AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION Invention title: "Vehicle Control System" Applicant: Kevin Stephen Davies Associated provisional applications: Number 2009903105 filed 2 July 2010 The following statement is a full description of the invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: 2 "VEHICLE CONTROL SYSTEM" 5 Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a system for controlling operation of vehicles in order to both reduce the likelihood of vehicle collisions and improve safety for operators in the vicinity of industrial and mining vehicles. 10 Background to the Invention Many industrial sites utilise a range of onsite vehicles with low visibility which results in the risk of dangers associated with the movement of these machines. Mine sites for example utilise large industrial vehicles in the vicinity of personnel and small passenger vehicles. The operation of such large 15 vehicles along with small vehicles and personnel poses particular problems due the limited visual range of the drivers of the large vehicles. The possibility arises, for example, of smaller vehicles being behind a reversing dump truck on a mine site and the operator of the dump truck not being aware of the smaller vehicle's presence. At a closer range, operators working around 20 mining vehicles or climbing up and down from such vehicles are in danger and can feel unsafe, relying on drivers of these machines and safety processes. A number of systems have been employed in order to reduce the likelihood of collisions. Such systems include a range of cameras mounted on the large 25 vehicles to provide the operator with a larger field of vision. Systems that monitor the relative locations of vehicles and raise alarms if it is determined there is a possibility of collision have also been proposed. The present invention relates to an improved system provided to allow control 30 over vehicle movement to reduce the likelihood of collisions between vehicles and improve operator safety in an industrial location.
3 Summary of the Invention In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a vehicle control system comprising: a detection device provided on a vehicle to determine the proximity of said 5 vehicle relative to a further detection device; a notification device associated with each detection device to notify an operator of the detection device of the presence of the further detection device in a hazardous region; and a release signal generator associated with each detection device operable by 10 an operator of said detection device; wherein when a first detection device is determined to be within a hazardous region with respect to a second detection device on a vehicle, the notification device associated with the second detection device is activated and the notification device on the second detection device can be deactivated by a an 15 operator of the first detection device on determining that operator is not in danger and operating the release signal generator on the first detection device. Preferably each detection device includes a positioning device provided to 20 determine the location of the detection device relative to other detection devices. In one embodiment, information regarding the path of movement is provided by a direction sensor on the vehicle. The direction sensor may comprise a 25 magnetic or electronic compass In an alternative embodiment, the information regarding the path of movement may be determined from previous location data. The system may receive information from a gear selector of the vehicle to determine the direction of 30 travel of the vehicle. In a preferred embodiment, the positioning device determines a geographical location of the vehicle and each vehicle is provided with a transmitter and 4 receiver such that the determined geographical location of each vehicle is transmitted to the other vehicles in the system. Preferably, each vehicle transmits information regarding the path of 5 movement of the vehicle to other vehicles in the system. In a preferred embodiment, the notification device is connected to a stopping mechanism to prevent movement of the vehicle until the notification device has been deactivated. 10 Preferably the notification device is connected to the braking system such that while the notification device is activated, the brakes of the second vehicle are engaged. 15 Each vehicle may include a GPS device in order to determine the geographical location of the vehicle. The hazardous region in or adjacent the path of movement is preferably determined taking into account information regarding the current accuracy of 20 the location information determined by the positioning devices. In one embodiment, each vehicle is provided with a display device to display relative positions of the vehicles of the system. Preferably the display comprises a touch screen display and the release signal generator is provided 25 by selecting a vehicle from the display for which the notification device is to be deactivated. In a preferred embodiment, each vehicle is provided with a notification device activator to allow manual activation of the notification device on any vehicle. 30 Preferably the notification device actuator is provided on the touch screen display such that a driver can manually activate the notification device on a vehicle by selecting that vehicle on the display.
