Advanced Technologies for Intelligent Systems of National Border Security

Abstract

The book was motivated by a great number of tasks and challenges placed upon the current administration and various types of uniformed services. A natural, obligatory task is to protect one’s own borders from direct and indirect threats. Nowadays, in times of peace, direct threats subside with indirect threats like, for instance, illegal immigration and clandestine transportation of illegal substances and materials such as drugs, weapons and explosive materials. Up until now, conventional methods have been used for detection and thwarting such threats. However rapid progress of development of advanced sensory devices, significant increase of computing power and development of drones technology give almost unlimited possibilities to fight various types of pathologies affecting our society. The book shall address multiple issues on advanced innovative methods of multi-level control of both ground (UGVs) and aerial drones (UAVs). Those objects combined with innovative algorithms become autonomous objects capable of patrolling chosen borderland areas by themselves and automatically inform the operator of the system about potential place of detection of a specific incident. This is achieved by using sophisticated methods of generation of non-collision trajectory for those types of objects and enabling automatic integration of both ground and aerial unmanned vehicles. In order to allow detection of specific events innovative methods of image fusion of heterogeneous camera systems had been developed. Source video streams taken into consideration come from high quality visual light cameras, noctovision cameras and from thermovision cameras. Combining such equipment and previously mentioned algorithms allows to effectively detect threats regardless of the time of day and night, weather conditions or random events such as smoke during a fire. Practical examples of application of such systems shall be presented and described in the following chapters. Obviously, it is natural to propose innovative solutions in the field ofmechanical constructions for elimination of the impact of vibrations and other undesirable factors affecting the quality of obtained information streams. The topics included in this book also cover presentation of complete information and communication technology (ICT) systems capable of control, observation and detection of various types of incidents and threats. This book is not only intended for officers and border services. It can be treated as a valuable source of information for constructors and developers of such solutions for uniformed services. Scientists and researchers involved in computer vision, image processing, data fusion, control algorithms or IC can find many valuable suggestions and solutions. Multiple challenges for such systems are also presented. Moreover students of higher years of study in the fields of automation, computer science, robotics or mechanical engineering can benefit greatly. The authors encourage to actively explore the following chapters of the book and, in case of questions or concerns, invite you to an open and frank discussion of these matters. TS - CrossRef