EP1038284A1 - Systeme d'alarme servant a detecter l'approche d'objets - Google Patents

Systeme d'alarme servant a detecter l'approche d'objets

Info

Publication number
EP1038284A1
EP1038284A1 EP98962545A EP98962545A EP1038284A1 EP 1038284 A1 EP1038284 A1 EP 1038284A1 EP 98962545 A EP98962545 A EP 98962545A EP 98962545 A EP98962545 A EP 98962545A EP 1038284 A1 EP1038284 A1 EP 1038284A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
warning
warning system
vehicle
path
approaching
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP98962545A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Arnold Jameson
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of EP1038284A1 publication Critical patent/EP1038284A1/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G08—SIGNALLING
    • G08G—TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS
    • G08G1/00—Traffic control systems for road vehicles
    • G08G1/16—Anti-collision systems
    • G08G1/166—Anti-collision systems for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01S—RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES
    • G01S17/00—Systems using the reflection or reradiation of electromagnetic waves other than radio waves, e.g. lidar systems
    • G01S17/02—Systems using the reflection of electromagnetic waves other than radio waves
    • G01S17/04—Systems determining the presence of a target
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01S—RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES
    • G01S17/00—Systems using the reflection or reradiation of electromagnetic waves other than radio waves, e.g. lidar systems
    • G01S17/88—Lidar systems specially adapted for specific applications
    • G01S17/93—Lidar systems specially adapted for specific applications for anti-collision purposes
    • G01S17/931—Lidar systems specially adapted for specific applications for anti-collision purposes of land vehicles
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01S—RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES
    • G01S17/00—Systems using the reflection or reradiation of electromagnetic waves other than radio waves, e.g. lidar systems
    • G01S17/87—Combinations of systems using electromagnetic waves other than radio waves
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01S—RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES
    • G01S7/00—Details of systems according to groups G01S13/00, G01S15/00, G01S17/00
    • G01S7/003—Transmission of data between radar, sonar or lidar systems and remote stations

