EP0634734A1 - Mobil traffic monitoring system - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a mobile traffic monitoring system with a device for monitoring traffic processes by means of optical devices in the vehicle, an image being triggered by a functional element of the vehicle. The system is composed of three functionally connected components, namely an image acquisition system in the vehicle, a vehicle data and function memory (status data memory) and sensors for recording the traffic scene. An exemplary embodiment is described and explained using the example of a public local bus. <IMAGE>

Description

The invention relates to a mobile traffic monitoring system with a device for monitoring traffic flows by means of optical devices in the vehicle according to the preamble of claim 1.

From DE 34 38 737 - A1, an equipment supplementary device in the form of a car situation camera for motor vehicles has become known, which is permanently mounted in the vehicle and automatically captures situations that are decisive under traffic law automatically in the image or film during the journey. or engine power indicator is activated in conjunction with brake or horn signal actuation. However, more detailed information about the device structure and the exact functioning etc. are not disclosed here.

A photographic camera for traffic monitoring has become known from DE 11 39 315, in which two cameras installed with different angles of view are integrated in the vehicle to record the traffic situation, one of the cameras recording the driving speed and the time. This is a control and monitoring device used by the police to record speeding violations. These and the numerous similar facilities also do not indicate that the vehicle driver should be given a quasi-personal documentation device for the automatic detection of accident-prone situations.

A method for measuring the flow of traffic and the classification of the individual vehicles on roads has become known from DE 38 30 598 - C2, in which different sensors deliver identification signals which are compared and evaluated with stored characteristic data. Here, too, the method is not used to document situations in the traffic of the "own" vehicle.

For trucks and buses, tachographs and accident data recorders (UDS) are required by law, as described, for example, by Kienzle and Mercedes in the article "Quite incorruptible the crash "in the magazine Teckbote" from April 17, 1993. These UDS devices are evaluated once after an accident, whereby only the entire memory content of the last 30 seconds before and 15 seconds after a collision ("crash") are "frozen", so to speak, and are thus available, while the data is otherwise deleted or deleted every 45 seconds be overwritten. Only the data of your own vehicle are saved here, but a comparison with data from the street scene is not possible.

The present invention has for its object to provide a mobile traffic monitoring system of the type mentioned, which is integrated in the vehicle and automatically compares the functional devices carried out in chronological order with the simultaneous traffic events and the possible traffic situations together with the in and on the vehicle records the device actuations taken in documentary form.

Fig. 1

ein Straßenverkehrs-Scenenbild am Beispiel eines Bus-Stopps eines öffentlichen Personennahverkehrs-Fahrzeugs an einer gekennzeichneten Haltestelle,

Fig. 2

ein Straßenverkehrs-Scenenbild gemäß Fig. 1 bei Betätigung des Busfahrtrichtungsanzeigers und Beobachtung der Verkehrssituation in gleicher Fahrtrichtung,

Fig. 3

ein Straßenverkehrs-Scenenbild gemäß Fig. 2 bei Gegenverkehr,

Fig. 4

ein Straßenverkehrs-Scenenbild beim "Einfädeln des Busses" aus der Haltebucht in die zugeordnete Fahrbahn,

Fig. 5

ein Straßenverkehrs-Scenenbild mit Darstellung einer unfallträchtigen Situation beim Einfädeln",

Fig. 6

ein Vergleichsbild zwischen dem Stand der Technik und vorliegender Erfindung.

This object is achieved by the measures taken in claim 1. Refinements and developments are specified in the subclaims and exemplary embodiments are explained in the following description. and sketched in the figures of the drawing. Show it:

Fig. 1

a road traffic scene image using the example of a bus stop of a local public transport vehicle at a marked stop,

Fig. 2

1 when the bus direction indicator is actuated and the traffic situation is observed in the same direction of travel,

Fig. 3

2 shows a two-way traffic scene image according to FIG. 2,

Fig. 4

a road traffic scene picture when "threading the bus" from the stop into the assigned lane,

Fig. 5

a road traffic scene picture showing an accident-prone situation when threading ",

Fig. 6

a comparison picture between the prior art and the present invention.

The proposed mobile traffic monitoring system will be explained using the example of a local public transport bus. It consists of three components: image acquisition system, status data storage and sensors. The recording and image acquisition system is coupled with functions of the bus operating instruments and is only activated in very specific situations. The situation described below is explained as an example:

A bus drives to a marked public stop and certain instruments of the vehicle are actuated, such as the direction indicator (turn signal), the brake and the door opener. This defined operating status is now stored in the present monitoring system and, at the same time, a camera in a defined position is made available for taking a picture. The camera is preferably already installed and positioned accordingly in the vehicle interior. If the left turn signal for threading into the flowing traffic is set when the vehicle is started again, and an overtaking vehicle passes sensors a, b on the bus, for example inductive sensors, radar, light barrier, etc., the recording device integrated in the vehicle, e.g. camera, Video or film device activates and creates a situation picture or film. It is essential that the instantaneous status of the control elements is stored simultaneously with the image triggering, that is to say the situation and vehicle operating state are saved together and simultaneously. The situation in the image or film and the vehicle operating status are therefore stored in the data carrier.

