A real-time mobile vehicle license plate detection and recognition for vehicle monitoring and management

In this paper we present a instant and real-time mobile vehicle license plate recognition system in an open environment. Using a nonfixed video camera installed in the car, the system tries to capture the image of the car in front and to process instant vehicle license plate detection and recognition. Relying on the instant vehicle body recognition, the system can detect and locate the vehicle license plate without the need of background image. Vehicle body detection system utilizes the color characteristics of the barking lights to carry out detection. It first detects the location of the two barking lights in the captured image. Then set license plate detection region using the probability distribution of the license plate between the two lights, thus quickly locate the license plate. This method can eliminate any environmental interference during the license plate detection. From the results of experiment, it is determined that this system can effectively and quickly capture the vehicle image, detect and recognize the license plate whether it is dark, raining or under complicated environments.