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a warning system operable to provide warning of an approaching object and in particular, although not exclusively, for warning personnel of an approaching object that is a hazard, or constitutes a potential hazard.
  • the invention has been devised with particular but not exclusive intent that it should be suitable for use by personnel working on disabled vehicles at the side of roads.
  • One object of the present invention is to provide a warning system suitable for warning personnel of an approaching object which is or constitutes a potential hazard, such as a warning system for assisting the safety of persons working on broken down vehicles or at track locations in situations such as those described above.
  • a further object of the present invention is to provide a warning system of said type and which is hand or vehicle portable.
  • I provide a warning system for warning of the approach of an object along an identified path to a position on said path, comprising means for detecting said approaching object on said path at a predetermined distance from said position, and means for providing a warning indication at or transmittable to said position in response to said detection.
  • the system may comprise means which detects at a plurality of predetermined distances (or over a range of distances) from said position on said path. Thus the system will then be able to detect a object which enters said identified path at a distance which is less than a maximum pre-determined distance at which the system is designed to be capable of detecting an object.
  • the distance from said position at which the approaching vehicle can be detected is determined so as to give a warning at said position with sufficient time for a person working at the position to move away therefrom, for e.g. an average or typical maximum speed of travel of vehicles in the vicinity of said position.
  • the system may comprise a speed vs. distance threshold reference map which is adjustable having regard to e.g. the potential maximum speed of an approaching vehicle.
  • a system in accordance with the invention may be used in the situation above described of the hard shoulder of a motorway or the verge of a high speed road, in which case the path on which the presence of an approaching vehicle is detected at a predetermined distance from the position is the hard shoulder or verge, as the case may be.
  • the invention further provides that the system comprises location discrimination means whereby when, for example, it is to be used on a road or motorway, it should be able to discriminate between vehicles travelling on the main carriageway, which represent no substantial danger to a person on the hard shoulder or verge, and vehicles approaching on the hard shoulder or verge which do present such a danger.
  • the invention provides, more generally, a system having location discrimination means operable to discriminate between an approaching object that presents a hazard and one which does not present such a hazard.
  • the system may comprise means for discriminating between an approaching vehicle on said identified path and one on a path alongside or proximate said identified path.
  • a laser range finding technique may be utilised, the very narrow beam of coherent light which can be produced by a laser device being extremely suitable for this purpose.
  • the means for detecting the approaching vehicle may comprise a radar beam or the like which emits radiation and detects an echo in the case of an approaching vehicle being in the beam.
  • a radar beam or the like which emits radiation and detects an echo in the case of an approaching vehicle being in the beam.
  • Such a beam requires to be of a high quality, e.g. sufficiently narrow to be directed along a path whose width is of the order of that of a motor vehicle, such that it does not respond to a vehicle on a closely adjacent path.
  • the beam has a width of less than 2 meters, more preferably less than 1 metre at a distance of 150 metres from the detecting means.
  • a beam having an operable, working width (i.e. width of usable signal strength) of less than 0.5 metres may be employed, and may be provided by a laser beam.
  • the beam may be of non-circular shape, and may be orientated to have a height greater than width, preferably a height greater than 3 times the width when used for monitoring along a motorway hard shoulder.
  • Another means for detecting an approaching object, and particularly suitable if the object comprises parts at above ambient temperature as in the case of a motor vehicle, comprises a thermal sensing device.
  • a beam having a less well controlled radiation direction or pattern may be employed, and may be used in conjunction with a remotely positioned gate or other device so that only radiation passing through the gate and reflected back by an approaching object is detected.
  • At least one of the system detecting components may be adapted for positioning remote from a means for providing the warning signal.
  • one detection means may be located on or in a road safety cone, and several spaced cones and auxiliary detection means may be linked to act together if the section of road approaching the breakdown vehicle is curved, at least some of the successive detection means being arranged each to detect over only a respective limited part of that total distance constituting the aforementioned predetermined distance along said identified path.
  • the warning signal given at the position may be audible and/or visible. It should be sufficiently loud and/or bright and/or appropriately positioned to be detectable in the presence of high speed traffic passing close by.
  • Other types of warning signal may be employed, such as a vibrator which may be of the kind employed in personal pager devices.
  • a warning signal of that type is particularly suitable for personnel operating in noisy and bright (e.g. full sunlight) conditions in which audible and visual warning signals may not be immediately recognised.
  • the components for comprising a system in accordance with the invention may be provided in close association with one another, and thus may be provided on a single vehicle or on some other item of equipment.
  • a breakdown vehicle, tow truck, vehicle used by emergency vehicles, or the like may be provided with a system in accordance with the invention.
  • at least a part of the system could be provided on a road warning sign, a safety barrier or the like, or even on the ubiquitous "road cone", or built into an adapted road cone.
  • the detecting means and warning means may be substantially integral with one another or may be provided as separate units. Communication therebetween may be achieved wirelessly, (e.g. by radio frequency wave transmission) or by a wired interconnection such as by means of a cable or optical fibres or otherwise.
  • the system may comprise speed discrimination means for the detection of the speed of such approach. Then, it is possible for the system to discriminate between a vehicle (or other object) approaching at high speed which clearly presents a hazard, and an object approaching at a low speed which presents no or a much reduced hazard.
  • There may be a threshold speed, which may be able to be set as required, between the system operating to provide a warning and no such warning being provided.
  • the threshold speed above which a warning signal is generated shall be a function of distance.
  • the system may take into account deceleration of an approaching object.
  • a fast moving object such as a police car approaching along the hard shoulder but decelerating rapidly, would not result in a warning signal being triggered.
  • the system may comprise comparator means adapted to compare a first signal derived from monitoring for the approach of an object along said identified path to a position on said path, and a second signal derived from monitoring for the approach of an object in a comparator path which at least in part lies alongside said identified path.
  • comparator path detection beam For monitoring for the approach of a vehicle along an identified path reference may be made initially to a signal derived from a comparator path which, when viewed in plan, is in the same direction as the identified path, but which is inclined upwards (e.g. at an angle between 2 and 8 degrees) to the horizontal or to the plane of the surface over which an approaching vehicle would travel when in said identified path.
