US 2026/0212677 A1 · SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATIC VISUAL THERMAL EVENTS IN A MARITIME ENVIRONMENT

Abstract

This invention provides a system and method to detect a maritime visual thermal event(s) in shipping containers by acquiring images with a thermal camera, and uses a visual fire precursor events (smoke) based on images of a conventional camera and a computer vision algorithm that is executed on a processor. One precursor is a detectable thermal event where the surface temperature of a ship-based vehicle, cargo, engine, or machinery increases in temperature by a few degrees as recorded by a thermal camera. A second alternate precursor is the appearance of visible compact dense smoke that can be imaged by a conventional visible light camera. The system can be integrated with the existing installed hardware and processes of current systems and methods for maritime event detection with appropriate thermal cameras and data transmission components, at key locations within the ship. Cameras are mounted on the vessel superstructure and/or lashing bridge(s).

Claims25

Dependent claims

A system for automatically detecting a thermal event in a commercial maritime vessel carrying shipping containers as part of an automated visual event detection system comprising:

at least one thermal camera mounted to image at least one side of one of the shipping containers for thermal events;
at least one processor residing on the vessel, adapted to receive thermal image data over a local network from the at least one thermal camera and generate thermal event information relative to the data;
a data store associated with the processor that receives thermal image data from the thermal camera of the at least one side, the data store providing live thermal images of the at least one side and storing reference images of the at least one side associated with a plurality of conditions;
and
a thermal event determination process that periodically compares one or more reference images of an area containing the at least one of the shipping containers, including the at least one side, to a set of the conditions in one or more acquired current thermal images of the at least one side by the at least one thermal camera, and determines therefrom whether a thermal event condition is present based upon the acquired current thermal images.

2 more elements

A method for automatically detecting a thermal event in a shipping container carried on a commercial maritime vessel as part of an automated visual event detection system comprising the steps of:

providing at least one thermal camera that images at least one side of at least one shipping container for thermal events on a maritime vessel;
receiving, with at least one processor on the vessel, thermal image data over a network from the at least one camera and generate thermal event information relative to the data;
receiving, at a data store associated with the processor, thermal image data from the at least one thermal camera the at least one side, the data store providing live thermal images of the at least one side, and storing reference images of the at least one side associated with a plurality of conditions;
and
determining the thermal event by periodically comparing one or more reference images an area containing the at least one of the shipping containers, including the at least one side, to a set of the conditions in one or more acquired current thermal image(s) of the at least one side, and determining therefrom whether a thermal event condition is present based upon the acquired current thermal images.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

System and method for automatic visual thermal events in a maritime environment

Life of this patent

System and method for automatic visual thermal events in a maritime environment

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims25