How event-based cameras work and their applications

event-based cameras

Ever since the advent of digital photography, the event-based camera has become an essential part of shooting photos. These cameras are often used by sports photographers and concert photographers who must capture moments from sporting events or concerts instantly and accurately. Event-based cameras are ideal for capturing candid photographs or those who want to take a lot of pictures – their high burst rates help them shoot dozens of frames per second! These devices help make sure that no one misses any critical moment because you are too busy rushing about to be able to keep up with everyone else’s shots.

How does an event-based camera work?

Event-based cameras are specialized, high-speed cameras that can detect events in the field of view. They record only those specific events and pass on any non-events (unlike time-lapse cameras that continuously record). They use a motion detection algorithm to compare consecutive images captured by the camera at fixed time intervals to detect such an event. The algorithm is based on contrast difference or motion classification. In contrast, any change in pixels of an image proportional to their contrast will be counted as motion. In motion classification, the camera scans the image for features that do not change from frame to frame and classifies changes in pixels as motion.

An event-based camera captures a succession of images at a fixed event rate during which some activity or movement takes place in its field of view. The device captures images at a fixed interval and averagely every 1 second. To record events, it compares two consecutive frames for changes and registers them as an event if there is one. The registered events are then stored consecutively using system memory and the storage media. Depending on the camera model, event-based cameras can record up to several thousand events per second.

Major applications of Event-based cameras

Simultaneous Localization and Mapping systems

Consumers can use event-based cameras to help with navigation assistance. These cameras allow for navigation assistance to be created without GPS. Consumer event-based cameras have their capabilities and are often used in conjunction with GPS-enabled phones to provide an overlay on top of images.

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A separate type of event-based camera is used in computer vision applications. There are two types of computer vision event-based cameras: a high-resolution camera built with special functions and a low-resolution camera that uses a subset of the functions in the high-resolution camera. You can use these specialized video streams to perform tasks such as face detection, object detection, or even perform advanced color analysis. Further, as seen on the Dioram website page event-based cameras can be extremely useful in creating maps. For a SLAM system to form a map of an area, it typically requires a robot to take pictures of the area. For this reason, you can use event-based cameras to help create the 3D mapping of an area.

Monitoring of production lines

Most manufacturers use event-based cameras on production lines to monitor if goods moving across them are conforming (such as having correct dimensions and weight as per standards) and detecting faulty pieces.

Appliances such as washing machines, refrigerators, and television sets have high-quality standards. The slightest of defects in parts can lead to failure in the appliance. An event-based camera is put on the production line of these appliances to monitor the movement of goods and detect faulty products. The camera checks the good’s dimensions and weight, then compares it with the characteristics set in its computer program. If there is a deviation from these characteristics, the camera generates an alarm signal and thus uncovers any product that has a defect or is missing a part, or has excess weight or size. The camera stream can be monitored in real-time using the software. Thus, any non-conforming products can be removed before they reach the end-user. These cameras are helpful in production lines where parts are assembled to the finished product, as they help detect missing or excess parts with their motion detection function.

Fast detection of pedestrians and bicyclists

Using event-based cameras has been implemented by many cities worldwide as an effective way to detect pedestrians and bicyclists. These camera systems use computer vision algorithms to detect people based on their body shapes within milliseconds. In areas with high pedestrian or bicycle traffic, the probability that someone may fall victim to a traffic accident is higher than in other areas. For these cameras to increase safety, they must have precise detection capabilities to react quickly enough when needed.

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High-speed obstacle avoidance in drone applications

Drones are becoming more popular in different industries, especially in entertainment and photography, but they have some safety concerns. Drones can often collide with objects in their flight path or have not been detected by sensors. One way to address this issue is with event-based cameras and an obstacle avoidance system. Event-based cameras capture images of the environment every few milliseconds, contrasting with traditional cameras, which typically take an image once per second. This increased frequency allows for a more detailed environment map to be created to account for moving objects and obstacles such as other drones or trees. Event-based cameras can also be used for obstacle avoidance by recognizing objects in the environment and predicting their existence. That involves predicting what an object is likely to do and where it might move. In other words, the camera can detect any significant change (such as an obstacle) within 2 meters of the drone and can respond immediately if it detects an obstacle coming toward the vehicle.

Event-based cameras can identify objects in real-time, allowing them to track the object across a video or image stream. Using a series of embedded triggers can determine when something or someone enters a specific area, what they are doing, and figure out if the person has left that area. Event-based cameras make processing software much more efficient, so you do not need to worry about your tracker hogging all of your precious processing power. In summation, event-based cameras are a newer technology that provides advantages in terms of ease of use, reliability, and simplicity while also reducing the negative aspects that traditional cameras have had to deal with, such as poor image quality, poor resolution, and unreliable time intervals.

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