  • a comparator path detection beam therefore is exposed to spurious signals similar to those to those experienced by a detection beam acting along said identified path, due for example to driving rain or vehicle spray, but because of its inclination will not detect an approaching vehicle at least until that vehicle is close to the detector.
  • the system may comprise fail-safe check means to provide that if a vehicle, e.g. a close-by vehicle, is detected in both said identified path and a comparator path, a warning signal will be generated.
  • electronic discrimination means may be employed to avoid operation of a warning signal in response to environmental conditions such as driving rain or spray.
  • a reflected signal from an object may be analysed to determine whether one of the signal properties such as intensity or continuity is indicative of a potentially hazardous object or due merely to an inherently non-hazardous cause.
  • electronic discrimination means may act to suppress or over-ride any signal component which is continuously present in a reflected signal.
  • the invention provides also a method of protecting road-side personnel working in the vicinity of an emergency vehicle comprising, providing said vehicle with detector means comprising an emitter operable to emit a beam of radiation reflectable by an on-coming vehicle, employing said detector means to detect reflection from an on-coming vehicle travelling along a path leading to said detector means and to discriminate against a reflected signal from a vehicle travelling outside said path, and, in response to detection of another vehicle travelling along said path, to provide said personnel with a warning signal.
  • Figure 1 illustrates diagramatically in plan view a system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention
  • FIG. 2 illustrates diagrammatically in plan another embodiment of the invention.
  • Figure 3 is a side view of part of Figure 2 in the direction of arrow A of Figure 2.
  • FIG. 1 there is illustrated part of a motorway or main road of motorway standard, comprising three traffic lanes 10, 11 , 12 of the main carriageway for one direction of travel, and a hard shoulder 13.
  • a vehicle stationary, e.g. broken down, on the hard shoulder is indicated at 14, and a vehicle attending such stationary vehicle is indicated at 15.
  • the vehicle 15, which may for example be an emergency services vehicle or a vehicle belonging to a breakdown mechanic, is, as is usual practice in such situations, parked behind the stationary vehicle between it and approaching traffic in the near side lane 12.
  • the vehicle 15 is provided with a means for detecting a vehicle approaching along the hard shoulder 13 at a predetermined distance from the vehicle 15.
  • detecting means may comprise an emitter 16 for a narrow beam of , e.g. electro-magnetic radiation as indicated at 17, and for detecting an echo thereof from a vehicle 18 approaching on the hard shoulder in the path of such a beam.
  • a warning signal is generated at the location of the vehicles 14, 15, enabling personnel there to move clear.
  • One particularly suitable technique for detecting the approach of a vehicle along a defined path is that commonly referred to as a laser range finding.
  • This utilises a laser light source which directs a short pulse of light in a narrow beam which can be directed along the hard shoulder of a road.
  • a detector device which faces along the same axis detects any reflection returned from a reflective object such as a vehicle.
  • a timing circuit measures the time elapsing between the emission of the pulse and the reflection thereof, which enables a calculation to be made of the distance between the emitter and reflector. The same timing operation for successive pulses enables information to be calculated as to the speed and direction of a moving object reflecting the light.
  • Suitable signal-processing circuitry will be provided to determine whether a vehicle thus detected is within a certain range and is moving towards the detector within a certain speed range. If the approaching vehicle falls within these criteria, then an alarm sequence is initiated. If such criteria are not met, e.g. if an approaching vehicle is too far away or is travelling slowly, an alarm would not initially be given although it will be appreciated that a detected approaching vehicle may come within the criteria for causing a warning signal to be given sometime after it has first been detected under conditions which would not cause the warning signal to be given. It is envisaged that generally the detection system should operate continuously or substantially continuously so that all situations presenting a potential hazard are detected in sufficient time to enable personnel to move clear.
  • warning sign may be provided on a warning sign, "road cone” or the like which may be deployed to provide a visible indication to passing vehicles of the presence of the stationary vehicles on the hard shoulder 13.
  • cones may be deployed as indicated at 19 and one of them may be provided with the detecting means.
  • Warning signs or the like may be deployed some distance away from the vehicles 14, 15, as indicated at 20, and the detecting means may be provided in association therewith, in wireless or wired communication with a warning signal provider in the vicinity of the vehicles 14, 15.
  • a breakdown vehicle 15' is shown at two positions 25,35 on a hard shoulder 13' adjacent a near side lane 12'.
  • One position 25 is at the end of a road section 26 that bends to the left, and the other position 35 is at the end of a road section 36 that bends to the right.
  • the detector 16' of breakdown vehicle 15' is arranged to operate in conjunction with a remote detector 27 mounted on a road safety cone 28.
  • the vehicle mounted detector16' detects entry of any vehicle straying onto the hard shoulder at a position between the breakdown vehicle 15' and the cone 28, and the warning system incorporates range finder means to establish the distance between the detector 16' and the cone 28 so that the system can disregard echo signals received by detector 16' from a vehicle further away than the cone 28. Presence of straying vehicles beyond the cone 28 is detected by the cone-mounted detector 27 which in this embodiment points along that remaining required length of the hard shoulder necessary to trigger a timely warning signal.
  • the beam from the vehicle mounted detector 16' will intersect the near side lane 12', but only at a position beyond the cone 28 and therefore any echo signal from vehicles in that lane will be disregarded in consequence of operation of the aforementioned range finder means.
  • Figure 3 shows an optional feature in which the vehicle mounted detector 16' emits a first beam along an identified path 30. and a comparator beam 31 is emitted in a similar direction as viewed in plan in Figure 2, but inclined upwards at an angle of about 5 degrees to the level of the road surface 32.
  • the beam 31 will serve to detect spurious signals caused by driving rain or vehicle spray, and a related signal can then be subtracted from a similar signal related to detection by the lower beam 30 so that the lower beam is operable to trigger a warning signal only in response to an approaching vehicle or other object that constitutes a potential hazard.
  • the warning system may comprise homing means whereby a detector is able to perform a homing operation in which it moves to lie in the required direction, e.g. along the aforedescribed said identified path.
  • a vehicle mounted detector will automatically move to align itself with a marker type cone that the driver of the breakdown vehicle has deployed on the hard shoulder, the marker type cone being a cone which incorporates means to co-operate with the vehicle mounted detector to enable the latter to identify the cone position.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Electromagnetism (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
  • Radar, Positioning & Navigation (AREA)
  • Remote Sensing (AREA)
  • Traffic Control Systems (AREA)

