Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates generally to a telemetry system for automated bush fire detection.

Background

[0002] Early bush fire detection is essential for rapid emergency response action and the present invention seeks to provide a telemetry system for automated bush fire detection, which will overcome or substantially ameliorate at least some of the deficiencies of the prior art, or to at least provide an alternative.

[0003] It is to be understood that, if any prior art information is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the information forms part of the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or any other country.

Summary

[0004] There is provided herein a telemetry system for automated bush fire detection which comprises a plurality of remotely deployed camera devices. Each camera device is configured to capture image data radially within a coverage area. The camera devices are located such that the respective coverage areas thereof overlap. Furthermore, each camera device comprises a mobile broadband transceiver to transmit the image data across a mobile network, such as an LTE network.

[0005] Each camera device may be supported atop a mast and may have a rotational actuator to rotate the camera with respect to the mast to radially capture image data.

[0006] Whereas the mobile broadband transceiver of each camera device may communicate directly with a mobile network, techniques are employed to account for rural area mobile network coverage paucity. For example, the system may be configured for inter-camera device data transmission wherein data is transmitted and relay between camera devices to an edge camera device in range of a mobile network. Furthermore, line of sight communication links, such as microwave links may be deployed to transmit data to within range of a mobile network. Furthermore, mobile broadband routers may be deployed to receive and forward data transmissions from camera devices within range thereof.

[0007] The system may be configured for image analysis, including using the machine learning artificial intelligence to automate the detection of bushfires, either at each camera device or at remote servers acting on stored image data.

[0008] Other aspects of the invention are also disclosed.

Brief Description of Drawings

[0009] Notwithstanding any other forms which may fall within the scope of the present invention, preferred embodiments of the disclosure will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0010] Figure 1 shows a camera mast in accordance with an embodiment;

[0011] Figure 2 shows data transmission topologies of a telemetry system for automated bush fire detection in accordance with an embodiment;

[0012] Figure 3 shows system components of the telemetry system in accordance with an embodiment; and

[0013] Figure 4 shows an embodiment wherein a structural pylon is secured to a prepared top of a tree stump to mount the camera thereatop.

Description of Embodiments

[0014] A telemetry system 104 for automated bush fire detection comprises a plurality of remotely deployed camera devices 101.

[0015] Each camera device 101 is configured to capture image data radially within a coverage area 109. [0016] With reference to Figure 2, the camera devices 101 may be located such that the respective coverage areas 109 thereof overlap. In embodiments, each coverage area 109 may comprise a radius of approximately 5-25 km such that, for example, a group of 15 camera devices may cover approximately 90000 ha.

[0017] With reference to Figure 1, each camera device 101 may comprise a camera 113 supported atop a mast 103. Each mast 103 may be sufficiently high to elevate the camera 113 above treetop level and, may for example, be approximately 30 m high.

[0018] The rotational actuator 102 may interface the camera device 113 and the mast 103 to rotate the camera 113 to radially capture the image data. The rotational actuator 102 may be configured to rotate through approximately 60° and approximately one minute. In embodiments, the rotational actuator 102 may be configured to pause whilst the camera 113 captures image data to reduce blur effect thereof.

[0019] Each camera 113 is preferably high resolution, capturing image data preferably at full HD resolution.

[0020] Each camera device 101 preferably comprises a mobile broadband transceiver 114 to transmit packet switched data across a mobile network. The mobile broadband transceiver 114 may be an LTE transceiver to transmit data across an LTE mobile data network.

[0021] The mobile broadband transceiver 114 may be integrally housed within the camera device 101 housing, thereby including the mobile broadband transceiver 114 and camera 113 therein. The mobile broadband transceiver 114 is preferably located atop the mast 103, or alternatively operably coupled to an antenna atop the mast 103 to increase data transmission range.

[0022] With reference to Figure 2, data transmission may comprise direct mobile network data transmissions 110 wherein at least one camera device 110 communicate directly with a mobile network 105.

