Sension Advanced Computing Ltd of Wigan has a vehicle identification system to detect those that do not comply with pre-payment conditions on toll roads. Scans are sent to a central control where pre-processing of the images locates number plates and registration number and enhances and converts them into a suitable format for the neural Intelligent Character Recognition software to identify the different characters. They are then subjected to post-processing imaging algorithms to check that there are the correct combination of letters and numbers. The system can identify one number plate each second compared to the five seconds it takes for visual identification, with an incorrect identification of one in one million. The firm has applied a similar idea to identify containers of goods being shipped at ports, where identification code numbers can be obscured by dirt or poor lighting conditions, to prevent cargo loads being mislocated and perishables being spoiled because of delays.
