Imaging array for bird or bat detection and identification
AssigneeIdentiflight International, LLC
InventorsEric S. Wenger, Andrew G. Oliver, Victor L. Babbitt, Thomas R. Hiester
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An automated system for mitigating risk from a wind farm. The automated system may include an array of a plurality of image capturing devices independently mounted in a wind farm. The array may include a plurality of low resolution cameras and at least one high resolution camera. The plurality of low resolution cameras may be interconnected and may detect a spherical field surrounding the wind farm. A server is in communication with the array of image capturing devices. The server may automatically analyze images to classify an airborne object captured by the array of image capturing devices in response to receiving the images.
Claims25
An automated system for tracking an airborne object in a designated area, the automated system comprising:
- a detection tower;
- a plurality of wide field of view cameras connected to the detection tower;
- a tracking camera connected to the detection tower for providing a high resolution image of an airborne object, wherein the tracking camera is configured to image the airborne object at a maximum distance of greater than or equal to 600 m;
- wherein the plurality of wide field of view cameras are interconnected and have a combined field of view that surrounds the detection tower to provide a substantially hemispherical combined field of view surrounding and extending above the detection tower, and wherein the plurality of wide field of view cameras are configured to image the airborne object at a maximum distance of greater than or equal to 600 m;
- and
- a server in communication with the cameras, wherein the server analyzes images from the cameras to classify the airborne object captured by the cameras.
A method of analyzing object movement in a designated area, the method comprising:
- monitoring airspace in all approachable directions around the designated area with a plurality of wide field of view cameras connected to a detection tower and configured to provide a substantially hemispherical mitigation volume surrounding and extending above the detection tower, and wherein the plurality of wide field of view cameras to image an airborne object at a maximum distance of greater than or equal to 600 m;
- detecting the airborne object through a wide field of view camera;
- activating a tracking camera connected to the detection tower to track the airborne object at a maximum distance of greater than or equal to 600 m;
- obtaining a high resolution image of the airborne object with the tracking camera;
- transmitting, automatically through a computing device, the high resolution image to a server;
- classifying, through the server, the airborne object based at least in part on the high resolution image;
- monitoring the airborne object with the tracking camera as the airborne object enters the designated area based at least in part on a set of classifications when the airborne object is classified as at least one of a predetermined living species or an inanimate object such as a drone or aircraft;
- and
- activating mitigation efforts within the designated area when the airborne object meets a threshold classification and a threshold location.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.