TRIP: a Vision-based Sensor System

TRIP is a cost-efficient and versatile sensor technology. Only low-cost (e.g. web-cams below €50), low-resolution (640x480 pixel) cameras are required. The spare computing resources within a LAN can be allocated to run the TRIP image parsing software, without the need of investing in new PCs. Commonly available monochromatic printers can be used to print out the black and white TRIPtags. The off-the-shelf hardware requirements and software nature of TRIP make possible its installation in offices, or event at homes, equipped with some PCs, without requiring significant additional costs or expert technical knowledge. A medium size (4x4 m²) room could be visually covered with three or four cameras.

TRIP’s 2-D printable and resizable ringcodes (TRIPtags) encode a ternary number in the range 1-19,683(3⁹ - 1) in the two concentric rings surrounding the bull’s-eye of a target. These two rings are divided into 16 sectors. The first sector or synchronisation sector indicates where the TRIPcode begins. This sector presents black areas in its section of the encoding rings, a configuration impossible everywhere else in the code. The code is read in anti-clockwise fashion from this sector. The subsequent two sectors are reserved for undertaking an even parity check on the identifier (TRIPcode) extracted. The following four sectors encode the radius of its central bull’s-eye in millimetres. Finally, the remaining nine sectors encode a ternary identifier.

The low-cost of TRIPtags and their ample addressing space (19683 or 1594323 possible codes if we disregard the target radius information) make them suitable for tagging even low-cost items, such as books or office stationary. In contrast, other location sensing technologies can only tag more valuable assets, e.g. personnel or equipment, given the high cost (usually $10-50) and thickness (1-2 cm) of the associated tags. Notably, the main constraint of TRIP is its requirement for a direct line of sight between the camera and the tag. However, we believe the advantageous features of this technology over other alternative location technologies offset this important drawback. A downloadable version of the system is available (click on link below) so that users with web-cams attached to their PCs may install the TRIP software and hence provide visual awareness to their machines. For more tecnical details about TRIP read this paper. 

Download TRIP software and TRIP demo

Image processing-side of TRIP plus demo.  The .zip file provided comes with a TRIP demo and a README file which explains how to compile and run the software.

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Last modified: 19-12-04