Robots represent the pinnacle of mechatronics and are a fusion of high-tech innovations. They have found extensive applications across various fields. The development of robots can be characterized by two main trends: horizontally, their application areas continue to expand beyond traditional industrial settings into non-industrial domains such as surgery, fruit picking, pruning, road excavation, inspection, and even mine detection. Vertically, the diversity of robot types is increasing, with micro-robots now capable of entering the human body and operating at sizes as small as a grain of rice.
In certain critical applications like exploration, disaster relief, alien detection, nuclear control, and surgical assistance, video surveillance systems are essential for robots. These systems typically consist of three key components: a real-time control system, a monitoring system, and a management information system. The real-time control system handles data acquisition, processing, storage, and uploading. The monitoring system ensures continuous surveillance across multiple locations and allows simultaneous viewing of video feeds. The management information system manages the storage, processing, and retrieval of all relevant data.
The robot-based video surveillance system developed using Freescale's I.MX27 platform is designed to meet the growing demand for intelligent and efficient surveillance solutions. It consists of a server and terminal devices that work together to capture, transmit, and process video data. The terminal device collects images, which are either connected via Ethernet or transmitted over 3G networks to the server. The server then handles image display, storage, and processing. Advanced algorithms such as face recognition, fingerprint identification, and medical image analysis can be integrated on the server side, enabling intelligent image recognition.
The system block diagram is illustrated below:
Cameras are installed in monitored areas and connected to the network through Ethernet or 3G transmission. The primary functions of the video surveillance system include:
1. **Video Image Acquisition**:
Cameras capture video and compress it using formats like MPEG2, MPEG4, or H.264. H.264 is commonly used due to its high compression ratio, which reduces file size and improves transfer speed. The I.MX27 platform features a hardware H.264 codec, which does not consume CPU resources, enhancing efficiency and reducing power consumption.
2. **Local Storage and Upload**:
Captured images can be stored locally on an SD card or SATA hard drive, or uploaded directly to the server. The choice depends on user requirements and system configuration. Uploads can be done via wired Ethernet (10/100M) or wireless 3G networks. However, 3G transmission may be limited by bandwidth, affecting the video quality and frame rate.
3. **Video Processing and Recognition**:
As robots are designed to replace human tasks, the surveillance system plays a crucial role in automating decision-making. By integrating pattern recognition algorithms, the system can analyze video footage and make automated decisions, reducing the need for manual intervention. Examples include automatic license plate recognition, facial recognition in banks, and fingerprint scanning in access control systems.
The I.MX27 CPU, featuring an ARM926 core running at 400MHz, offers high performance and energy efficiency. It supports scalable local storage, making it suitable for use as a digital video recorder. In case of network failure, video can still be stored locally, ensuring continuous monitoring. Its powerful processing capabilities allow it to run real-time embedded operating systems, making it ideal for complex algorithmic applications in robotics.
Although the I.MX27-based robot video surveillance system may seem like a small star among many, we believe it has the potential to shine brightly in the evolving digital and networked world, thanks to its excellent features and adaptability.
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