EP2916302A1 - Method and system for protecting an isolated worker on board a motor vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for protecting an isolated worker on board a motorized vehicle, comprising the following successive steps: (a) detecting the combination of the following three events: (i) engaging the parking brake of said vehicle, (ii) opening a door of the vehicle, and (iii) the accomplishment of a specified task of the worker outside the vehicle, (b) waiting for a determined period of time from said detection, (c) at the end of said duration, if no modification of at least one of said three events has been detected, the transmission of an alert information and the transmission of said information to a remote security service. The invention also relates to a system for implementing said method and to a vehicle comprising said system.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a system and method for protecting an isolated worker on board a motor vehicle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The problem of the protection of isolated workers arises in different fields of application.

For example, snow groomer drivers, who are alone on board the groomer, are frequently driven out of the groomer to hang on or drop off an anchor.

In doing so, the driver is subjected to multiple risks of accidents, among which a fall during the descent of the snow groomer, a slip or a fall during a journey on the tracks of the snow groomers, a slip on a plate of ice, burial during attachment or unhitching of the winch cable to the anchor point, etc.

If the accident stops the driver out of the groomer and / or makes him lose consciousness, harsh weather conditions can quickly put his life at risk.

The isolation of the worker - especially when he is in a dangerous environment - therefore imposes a warning system that is triggered automatically when the worker is in danger.

A known solution is for example to equip the worker with a portable device comprising a sensor detecting the loss of verticality of the worker and automatically triggering an alert upon detection of such an event.

However, this solution is unsatisfactory for several reasons.

On the one hand, the fact that the device is portable causes many risks of forgetting, at the base or in the vehicle, thus rendering it unusable if the worker is immobilized outside the vehicle.

On the other hand, such a portable device must be provided with a battery or a battery, which can be discharged quickly at low temperature. This requires to ensure the proper state of charge and operation of said battery or battery.

Finally, measuring the loss of verticality is not a reliable indicator of an accident to the driver. Indeed, the mere fact that the worker bends down to perform a task can lead to the detection of a loss of verticality and the unjustified triggering of an alert.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

An object of the invention is therefore to design a method and a system for protecting an isolated worker that is more reliable than existing systems and that allows the issuance of alert information without the need for any specific action. the user.

1. (a) la détection de la combinaison des trois événements suivants :
   1. (i) l'enclenchement du frein de stationnement dudit véhicule,
   2. (ii) l'ouverture d'une porte du véhicule, et
   3. (iii) l'accomplissement d'une tâche déterminée du travailleur hors du véhicule,
2. (b) une attente pendant une durée déterminée à partir de ladite détection,
3. (c) au terme de ladite durée, si aucune modification de l'un au moins desdits trois événements n'a été détectée, l'émission d'une information d'alerte et la transmission de ladite information à un service de sécurité distant.

According to the invention, there is provided a method for protecting an isolated worker on board a motor vehicle, comprising the following successive steps:

1. (a) detecting the combination of the following three events:
   1. (i) engaging the parking brake of said vehicle,
   2. (ii) opening a door of the vehicle, and
   3. (iii) the accomplishment of a specified task of the worker outside the vehicle,
2. (b) waiting for a determined period of time from said detection,
3. (c) at the end of said duration, if no modification of at least one of said three events has been detected, the transmission of an alert information and the transmission of said information to a remote security service.

• (b1) une attente pendant une première durée déterminée,
• (b2) au terme de ladite première durée, le déclenchement d'une information de pré-alerte à destination du travailleur si aucune modification de l'un au moins desdits trois événements n'a été détectée,
• (b3) une attente pendant une deuxième durée déterminée.

Preferably, said method comprises, between the step (a) of detection and the step (c) of transmitting and transmitting the warning information, the following intermediate steps:

• (b1) an expectation during a first determined period,
• (b2) at the end of said first duration, triggering a pre-alert information to the worker if no change in at least one of said three events has been detected,
• (b3) an expectation during a second determined period.

The transmission of said pre-alerting information to the worker can be performed by a warning light and / or a buzzer of the vehicle.

Preferably, the transmission of the alert information to the remote security service is implemented by radiocommunication and / or mobile telephony.

In a particularly advantageous manner, the method comprises the geolocation of the vehicle and the transmission of a geolocation information from the vehicle to the remote security service with the warning information.

According to one embodiment of the invention, said vehicle is a winch groomer and the task to be performed by the worker comprises an attachment operation or unhooking of the winch cable at an anchor point.