5 An override function may be provided such that the notification device in a vehicle may be deactivated from that vehicle. An emergency shutdown function may be provided such that activation of the 5 emergency shutdown function activates the notification device on all vehicles in the system. Preferably the notification device comprises a visible and/or audible alarm. Preferably the alert device comprises a visible and/or audible alarm 10 Brief Description of the Drawings The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the following drawings: 15 Figure 1 is schematic view of a vehicle control system in accordance with the present invention in use. Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments 20 Referring to the Figure, there is shown a representation of a plurality of vehicles 12 to which the system 10 of the present invention is applied. The system 10 comprises a plurality of detection devices 14. Each detection device 14 is provided on a user of the system 10, such as a vehicle 12. Each 25 detection device 14 in the embodiment described includes a positioning device capable of determining the location of the vehicle 12 on which the positioning device is mounted relative to other vehicles 12 in the vicinity. In the embodiment to be described, the positioning device is capable of determining the absolute position of the vehicle 12, for example by a suitable GPS device 30 provided on the vehicle 12. Each vehicle 12 of the system includes also a transmitter 16 provided to allow transmission of information to other vehicles 12 of the system. The transmitter 6 16 transmits information including the determined position of the vehicle 12 to other vehicles in the system. Each vehicle 12 is also provided with a receiver 17 to allow said information to be received. The information regarding the determined location of each vehicle 12 may be transmitted directly to each 5 other vehicle 12 of the system. Alternatively, the information may be transmitted to a central control location from which it is distributed to other vehicles 12 of the system 10. Each vehicle 12 is also capable of determining the direction of the path of 10 movement of the vehicle 12. A direction sensor may be provided comprising a suitable accelerometer, magnetic or electronic compass mounted on the vehicle. Alternatively, the direction of the path of movement of the vehicle may be calculated based on previous location data. For example, if a vehicle has travelled along a relatively straight line, it may be assumed that the direction 15 of the vehicle is along that line. The system may also be arranged to receive data from the gear selector of the vehicle. If the orientation of the vehicle is known from previous location data, information regarding whether the vehicle is in a forward gear or reverse can be used to determine the path of movement of the vehicle. 20 The system also includes means to compare the current location of each vehicle 12 with the path of movement of vehicles in the vicinity to determine whether any vehicle is likely to be in a hazardous region in or adjacent the path of movement of a vehicle such that a collision may occur between the 25 vehicles. The calculation of the hazardous region may take into account the relative speeds of the vehicles and may be calculated as the sum of a hazardous region around each vehicle. In making this comparison, the system will utilise information regarding the accuracy of the location information to define a range around the path of movement of the vehicle considered to 30 hazardous given possible inaccuracies in the location information of each of the vehicles. The means to compare locations with paths of movement may comprise a processor provided in each vehicle that compares the direction and location 7 information of that vehicle with location information received from other vehicles of the system. Each vehicle is provided with a notification device provided to warn the driver 5 of the vehicle that another vehicle is within a hazardous region such that a collision may occur. The notification device may comprise a visible and/or audible alarm. The audible alarm may comprises a voice warning device. Each vehicle is also provided with an alert to indicate that the location of said 10 vehicle has been determined to be within the hazardous region in or adjacent the path of movement of another vehicle, resulting in activation of the notification device is said other vehicle. The alert may also comprise a visible and/or audible alarm. Further, each vehicle is provided with a release signal generator which is operable by the driver of the vehicle. The release signal 15 generator is operable to send a signal via the transmitter to deactivate a notification device that has been activated in another vehicle. The release signal generator may comprise a release button on a control panel that can be pressed by the operator of the vehicle. 