The so-called image memory - i.e. the camera or video film - is immediately available for a new situation after the automatic film transport, but can be used at any time for evaluation, but at the latest when the image carrier is fully exposed. At the same time the data carrier is also "synchronously rewound" with the image carrier, so that the recording and associated situation data are virtually congruent from case to case. It should be emphasized that the memory content is generally only committed in the event of a "crash", but that in an extended embodiment it is also possible to record dangerous traffic situations in connection with the vehicle (here the public bus), in particular in the event of violations of existing laws. Here are a few examples:

1 and 2 illustrate a situation in which a public local bus enters a stop and actuates the brake light. In a number of countries there is a regulation that vehicles following a public bus must stop. When the vehicle brake is actuated, not only do the brake lights light up, but the camera integrated in a special position on the vehicle is also "made ready" for a recording (or scene film). If - despite the prohibition - a vehicle now passes a sensor activated by the bus brake light - which can be designed, for example, as a light barrier - the camera image trigger is activated at the same time and the dangerous traffic situation from the point of view of the bus is captured in the image. This also proves that the taillights, indicators, etc. were actually activated at the time the picture was taken, and the corresponding memory contents are also output at the same time. In the present case, it would be virtually "start-up control" not only to record the setting of the turn signal, but also all other actuation information for the vehicle, i.e. closing the doors, engine speed, etc.

Since photography or filming is almost always from one and the same distance in a defined beam or measuring range, a commercially available automatic camera - i.e. with automatic or preset aperture / time combination and fixed distance setting - with a film transport motor is sufficient for the image acquisition. Of course, a commercially available automatic auto focus camera can also be used. If the bus now goes out of the bus stop onto the normal lane and sets the left turn signal for this purpose, the camera automatically pans outwards in order to detect traffic overtaking (Fig. 4 and 5) and "lane cutter". The angle of view of the lens can also be increased by setting the turn signal, if the camera is not equipped with a wide-angle lens from the outset.

The overtaking vehicles can be picked up in or against the direction of travel. The sensors a, b, which initialize the image acquisition and storage, are defined in the order to be traversed - as illustrated in FIG. 3 - that is, a to b or b to a. Otherwise vehicles of the opposite direction pass through the sensors a, b can also be recorded.

With regard to traffic monitoring, the above-described vehicle-integrated image and data storage device only delivers a status report for two road users who are independent of one another but are in a traffic situation that is dependent on one another. For this purpose, for example, the sensors (a, b) are also defined in their sequence to be traversed, so that e.g. no vehicles in the opposite direction are detected. The data storage device provides the status of the functional elements such as indicators, door position or speed, etc. of the vehicle in which it is integrated at the time of the "hazard" or "crash". The combination of the externally and internally functioning elements provides documented information about the relevant time-related traffic flow, and completely independent of time, location and technical conditions.

The single image recording or video camera can be permanently installed on the vehicle at a defined location, but can also be designed to be automatically retractable into the vehicle body. The sensors that trigger the camera and memory impulses are defined in the order to be passed. When using a zoom lens with focal lengths of 35 to 100 mm, in one embodiment the focal length is set, for example, via the turn signal system of the vehicle. When you swing out of the stop back into the lane, for example, the lens is automatically set to "wide angle" by a switching element of the turn signal system and, for example, automatically to a normal focal length (50mm) by an element of the gear shift. Of course, many variations are possible.

Claims (5)

Mobile traffic monitoring system with a device for monitoring traffic processes by means of optical devices which are integrated in the vehicle, the image being triggered by a functional element of the vehicle, characterized in that the monitoring system consists of an image acquisition system, a status data memory and one or more sensors (a, b) which are logically linked with each other, whereby the image acquisition system consists of an integrated or defined positioned image or video camera with flash unit, which is made up of one or more functional elements of the vehicle and sensors - such as inductive sensors, light barriers, radar, etc .- is activated and at the same time as the vehicle status memory is recorded, the data of the vehicle instruments activated at that time, such as brakes, brake lights, door opening and closing switches, direction indicators, tachometer etc. - i.e. the vehicle operating status - attaches the image information, evaluates it in a common evaluation device (CPU), optionally stores and outputs it. Traffic monitoring system according to claim 1, characterized in that a commercially available camera with time / aperture automatic and preset focus range or an autofocus camera is used as the image detection system. Traffic monitoring system according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the sensors (a, b) which set the pulse of the camera flash device are defined in their sequence (a to b) to be traversed. Traffic monitoring system according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the image detection system is equipped with a zoom lens (zoom) which works in a focal length range from 38 mm to 100 mm (wide angle to small telephoto), the focal length setting being automatically via an operating element of the Vehicle. Traffic monitoring system according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the image acquisition system is equipped with a remote data transmission system (radio data transmission) which sends the data and image information to a central receiving unit.

Images