Abstract

Système d'alarme servant à avertir de l'approche d'un objet (18) le long d'un trajet identifié (13) vers une position (15) située sur ledit trajet et comprenant des moyens (16) servant à détecter l'approche de l'objet à une distance prédéterminée de ladite position (15), ainsi que des moyens servant à avertir cette position ou à transmettre une indication à ladite position en réaction à ladite détection. Ce système peut être utilisé avantageusement par le personnel travaillant sur des véhicules en panne (14) sur un accotement stabilisé d'autoroute afin d'être averti de l'approche de tout autre véhicule (18) déviant par inadvertance de l'autoroute (12) à l'accotement stabilisé (13).
EP98962545A 1997-12-13 1998-12-11 Systeme d'alarme servant a detecter l'approche d'objets Withdrawn EP1038284A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GBGB9726290.1A GB9726290D0 (en) 1997-12-13 1997-12-13 Warning system
GB9726290 1997-12-13
PCT/GB1998/003647 WO1999031639A1 (fr) 1997-12-13 1998-12-11 Systeme d'alarme servant a detecter l'approche d'objets

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1038284A1 true EP1038284A1 (fr) 2000-09-27

Family

ID=10823508

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP98962545A Withdrawn EP1038284A1 (fr) 1997-12-13 1998-12-11 Systeme d'alarme servant a detecter l'approche d'objets

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1038284A1 (fr)
AU (1) AU1768499A (fr)
GB (1) GB9726290D0 (fr)
WO (1) WO1999031639A1 (fr)

Family Cites Families (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2558266A1 (fr) * 1983-10-03 1985-07-19 Rambaud Guy Dispositif selectif detecteur d'obstacle pour vehicule
JPS60192282A (ja) * 1984-03-13 1985-09-30 Nippon Soken Inc 後続車接近検知装置
WO1987002812A1 (fr) * 1985-10-25 1987-05-07 Yianni Attikiouzel Avertisseur de danger de collision a l'arriere d'un vehicule
GB9203356D0 (en) * 1992-02-18 1992-04-01 Lochead Richard C K Road accident warning system
FR2700346A1 (fr) * 1993-01-14 1994-07-13 Sofrela Sa Balise routière avertisseuse.
DE4309606A1 (de) * 1993-03-24 1994-09-29 Bayerische Motoren Werke Ag Verfahren zum Vermeiden von Kollisionen von Kraftfahrzeugen
US5552767A (en) * 1994-02-14 1996-09-03 Toman; John R. Assembly for, and method of, detecting and signalling when an object enters a work zone

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See references of WO9931639A1 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU1768499A (en) 1999-07-05
GB9726290D0 (en) 1998-02-11
WO1999031639A1 (fr) 1999-06-24

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