[0023] However, for remote areas devoid of mobile network coverage, various data transmission strategies may be employed. [0024] In one embodiment, at least one camera device 101 comprises a mobile broadband router wherein the data transmission comprises inter-camera device data transmission 111 wherein at least one camera device 101 receives a data transmission from a mobile broadband transceiver 114 of an adjacent camera device 101 and forward the data transmission. As is shown in Figure 2, such inter-camera device data transmission 111 may span a series of camera devices 101 to reach an edge camera device 101 in range within the mobile network 105.

[0025] Alternatively, the system 104 may comprise a remotely deployed broadband router 108 and wherein the data transmission of the system 104 comprises intermediary router data transmission wherein the mobile broadband router 108 receives data transmissions from a mobile broadband transceiver 114 of at least one camera device 101 within range of the broadband router 108.

[0026] As is shown in Figure 2, the broadband router 108 forwards the received data transmissions to the mobile network 105.

[0027] In embodiments, the system 104 may comprise line of sight communication 107 wherein data is transmitted between line of sight transceivers 106, such as line of sight microwave transceivers.

[0028] As is shown in Figure 2, the mobile broadband router 108 may communicate with a transceiver 106 which transmits the data transmission across the line of sight communication. In alternative embodiments, at least one camera device 101 may communicate with the transceiver 106.

[0029] It is envisaged that the system may comprise a mix of these data range transmission techniques to account for remote area mobile data coverage paucity.

[0030] Each camera device 101 may comprise a controller 115 configured for controlling the operation of the camera device 101.

[0031] As is shown, the controller 115 may control the rotational actuator 102, image capture from the associated camera 113 and data transmission using the mobile broadband transceiver 114. [0032] The controller 115 may furthermore receive operational instructions via the mobile network 105. These operational instructions may include controlling the orientation of the camera 113 and wherein, for example, when a bushfire is suspected, the gaze of other cameras 113 within the vicinity may be trained on the suspected bushfire area.

[0033] The operational instructions may further include standby instructions to cause the camera device 101 to switch between active and idle modes. In an idle mode the controller 115 may control the camera device 101 to not capture image data, not transmit the image data, to transmit data at a lower bit rate and/or not activate the rotational actuator 102. In alternative embodiments, the controller 115 may be configured to periodically switch between the active and idle modes. In embodiments, the controller 115 may be configured for entering an idle mode at night when light levels become too low. In embodiments, the controller 115 may be configured for transmitting data at a lower bit rate when the image data captured thereby is relatively unchanging. In one embodiment, the camera device 101 may yet rotate whilst transmitting data at a lower bit rate in the idle mode.

[0034] The controller 115 may comprise a data compressor 119 configured for compressing the image data prior transmission across the mobile network 105.

[0035] In embodiments, the controller 115 may comprise an image analyser 118 configured for analysing image data captured by the camera 113 for automated bushfire detection. The image analyser 118 may employ pattern recognition image analysis for smoke plume detection.

[0036] In embodiments, the camera 113 may be infrared sensitive or alternatively the camera device 110 may comprise an auxiliary infrared sensor to detect heat signatures from bushfires. In this embodiment, the image analyser 118 may further analyse infrared heat signatures using pattern detection techniques for automated bushfire detection.

[0037] Each camera device 101 may be powered from a battery supply 116 replenished by a solar array 117. The solar array 117 may be located atop the mast 103 atop the camera device 113 thereon to maximise sunlight capture. [0038] Image data received via the mobile network 105 may be stored within a cloud storage server 121. The cloud storage server 121 may be secured behind a firewall and may utilise a private IP address to prevent unauthorised access. Image data may be stored in relation to time, location data and/or radial orientation so that time-lapse imagery can be obtained from various views of various coverage areas 119. Based on the access information and streaming data transmitted from the camera device 101, a virtual camera may be created in the carrier's cloud to provide services to multiple access users, thus minimizing the data generated from the wireless network.

[0039] The system 104 may comprise an image analysis server 125 which performs image analysis on image data stored within the cloud storage server 121 for automated bushfire detection, including utilising the aforementioned techniques.

[0040] In embodiments, the system further comprises an artificial intelligence module 124 which analyses the image data stored within the cloud storage server 121 for automated bushfire detection. The artificial intelligence module 124 may comprise a machine learning module trained using image and bushfire event training data so as to be able to learn to identify a bushfire for candidate image data.