• un capteur adapté pour détecter si le frein de stationnement dudit véhicule est enclenché ou non,
• un capteur adapté pour détecter une ouverture d'une porte dudit véhicule,
• un capteur adapté pour détecter l'accomplissement d'une tâche déterminée par le travailleur hors dudit véhicule,

ledit système de protection comprenant :

• une unité de traitement en communication avec chacun desdits capteurs pour recevoir des données de détection de chacun desdits capteurs,
• une unité de transmission configurée pour transmettre à un service de sécurité distant une information d'alerte émise par l'unité de traitement,
  ladite unité de traitement étant configurée pour, à partir des données de détection des capteurs :
  1. (a) déterminer si chacune des conditions suivantes est remplie :
     1. (i) le frein de stationnement est enclenché,
     2. (ii) la porte du véhicule a été ouverte,
     3. (iii) le travailleur effectue ladite activité déterminée,
  2. (b) si lesdites conditions sont toutes remplies pendant une durée déterminée, émettre une information d'alerte.

Another object relates to a system for protecting an isolated worker aboard a motor vehicle, said vehicle comprising:

• a sensor adapted to detect whether the parking brake of said vehicle is engaged or not,
• a sensor adapted to detect an opening of a door of said vehicle,
• a sensor adapted to detect the completion of a task determined by the worker outside said vehicle,

said protection system comprising:

• a processing unit in communication with each of said sensors for receiving detection data from each of said sensors,
• a transmission unit configured to transmit to a remote security service alert information transmitted by the processing unit,
  said processing unit being configured for, from the sensor detection data:
  1. (a) determine whether each of the following conditions is met:
     1. (i) the parking brake is engaged,
     2. (ii) the door of the vehicle has been opened,
     3. (iii) the worker performs the specified activity,
  2. (b) if the said conditions are all fulfilled for a specified period, issue an alert information.

In a particularly advantageous manner, the processing unit is configured to, if each of the conditions (i), (ii) and (iii) is fulfilled for a first determined duration, issue a pre-alert information to the worker and wait for a second determined duration before transmitting the alert information to the remote security service.

Preferably, said system further comprises a device for geolocation of the vehicle.

Furthermore, the transmission unit advantageously comprises a radiocommunication interface coupled to a radiocommunication transmitter arranged in the vehicle and / or a mobile telephone system.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the motorized vehicle is a winch groomer and the sensor for detecting the worker's activity outside the vehicle comprises a mechanical tension sensor of the winch and / or a locking or unlocking sensor. winch cable.

Preferably, the system further comprises an alert button operable manually by the worker.

Furthermore, said system also comprises a power interface coupled to a battery of the vehicle.

Finally, another object of the invention relates to a motor vehicle comprising a protection system as described above.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

In the following description, the protection of a winch groomer driver is considered by way of example, although the invention is not limited to this single application.

The vehicle, for example the groomer, is equipped with sensors that detect different states of the vehicle and a worker activity outside the vehicle.

In general, the vehicle is equipped from the outset of a sensor for detecting the engagement of the parking brake of said vehicle and a sensor for detecting the opening of a vehicle door, typically at least the driver's door.

Instead of or in addition to the door opening sensor, the vehicle can be equipped with a pressure sensor arranged under the seat of the driver's seat.

In the case where the vehicle is not equipped from the outset of these sensors, it is possible to install them for the implementation of the invention.

The vehicle is further equipped with a sensor to detect the completion of a specific task of the worker outside the vehicle.

For example, in the case of a winch groomer operator, said activity typically involves hooking or unhooking from an anchor point.

For this purpose, the vehicle is advantageously equipped with a sensor for locking or unlocking the winch cable and / or a mechanical tension sensor of the winch cable.

These different sensors are available on the market and will not be described in detail here.

A minimum of three sensors is required to perform robust detection of a risk situation by minimizing the risk of false alarms.

However, it is possible to use additional sensors, for example to ensure the redundancy of information or to take into account other dangerous situations facing the worker in the vehicle.

Thus, for example, the system may include sensors for detecting an accident and / or a dangerous situation.

Such sensors advantageously allow to detect a significant shock, a loss of horizontality of the vehicle, a reversal of the vehicle, excessive speed of the vehicle. These sensors are therefore selected from shock sensors, inclinometers, accelerometers.

Advantageously, the protection system further comprises a GPS system for locating the vehicle.

This location can be used to detect the entry of the vehicle into an area, such as an area near an anchor or a prohibited area, such as a lake or a danger zone, whose GPS position has been previously registered in the system. This location will subsequently announce an alert by naming the location of the incident.

On the other hand, the protection system may also include a button allowing the worker to manually trigger an alert. Such a button can for example be located on the dashboard of the vehicle, so as to be easily accessible in an emergency situation.

In operation, the protection system detects any change in the condition of the handbrake sensor, the door opening sensor and the winch cable lock sensor.

