Automated system for detecting car passengers

The Vehicle Passenger Detection System (VPDS) has been undergoing tests on the French-Swiss border at Jougne/Vallorbe. Xerox says accuracy in detecting the number of passengers in each vehicle was upwards of 95 per cent, with over 97 per cent accuracy in detecting if a single driver was behind the wheel.

“The Jougne pilot has proved that the Xerox system, the most accurate automated device on the market, is now ready for us to launch it in Europe,” said Jean-Charles Caulier, sales director, International Public Sector, Xerox.

“The system can be used on a large scale to avoid organisations having to manually monitor lanes reserved for carpooling.”

VPDS, which has already been tested in North America, uses two cameras to take pictures of the front and side of the car. Patented computer vision techniques and geometric algorithms distinguish between empty and occupied seats. According to Xerox, the system complies with data protection law through non-reversible blurring techniques that prevent personal identification.