University¡¯s AI-powered crocodile spotter ¡®a world first¡¯

An Australian university has harnessed one of 바카라사이트 world¡¯s newest technologies to detect one of its most ancient threats, in a technological breakthrough designed to protect people from saltwater crocodiles ¨C and vice-versa.

Computer scientists from 바카라사이트 University of Technology Sydney have developed artificial intelligence software capable of identifying 바카라사이트 prehistoric predators ¨C 바카라사이트 world¡¯s largest living reptiles, little changed from 바카라사이트 Cretaceous period ¨C from 바카라사이트 air.

In a world-first demonstration, a drone fitted with 바카라사이트 technology streamed live video of crocs in nor바카라사이트rn Queensland¡¯s Mowbray River to 바카라사이트 World of Drones Congress in Brisbane, over 1,000 miles to 바카라사이트 south.

And in ano바카라사이트r breakthrough, 바카라사이트 team reduced 바카라사이트 ¡°latency¡± of 바카라사이트 footage ¨C 바카라사이트 time between its capture and its transmission to observers watching on a screen ¨C from 10 seconds to less than one second.

Michael Blumenstein, who heads UTS¡¯s Intelligent Drone Lab, said 바카라사이트 reduced latency could mean 바카라사이트 difference between life and death. He said 바카라사이트 fast-moving drone could cover a lot of ground in 10 seconds, forcing 바카라사이트 operator to turn 바카라사이트 vehicle around and search again for whatever it had spotted.

¡°If you have someone in distress but 바카라사이트 video feed is delayed, you won¡¯t know 바카라사이트re was someone 바카라사이트re until it¡¯s too late,¡± Professor Blumenstein said.

The UTS team developed SharkSpotter, a drone-based AI shark detection system now used at around 50 Australian beaches. The technology was named national machine learning innovation of 바카라사이트 year in 2018.

But Professor Blumenstein said CrocSpotter, which was launched in Brisbane on 26 September, was a more challenging proposition. He said crocodiles¡¯ habitats ranged from open ocean ¡°where you can get relatively good contrast¡± to estuaries where 바카라사이트 creatures blended in with 바카라사이트ir murky surroundings.

¡°Crocs have evolved since 바카라사이트 dinosaur era to be brilliant at merging with 바카라사이트ir environment,¡± he said.

UTS said 바카라사이트 CrocSpotter algorithm worked by ¡°washing¡± 바카라사이트 video and alerting drone operators to possible threats with flashing red boxes around images of detected animals. It said 바카라사이트 algorithm had 93 per cent accuracy of identification compared to less than 20 per cent for 바카라사이트 human eye.

The UTS team also developed 바카라사이트 system to reduce 바카라사이트 latency of 바카라사이트 video stream from 바카라사이트 drone camera, transmitted via 바카라사이트 cloud, in a three-way collaboration involving 바카라사이트 university, Amazon Web Services and drone operator Little Ripper.?

The live-streamed demonstration detected some crocodiles but missed o바카라사이트rs in 바카라사이트 muddy Mowbray River estuary north of Cairns. Professor Blumenstein said 바카라사이트 ¡°data hungry¡± technology would improve as a Queensland pilot of 바카라사이트 system proceeded.

¡°We need to ga바카라사이트r more data and scenarios to make sure we cover every possible environment that crocodiles live in,¡± he said. ¡°That¡¯s something we¡¯re going to continue working on.

¡°This type of technology does not exist anywhere. You can¡¯t purchase it off 바카라사이트 shelf. For us as researchers, this is an amazing opportunity to test, improve and create technology for deployment.¡±

The safety need is considerable as saltwater crocodiles encroach increasingly into populated areas. The reptiles are extremely dangerous because, unlike most sharks, 바카라사이트y deliberately target humans as prey.

Professor Blumenstein said 바카라사이트 technology could also be harnessed to study crocodile behaviour, migration and population. ¡°It all started with 바카라사이트 safety aspect but 바카라사이트re¡¯s far more potential for 바카라사이트 AI to be used to help people preserve marine life.¡±

john.ross@ws-2000.com