1. (i) l'enclenchement du frein de stationnement dudit véhicule,
2. (ii) l'ouverture d'une porte du véhicule,
3. (iii) l'accomplissement de ladite tâche déterminée du travailleur hors du véhicule.

When the worker leaves the vehicle to perform a specific task, for example, in the case of the groomer, go hang on or unhook from an anchor point, the system detects the combination of the following three events:

1. (i) engaging the parking brake of said vehicle,
2. (ii) the opening of a door of the vehicle,
3. (iii) accomplishing said determined task of the worker outside the vehicle.

The combination of these three events is characteristic of an exit of the vehicle worker in order to accomplish his task.

There is typically no provision to monitor the worker while leaving the vehicle for any reason other than performing a duty related task, such as taking a break.

As soon as the combination of events (i), (ii) and (iii) is detected, the protection system triggers a delay.

Advantageously, the system transmits information to the worker via the vehicle radio, indicating that his exit from the vehicle to accomplish a task has been detected.

The protection system remains in a waiting situation for a determined period of time from said detection.

Said duration is greater than the expected duration for the accomplishment of the task.

Typically, said duration is of the order of a few minutes.

At the end of said duration, if no modification of at least one of said three events has been detected, which means that the worker has not returned to the vehicle, the system issues warning information and the transmits to a remote security service.

Preferably, the delay comprises two steps to enable the driver to be alerted before alerting the remote security service.

A first delay step, initiated from the detection of the driver output, has a sufficient duration for the completion of the task.

At the end of this first period, a pre-alert to the worker is triggered. This may be an audible and / or light alert, for example by means of the horn and / or beacon of the groomer.

The worker must then return to the vehicle to perform an action resulting in a change of state of at least one of the sensors, which resets the first timer.

If the driver leaves the vehicle to continue his task, this new output is detected and the first timer is triggered again.

If on the other hand the worker does not return to the groomer after the emission of the pre-alert, a second time delay is triggered.

If, after this second delay, no change of state of the sensors is detected, the system deduces that the worker is in danger and then sends the alert to the remote security center.

Advantageously, this alerting information is also transmitted to the drivers of the other snow groomers present on the same site, which are likely to intervene quickly.

The warning message is advantageously vocal and includes an indication of the vehicle concerned and its GPS position.

Advantageously, the GPS position of all the anchor points is known, which allows the system to indicate in the voice message the anchor point at which the groomer is located, in order to locate it more easily.

If the GPS position is not known, the gyrophares of the groomer, which remain in operation as long as no intervention on the groomer is performed, allow to locate visually the groomer.

The transmission of the alert can be performed by the vehicle radio, the remote security service is also equipped with a radio, and / or mobile telephony.

The alert message is repeated at defined intervals as long as no action on the groomer is performed.

Concretely, the protection system comprises a housing intended to be installed in the vehicle.

This box contains an electronic card including an interface card with the vehicle power supply, typically operating between 9V and 36V. The protection system is thus powered directly by the vehicle battery, without the need for the driver to worry about recharging it.

The electronic card comprises an input / output module and a CAN module (English acronym for the "Controller Area Network") for coupling the protection system to the vehicle components, namely the sensors, the beacon, the horn and the vehicle radio.

The electronic card also includes a microprocessor that allows the management of the input and output data of the protection system.

• gérer et traiter une flotte de véhicules,
• gérer et traiter la position GPS des points d'ancrage,
• gérer et traiter la position GPS du véhicule,
• gérer et traiter le nom vocal des points d'ancrages,
• gérer et traiter le nom vocal du véhicule,
• gérer et traiter différents messages vocaux d'alerte,
• gérer et traiter les conditions de temporisation préalable à l'émission de la pré-alerte et de l'alerte,
• gérer et traiter le transfert de l'alerte par la radio en message vocal,
• gérer et traiter l'envoi d'un message par GSM.

The microprocessor is configured to implement embedded software to:

• manage and process a fleet of vehicles,
• manage and process the GPS position of the anchor points,
• manage and process the GPS position of the vehicle,
• manage and process the vocal name of the anchor points,
• manage and process the voice name of the vehicle,
• manage and process different alert voice messages,
• manage and process the delay conditions prior to the emission of the pre-alert and the alert,
• manage and process the transfer of the alert by the radio in voice message,
• manage and process the sending of a message by GSM.

The microprocessor includes a USB plug which allows its connection to an external programming system. The programming may include entering the GPS positions of the anchor points and / or prohibited areas, the waiting time before the triggering of the pre-alert and / or alert, etc.

