DE102008056663A1 - Electronic safety device architecture for race course, has computer, power supply unit, satellite-aided navigation module, bidirectional radio module, display unit and control unit - Google Patents

Abstract

The electronic safety device architecture has a computer (10), a power supply unit, a satellite-aided navigation module, a bidirectional radio module (13), a display unit (12) and a control unit (14). Each participant of a racing event is provided with safety device.

Description

State of the art

At Anti-collision systems in the form of a 77 GHz radar system has been around researched for many decades. Increasingly, these systems are in the upper class of vehicles offered. These radar systems can recognize every major object on a roadway, if it is on the straight-line track.

The FIA, on the other hand, is working on a safety system for racing drivers (F1 Greenlights GPS Marshal System; http://www.fia.com/automotive/issue6/institute/article4.html# ). In this highly professional system, all information goes to a command post, which then transmits the measures (electronic flag signals) to the driver by radio.

marshals form the safety net for events from the semi-professional sport upwards. However, these are used in many sports such as Motocross itself not used there yet. The wide motorsport comes out without marshals.

Criticism of the state of the art

The 77 GHz anti-collision technology is inherently relatively expensive. In Mass production is currently ending in low-cost products in terms of frequency 12 GHz (satellite TV). In addition, can not more worked with the low-priced SMD mounting technology become. Therefore, the 77 GHz systems will not be in the prevail as a mass product in the coming years.

in addition comes that these systems do not recognize when a vehicle in one Sink and stands directly behind an unclear curve. Continue to recognize these systems have no fluids on the road.

The FIA system is for the "Breitenrennsport" and Semi-professional sports up to the entry level of professional sports way too expensive and expensive.

Also Marshals are for many motorsport events too expensive. In addition, these are often too unreliable. Either their flag signals are not recognized because they are far away from the track, or they are too late.

Achievable benefits

The System of this invention needed as hardware components only a satellite-based navigation receiver (eg GPS or Galileo), short GPS module, and a bidirectional Radio transmission link, which is in the range of a few hundred meters until possibly a few km can be used. Both are very cheap Components. Therefore this system can be used for to introduce popular sports.

The Radio system is constructed in the MHz or lower GHz range and allows thus also the data transmission in sinks and in the mountains.

in the Racing is giving this new system (short name SafeTrack) for a vehicle that drives slowly or even stops, automatically a warning message in the form of the known flag signals. Especially in amateur sports marshals are often missing. Here SafeTrack replaces their function. Many accidents can be avoided.

in the Professional sports, SafeTrack offers the benefits of being more reliable as a marshal is, additional information (such as the speed of the non-intact vehicle) and that the information always in the same place in the field of vision of the Vehicle driver is mounted. Thus, the flag signals become no longer overlooked by the driver.

additionally can lap times and the distance of the next following vehicle are displayed to the driver. The lap times can also be transmitted to a central processing unit and form the basis for the lap time measurement of the race.

Further embodiment of the invention

SafeTrack can be used in military vehicles as well deploy. Because the radio module only transmits, provided that the vehicle is not is operational and constitutes a danger zone also no other safety aspects hurt. Here is the send function of course also be disabled.

Description of the invention

SafeTrack consists of uniform assemblies for each vehicle. These consist of a GPS module 11 , a bidirectional radio module 13 , a display unit 12 , a control unit 14 and an associated control computer 10 including the associated software and a battery 15 ,

1 it can be seen that the power supply 15 all units are powered. The control computer controls all other modules.

In practice, SafeTrack can be used in a han delsüblichen housing, such as these z. B. also be used in the time measurement, can be implemented.

The radio module can be advantageously designed in ISM bands at 433 MHz or 868 MHz. In these frequency ranges, the antennas as well as the radio field attenuation are still quite small. The data rate is very low in this application, so that even the narrow RFID channels of the 868 MHz band pose no problem. For vehicles with high speed, instead of a standard radio module, a so-called dual-mode radio module (patent application PCT / DE2006 / 002162 , "Arrangement of a radio transmission link") find use.

Stage 1: Electronic card for the security area

In SafeTrack works with only one radio channel in this expansion stage. The display unit can be realized with LEDs.

So that SafeTrack simply works for operators (racetrack organizers) and users (racers), the area in which the racing vehicle may stand (pit area and paddock) is stored. This area is intended as a security area 22 be designated.

If the vehicle with active SafeTrack transponder is outside the safety area (the racetrack) 21 ), the SafeTrack receiver is permanently activated. If a vehicle 23 The SafeTrack transmitter is activated if the speed falls below a minimum speed outside the security range. The warning message can be identified a few hundred meters (possibly up to a few km) in front of a danger point (circle area 24 ).

For Racing is also guaranteed to have SafeTrack one Warning message (yellow flag) indicates when a vehicle is off the track has come.

Of course, a SafeTrack transponder must also be equipped with a deactivation button (part of the control unit 14 ) so that a marshal can identify a secured vehicle.

Stage 2: Electronic card for Safety and racetrack area

So that the warning message can be deactivated immediately behind an accident vehicle, it is necessary to include the racetrack in the electronic map material. Now you can also use striking areas like the start finish line 25 be identified. Using the existing GPS receiver SafeTrack can thus display the lap time of the vehicle. The lap times can also be transmitted behind a receiver permanently installed at the start finish line. For this then the use of another (existing) radio channel is necessary.

These Expansion stage can additionally the distance to the next show the following vehicle, which is a very desired in racing and currently unavailable information. Therefore a second radio channel is used. For this, however, must be used as a display unit a (LCD) display.

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list The documents listed by the applicant have been automated generated and is solely for better information recorded by the reader. The list is not part of the German Patent or utility model application. The DPMA takes over no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• - DE 2006/002162 [0017]

Cited non-patent literature

• - http://www.fia.com/automotive/issue6/institute/article4.html# [0002]

Claims (2)

Architecture of an electronic security device for the race track consisting of a control computer, a power supply unit, a satellite-based navigation module, a bidirectional radio module, a display unit and a control unit, characterized in that a. that each participant of a racing event is equipped with such a safety device. b. that the location of the security area (consisting of the pit area and the paddock) is stored. c. if a vehicle falls below a selected minimum speed outside the safety range, a warning signal is displayed within a range of selectable diameter. Architecture of a security device according to claim 1, characterized a. that every participant of a racing event with Such a safety device is equipped. b. that the location of the security area (consisting of the pit area and the paddock) and the location of the race track as well as the direction of travel are stored. c. that if a vehicle is a chosen one Minimum speed outside the safety area falls below a warning signal within a range with selectable Distance behind the vehicle is displayed. d. that lap time the vehicle displayed and possibly transmitted to a central evaluation can. e. that the decency to the next vehicle is displayed can be.