling the parking ground lock, the system can also act as an edge IoT device to collect analytic data for the manufacturer or be a part of predictive maintenance solution with its vast array of connections and expansion slots supporting 5G/ 4G modules to upload/ download data in real time.
Role of the Neousys Platform
The Neousys computer plays a pivotal role in a machine vision parking system. It processes visual data to differentiate between electric vehicles and internal combustion engine vehicles, aiding accurate parking enforcement. Its compact, rugged design ensures reliability in diverse environments, withstanding temperatures from -25°C to 70°C. Offering wireless communication capabilities, it uploads data for real-time analytics and future reference, optimizing parking management. Acting as an edge IoT device, it collects analytical data for manufacturers and supports predictive maintenance solutions. With expansion slots and connectivity options, it seamlessly integrates into existing infrastructure, while its dust and waterproof rating ensures durability in harsh outdoor conditions.
