Success Story

Transforming Toll Gate Management with Edge AI

The Challenge: Outdated Methods and High Operational Costs

Norway’s legacy tolling and parking systems were plagued by inefficiencies and revenue losses caused by outdated fee collection methods. These systems, relying on trust-based models or physical barriers, failed to ensure all users paid their dues. This limited the ability to fund essential maintenance for roads and parking areas.

Finter AS, a leading technology company specializing in smart mobility, recognized these challenges in its operations. However, their existing setup, which relied on multiple CPUs and PCs using classic computer vision techniques, presented numerous operational difficulties:

Excessive heat generation.
High energy consumption.
The need for bulky technical cabinets unsuitable for complex AI workloads.

As AI technology advanced, Finter sought to evolve its systems to harness machine learning and computer vision capabilities. However, the limitations of their CPU-based platform rendered advanced AI workloads impractical. Finter needed a solution that could efficiently handle modern AI algorithms while reducing system complexity and operational costs.

From CPU-Dependent Systems to GPU-Accelerated AI: Aetina’s Edge AI Solution

To address these challenges, Finter partnered with Aetina, leveraging its edge computing platform powered by NVIDIA’s Jetson AGX Xavier module, featuring M.2 and extension 10G LAN module. This robust hardware foundation enabled Finter to transition from CPU-dependent systems to GPU-accelerated AI processing.

Aetina’s expertise in Edge AI integration facilitated a smooth migration, with Finter’s system moving from CPU-based cabinets to a powerful ARM-based platform in just two weeks. This transformation, powered by NVIDIA's software ecosystem—including NVIDIA Metropolis platform, NVIDIA TAO and DeepStream for vision AI applications—significantly enhanced the performance and reliability of Finter’s Automated Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology. By leveraging these advanced tools, Finter was able to implement sophisticated object detection and real-time tracking algorithms while reducing system complexity.

Key benefits of the NVIDIA Jetson platform for Finter included:

Compact Design:
Reduced the physical footprint of installations, eliminating the need for large, heat-prone cabinets.
Efficiency Gains:
Improved processing speeds and reliability for real-time toll fee management. Advanced algorithms enhanced object recognition and tracking, enabling the system to accurately detect and record toll violations, thereby increasing revenue collection.
Enhanced Accuracy:
Cameras installed at toll gate locations analyze vehicle type, direction, license plate number, and other movements locally before uploading results to the cloud. This allows the system to determine whether a visit incurs a charge or is linked to a subscription, with payable visits made accessible via the Norgesbom platform.
Environmental Impact:
Lower energy consumption (approximately 100W per unit) aligned with Finter’s commitment to sustainable mobility.

Future-Proofing with NVIDIA Jetson AGX Orin

As Finter’s AI demands continue to grow and algorithms become increasingly complex, the Jetson AGX Orin module, embedded in Aetina’s boards like the AIB-MX11/12, stands as the go-to solution. Offering up to 8 times the performance of its predecessor and delivering up to 275 TOPS, the NVIDIA Jetson Orin provides the scalable computing power Finter needs to stay ahead of future advancements and evolving AI workloads.

Jetson AGX Orin’s unified architecture integrates its CPU, GPU, Deep Learning Accelerator (DLA), and Programmable Vision Accelerator (PVA), ensuring scalability for evolving AI workloads. The system’s compatibility with NVIDIA’s rich software ecosystem, including the NVIDIA Metropolis platform, including, NVIDIA TAO and DeepStream for vision AI applications. It’s also compatible with NVIDIA Isaac, allowing seamless deployment of advanced AI models.

Impact: Revolutionizing Toll Gates Across Norway

NVIDIA Jetson, with its low power consumption and unified memory architecture, played a vital role in this transformation. The compatibility of NVIDIA Jetson with standard AI/ML libraries, and its provision for expansion ports, prompted the decisive transition from the initial CPU processing and multiple PCs.

Aetina's Jetson-powered edge device delivered the key advantages that drove the switch:

High-Performance AI Processing:
The NVIDIA Jetson’s high-performance GPU and DLA enabled Finter to deploy sophisticated AI models for real-time object detection and tracking, handling multiple vehicles and static objects simultaneously.
Revenue Optimization:
Enhanced accuracy in fee collection reduced revenue leakage, ensuring all users paid their dues.
Compact Design:
NVIDIA Jetson Orin's small form factor seamlessly integrated into Finter’s existing camera system, maintaining a compact and efficient overall solution, and eliminating the need for bulky and heat-prone cabinets.
Scalable Orin Architecture:
NVIDIA Jetson Orin's CPU, GPU, DLA, and Programmable Vision Accelerator (PVA) provide Finter with a scalable platform for future AI advancements. This ensures their system can adapt and leverage even more complex AI models as their needs evolve.
Software Ecosystem:
Aetina facilitated the integration of NVIDIA Jetson with Finter’s infrastructure, aligning seamlessly with NVIDIA's software ecosystem, which includes Metropolis for vision AI applications, NVIDIA TAO for AI model training, DeepStream for real-time streaming analytics, MMJ for multi-modal joint reasoning, and Isaac ROS for robotics applications. This rich software ecosystem offers pre-built tools and optimizations specifically designed for running AI applications on NVIDIA hardware.

Driving Innovation Through Collaboration

Finter collaborated with Aetina to transform their toll gate and parking systems, selecting Aetina for its ability to deliver tailored hardware solutions that met the unique requirements of their application. With extensive expertise in Edge AI technology, Aetina provided customized support and responsive technical assistance, ensuring a smooth migration to the NVIDIA Jetson platform. This migration, completed in just two weeks, allowed Finter to seamlessly integrate ARM architecture into their existing infrastructure while optimizing logistics and streamlining provisioning.

The success of this collaboration empowered Finter to future-proof their system for evolving AI demands and expand their services to more challenging and remote locations. With Aetina’s advanced Edge AI solutions, Finter continues to deliver efficient and environmentally friendly mobility solutions across Norway.

About Finter

Finter AS is a Norway-based technology company dedicated to transforming the parking industry with advanced license plate recognition technology. Through its YouPark solution, Finter has eliminated parking fines, tickets, and inconvenient barrier systems, creating a seamless and hassle-free parking experience. Their technology is designed for a wide range of applications, including commercial properties, shopping centers, indoor and outdoor parking facilities, and toll roads.

Have interested in Aetina’s product or service?