The electronic card advantageously comprises an inclinometer, an accelerometer and / or a shock sensor, so as to detect dangerous situations independently of a driver action even when the driver is on board the vehicle.

The electronic card advantageously comprises a GPS system and the associated antenna to allow the geolocation of the vehicle.

The electronic card also includes a radio interface coupled to the vehicle radio for transmission of the alert.

The electronic card also includes a GSM system and the associated antenna for transmitting a message by mobile telephony.

A first advantage of such a system is that being installed in the groomer, it avoids any risk of forgetfulness on the part of the driver and operates without special intervention of the driver. On the contrary, with conventional portable systems, there is a risk that the driver will forget the system at the base of work or in another vehicle.

On the other hand, the use of portable protection systems assumes that the driver makes sure to recharge them in a timely manner. The power supply of the protection system by the vehicle battery avoids these drawbacks and at all times have a functional warning system.

Another advantage of this system is that it provides a voice alert message identifying the vehicle and, advantageously, the position of a neighboring anchor point.

On the other hand, the transmission of the alert using the vehicle radio, the system is not subject to a possible lack of GSM coverage and is therefore reliable regardless of the location of the vehicle.

As already mentioned above, the invention is not limited to the protection of the drivers of winch groomers but can be applied to the protection of any single worker in a motor vehicle and working in a hostile environment.

Thus, in particular, the invention can be applied to the protection of snowplow drivers, foresters (especially during logging operations), firefighters, gendarmes, soldiers, or even municipal services maintenance of roads and green spaces.

In addition, the vehicle may include tracks like a snow groomer or a snowmobile, or be equipped with four or six wheels such as a 4x4 vehicle, a truck, a plow, a tractor, or be equipped with two wheels, as a motorcycle.

Claims (14)

A method of protecting an isolated worker in a motor vehicle comprising the following steps: (a) detecting the combination of the following three events: (i) engaging the parking brake of said vehicle, (ii) opening a door of the vehicle, and (iii) the accomplishment of a specified task of the worker outside the vehicle, (b) waiting for a determined period of time from said detection, (c) at the end of said duration, if no modification of at least one of said three events has been detected, the transmission of an alert information and the transmission of said information to a remote security service. A method according to claim 1, comprising, between step (a) of detection and step (c) of transmitting and transmitting the alerting information, the following intermediate steps: (b1) an expectation during a first determined period, (b2) at the end of said first duration, triggering a pre-alert information to the worker if no change in at least one of said three events has been detected, (b3) an expectation during a second determined period. The method of claim 2, wherein the transmission of said pre-alerting information to the worker is performed by a warning light and / or a buzzer of the vehicle. Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the transmission of the alert information to the remote security service is implemented by radiocommunication and / or mobile telephony. Method according to one of claims 1 to 4, comprising the geolocation of the vehicle and the transmission of a geolocation information from the vehicle to the remote security service with the alerting information. Method according to claim 1 to 5, characterized in that said vehicle is a winch groomer and in that the task to be performed by the worker comprises a hooking operation or unhooking of the winch cable at an anchor point. System for protecting an isolated worker in a motor vehicle, said vehicle comprising: a sensor adapted to detect whether the parking brake of said vehicle is engaged or not, a sensor adapted to detect an opening of a door of said vehicle, a sensor adapted to detect the completion of a task determined by the worker outside said vehicle, said protection system comprising: a processing unit in communication with each of said sensors for receiving detection data from each of said sensors, a transmission unit configured to transmit to a remote security service alert information transmitted by the processing unit,
said processing unit being configured for, from the sensor detection data: (a) determine whether each of the following conditions is met: (i) the parking brake is engaged, (ii) the door of the vehicle has been opened, (iii) the worker performs the specified activity, (b) if the said conditions are all fulfilled for a specified period, issue an alert information. A system according to claim 7, wherein the processing unit is configured to, if each of conditions (i), (ii) and (iii) is fulfilled for a first predetermined period, transmitting pre-alert information to the worker and wait for a determined second period before issuing the alert information to the remote security service. System according to one of claims 7 or 8, further comprising a device for geolocation of the vehicle. System according to one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the transmission unit comprises a radio communication interface coupled to a radiocommunication transmitter arranged in the vehicle and / or or a mobile telephone system. System according to one of Claims 7 to 10, in which the motorized vehicle is a winch tamper and the sensor for detecting the activity of the worker outside the vehicle comprises a mechanical tension sensor of the winch and / or a locking sensor or unlocking the winch cable. System according to one of claims 7 to 11, further comprising a warning button operable manually by the worker. System according to one of claims 7 to 12, comprising a power interface coupled to a battery of the vehicle. Motorized vehicle comprising a protection system according to one of claims 7 to 13.