01 Mar 2025
AI Safety Camera
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The Calirad AISC system is a tool designed to give rally organizers a better and more comprehensive overview of spectator safety along the special stages in real-time. The entire process is designed to minimally affect the usual organization of a rally.
The system is built on three main components:
- In-Car Devices: These are installed in multiple competition vehicles before the rally begins. Each device is a self-contained unit that includes a camera system mounted in front of the co-driver, a processing and communication unit placed behind the seats, a battery pack capable of lasting one race day on a single charge, and a magnetic GPS antenna for the roof. The device is completely self-powered, requires no connection to the car, and needs no input from the driver or co-driver.
- Satellite Base Stations (SBS): To ensure reliable data transmission even in areas with poor cellular connectivity, these self-powered and self-controlled stations are placed at each stop control. Their function is to pick up the detection data from the rally car as it finishes the stage and upload it to the cloud.
- Web Application: This is the central interface used by the event's Safety Officer. It provides a live view of all incoming data, maps, and alerts from the in-car devices.
The Workflow in Action:
- Autonomous Detection: As a competition car equipped with the AISC device drives through a special stage, the system's Artificial Intelligence autonomously detects spectators along the route.
- Data Transmission: When a spectator is detected, the in-car device instantly sends an alert—which includes an image, GPS location, car number, speed, and time—to the web application in the cloud. If connectivity is poor, the data is stored and then offloaded via the Satellite Base Station.
- Real-Time Monitoring: In the Rally Control headquarters, the Safety Officer monitors the web application. New detections appear as "snapshots" on their screen, showing the image from the car's perspective alongside a map pinpointing the exact location.
- Incident Management: The Safety Officer reviews each detection and decides if the spectator's position constitutes a safety problem. If the situation is safe, they can dismiss the alert. If it is a safety risk, they flag it as an "incident". Once an incident is created, the system will automatically track that specific location, showing the Safety Officer images from subsequent rally cars as they pass the same point. This allows officials to monitor the evolution of the problem and confirm if it has been resolved.
- Post-Event Analysis: After the rally, the web application serves as a powerful analytical tool. Organizers can review all detections and incidents, filter them by stage or time, and visualize the data on stage maps. This information is invaluable for improving safety plans and marshall positioning for future events.