[0041] The system 104 may further comprise a monitoring station 122 comprising a plurality of digital displays configured for displaying image data obtained from the cloud storage server 121. As alluded to above, these digital displays may be configured for displaying image data at various times, coverage areas and radial orientations.

[0042] The monitoring station 122 may communicate with emergency services 123 for the notification of detected bushfires, transmission of locations thereof and the like.

[0043] In embodiments, the system 104 comprises a bushfire alarm configured to generate an alert when a bushfire is detected. In embodiments, the bushfire alarm is configured for generating the alert when a bushfire is detected automatically the system 104, such as by the image analyser 118 of the camera device 110, the image analysis module 125 or the artificial intelligence module 124. [0044] Alternatively, the alert may be generated by an operator at the monitoring station 122

[0045] The alert may be transmitted from the monitoring station 122 to emergency services 123.

[0046] In further embodiments, the system 104 comprises an alert output device configured for outputting at least one of light and audio. In embodiments, the alert output device may be located at or within proximity of at least one camera device 104 for generating a visible or audible alert at the location of a detected bushfire. In embodiments, a light output device may be located atop the mast 103 to provide a long-range visual indication to manned bushfire spotting stations, firefighting aircraft and the like.

[0047] Figure 4 shows an embodiment wherein a structural pylon 126 is secured to a prepared top of a tree stump 127 to mount the camera 113 thereatop.

[0048] The structural pylon 126 comprises three or more vertical bars 128 with bracing 129 therebetween at an upper end of the pylon 126. Towards the lower end of the pylon 126, the vertical bars 128 extend beyond the bracing 129 to expose three or more legs 130 which surround the top of the tree stump 127 from three or more sides.

[0049] Securement bands 131 may clamp the legs 130 to the top of the stump 127. The securement bands 131 may be metallic bands and may comprise a ratchet mechanism (not shown) to tightly secure the bands 131 around the top of the stump 127 to securely secure the bottom of the pylon 128 to the stump 127, including to resist against bending forces applied to the pylon 126, such as during high wind.

[0050] In the embodiment shown, the pylon 126 comprises three vertical bars 128 but, in embodiments, the pylon 126 could comprise four or more. However, three vertical bars 128 is preferred for lightweightness.

[0051] According to this arrangement, the tree stump 127 may be cut to a height of between 10 - 30 m wherein the pylon 126 may extend further by approximately 5 m, giving the camera 113 a clear view of the surrounds, including above neighbouring trees. Generally, the pylon 126 would be installed on one of the highest available trees wherein the top thereof is cut in the manner shown to prepare the top part of the stump 127 to receive the legs 130 of the pylon 126 thereabout. The lower branches may be left intact, thereby avoiding killing the tree. The top part of the stump 127 may be coated with a waterproof coat of tar or the like to prevent water loss.

[0052] In the embodiment shown, the vertical bars 128 may splay apart towards the bottom of the pylon 126 and, in this regard, when preparing the top part of the stump 127, the top part may be prepared slightly frustoconical so that the slightly splay apart legs 131 conformingly and tightly engage thereabout. Preparation of the tree stump may comprise using a cutting tool centred by a bracket from a centre of the cut face of the stump 127 wherein the cutting tool is rotated around the stump by the bracket to evenly prepare the exterior surface of the top part of the stump 127.

[0053] The camera 130 may be rotatably attached to the top of the pylon 126 for 360° viewability.

[0054] The pylon 126 may further secure a solar panel 132. In the embodiments shown, the solar panel 132 is secured near the top of the pylon 126, but below the gaze of the camera 113. Similarly, the pylon 126 may engage a data transceiver antenna 133, such as a microwave transceiver similarly towards the top of the pylon 126 other but below the gaze of the camera 113.

[0055] The foregoing description, for purposes of explanation, used specific nomenclature to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that specific details are not required in order to practise the invention. Thus, the foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the invention are presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed as obviously many modifications and variations are possible in view of the above teachings. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical applications, thereby enabling others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the following claims and their equivalents define the scope of the invention. [0056] The term “approximately” or similar as used herein should be construed as being within 10% of the value stated unless otherwise indicated.