Vehicle Classification and Identification Using Multi-Modal Sensing and Signal Learning

Vehicle counting, time-of-travel analysis, and other traffic studies frequently require the classification and identification of vehicles in a roadway. Unfortunately, many current technologies for identifying vehicles, such as image-based methods that use cameras and machine vision, are not appropriate for studies that require low-power consumption and low cost. Additionally, privacy issues are becoming a larger concern with the increasing controversy surrounding the public collection of imagery. In this work we evaluate a multi-modal sensing approach to vehicle classification and identification using an ensemble of sensors measurements including electromagnetic emanations and acoustic signatures. A novel kernel regression method is also used for signal learning to classify and identify vehicles without the need of invasive images. Multi-mode sensing, as well as signal learning, is shown to significantly increase the classification rate of specific vehicle classes.