20 Considering the example of Figure 1 in use, information regarding the location of a first vehicle (A), a second vehicle (B) and a third vehicle (C) is transmitted to each other vehicle. If the second vehicle (B) is placed into reverse by the operator, the information received from the direction sensor and the positioning device of the second vehicle determines a range around the path 25 of movement determined to be hazardous. This information is compared to the positions of the first (A) and third (C) vehicles and it is determined that the first vehicle (A) is in said range of the path. The notification device in the second vehicle (B) is activated to alert the driver of the potential hazard and a signal is transmitted to the first vehicle (A) resulting in the alert being activated 30 in the first vehicle (A). The release signal may be automatically activated when the vehicle is moving or for short periods after stopping. Also, the release signal can be permanently activated or the entire system shut down when the operator of 8 the vehicle determines the vehicle is in a safe location such as a parking spot where a larger vehicle is not permitted. The driver of the first vehicle (A) now has the ability to assess the risk to the 5 vehicle and determine whether it is in fact in a hazardous position. If the driver of the first vehicle determines that it is in a safe location, the driver operates the release signal generator which transmits a signal to the second vehicle deactivating the notification device. The driver of the second vehicle (B) now has been notified by the driver of the first vehicle that there is no hazard and 10 reversing may continue. In the event that more than one vehicle is determined to be within the hazardous region in or adjacent the path of movement of a vehicle, alerts are activated in each of the vehicles. In order for the notification device in the 15 moving vehicle to be deactivated, the operators of each of the vehicles in the hazardous region must operate the release signal generator. In one embodiment, the notification device is connected also to a stopping mechanism to stop movement of the vehicle. The notification device may be 20 connected to the braking system such that while the notification device is activated, the second vehicle cannot initiate movement. The second vehicle therefore cannot move until it has been released by operation of the release signal generator by the driver of the first vehicle. The notification device may be connected so that a parking brake cannot be released until the notification 25 device is deactivated. Each vehicle of the system may also be provided with a display in the vehicle that displays relative positions of each vehicle of the system. The drivers of the vehicles may use a comparison of the vehicle positions on the display with 30 the actual observed positions to confirm that vehicle positions are being correctly determined. The display means may also provide information about each vehicle in the system other than position, such as whether the notification device or alert 9 has been activated. The display may comprise a touch screen wherein the driver can utilise the touch screen to obtain information about other vehicles or take actions. The release signal generator for example may be provided via the touch screen wherein the driver selects the vehicle on display for which 5 the notification device has been activated to deactivate the notification device. Each vehicle may also be provided with a notification device activator that allows manual activation of the notification device on any vehicle. The notification device activator may be provided for example on the display such 10 that a driver can manually activate the notification device on a vehicle by selecting that vehicle on the display. This feature may be useful when a driver notices that the vehicle may be at risk of a collision with an object other than another vehicle. The system may also be provided with an emergency shutdown function wherein activation of the emergency shutdown by any 15 driver activates the notification device on all vehicles in the vicinity. In the event that a vehicle appears to be in imminent danger of collision, the emergency shutdown function may be activated to notify and/or stop all vehicles. 20 Each vehicle may also be provided with an override in order to deactivate the notification device in the vehicle if required. If for example a stationary unattended vehicle is determined to be in the path of the vehicle, the driver may need the ability to override the notification device once the driver has positively identified that further movement is safe. 25 The system may also be provided with mobile modules that include the positioning device 14, the transmitter 16 and the receiver 17 provided for a vehicle 12. The mobile modules may then be carried by the operator of a vehicle 12 after leaving the vehicle 12 in order to both protect the operator and 30 to control vehicles 12 in the vicinity. The mobile module may be provided in the form of software provided on an existing portable device such as a mobile phone.
10 Alternatively, a remote control device may be provided such that the operator can control the system from outside the vehicle. That is, remote control device may include the display such that the operator can be aware of activation of the notification device or alert and take appropriate action from outside the 5 vehicle. While the embodiment described utilises a GPS device to determine absolute position of the vehicles 12 in the system, it will be appreciated that the positioning device 14 may comprise a device capable of only determining 10 relative locations of the vehicles 12 in the system. For operation underground or where GPS signalling is not possible, signal strength, time of flight measurement of other distance measuring means can be used to determine relative locations of the vehicles or hazardous regions 15 around each vehicle. It will be appreciated that with the present system, the responsibility for the safety of the user of a second detection device is placed at least in part in the hands of the operator of that device. The operators of such devices therefore 20 have via the system some ability to control movement of other vehicles in the vicinity. It will be readily apparent to persons skilled in the relevant arts that various 25 modifications and improvements may be made to the foregoing embodiments, in addition to those already described, without departing from the basic inventive concepts of the present invention.