GB2602202A

GB2602202A - Sound safety barrier

Info

Publication number: GB2602202A
Application number: GB2117759.7A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Hugo Leadbetter James
Original assignee: BAE Systems PLC
Current assignee: BAE Systems PLC
Priority date: 2020-12-10
Filing date: 2021-12-09
Publication date: 2022-06-22
Anticipated expiration: 2041-12-09
Also published as: GB2602202B; GB202019487D0; GB202117759D0

Abstract

An apparatus 10 comprises: a sensor 110 configured to sense a person P at a location L; a detector 120 configured to detect a current hazard H associated with the location L; a directional sound device 130 for projecting sound towards the sensed person P at the location L; and a controller 140 configured to control the directional sound device 130 to project sound S towards the sensed person P, based on the detected hazard H. The sensor 110 may be a proximity sensor or motion detector. The directional sound device 130 may modulate an audible warning onto a high frequency ultrasound, and may be steerable and/or moveable. The directional sound device 130 may be an Acoustic Hailing Device (AHD) such as a Long Range Acoustic Device (LRAD). The apparatus 10 may comprise a plurality of directional sound devices whereby the controller 140 may select and control one directional sound device therefrom to project sound towards the sensed person. The apparatus 10 may further comprise an identifier for identifying the person P. The identity of the person P may be established via facial recognition or an RFID tag. The apparatus may be a safety barrier.

Description

SOUND SAFETY BARRIER

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a hazard detection and warning.

BACKGROUND

Machinery, for example electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic and/or mechanical machinery, may present hazards to personnel, for example in industry, construction, laboratory or medical facility, agriculture and/or transportation.

io Physical barriers (also known as safety barriers), such as gates or doors, may be used to prevent personal accessing locations where hazards may be presented. Markings, such as wall signs and/or floor markings, and/or visual indicators, such as lights particularly flashing lights, may be used to notify personnel of locations where hazards may be presented.

However, it may not be possible or practical to provide physical barriers.

Further, compliance, by personnel, with markings may be low. In addition, moving machinery, such as overhead cranes and robots such as cobots, may intermittently present hazards throughout locations accessed by personnel. Furthermore, electrical machinery, such as welders, made intermittently present hazards arising from radiation, such as radiofrequency and other electromagnetic radiation, throughout locations accessed by personnel.

Hence, there is a need to improve hazard detection and warning.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is one aim of the present invention, amongst others, to provide an apparatus and a method which at least partially obviate or mitigate at least some of the disadvantages of the prior art, whether identified herein or elsewhere. For instance, it is an aim of embodiments of the invention to provide an apparatus that improves hazard detection and warning, for example by more selectively -2 -alerting personnel, if they are present at a location and at risk of a hazard. For instance, it is an aim of embodiments of the invention to provide a method that improves hazard detection and warning, for example by more selectively alerting personnel, if they are present at a location and at risk of a hazard.

A first aspect provides an apparatus comprising: a sensor configured to sense a person at a location, a detector configured to detect a current hazard associated with the location; a directional sound device for projecting sound towards the sensed person lo at the location; and a controller configured to control the directional sound device to project sound towards the sensed person, based on the detected hazard.

A second aspect provides a method of projecting sound towards a person, the method comprising: sensing the person at a location; detecting a current hazard proximal the location; and directionally projecting sound towards the sensed person at the location, based on the detected hazard.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention there is provided an apparatus, as set forth in the appended claims. Also provided is a method. Other features of the invention will be apparent from the dependent claims, and the description that follows.

Apparatus A first aspect provides an apparatus comprising: -3 -a sensor configured to sense a person at a location; a detector configured to detect a current hazard associated with the location; a directional sound device for projecting sound towards the sensed person at the location; and a controller configured to control the directional sound device to project sound towards the sensed person, based on the detected hazard.

In this way, the directional sound device is controlled to conditionally (i.e. selectively) project sound (i.e. an audio warning) towards the location, if a person to is sensed at the location (i.e. targeted) and if a current hazard is detected (i.e. selectively). Hence, the apparatus selectively provides targeted audio warnings and/or deterrents and is thus particularly suitable for intermittent hazards, as described previously. In this way, personnel may continue to access locations until targeted by the selective warning, allowing personnel to work more safely amongst machinery that presents intermittent hazards, for example alongside cobots (collaborative robots). Since the projected sound is projected by the directional sound device, as described below more detail, the projected sound is selectively directed towards the person at the location, thereby providing a targeted audio warning to the person and hence aiding compliance. In contrast, conventional audio warnings are generally non-specific, thereby alerting all personnel, including those not at risk from the current hazard associated with the location, such that compliance with conventional audio warnings is relatively low. As such, conventional audio warnings may have low compliance and/or are confusing to personnel, who may hear multiple conventional audio warnings, including simultaneously. Furthermore, the directional sound device may be installed where it is not possible or practical to provide physical barriers.

The apparatus comprises the sensor, the detector, the directional sound device and the controller. It should be understood that the controller is communicatively coupled, unidirectionally or bidirectionally as appropriate and -4 -wired and/or wirelessly, to the sensor, the detector and the directional sound device. In one example, the sensor, the detector, the directional sound device and/or the controller are physically separate, for example in separate housings, and may be spaced apart. In one example, the sensor, the detector, the directional sound device and/or the controller are integrated, for example in the same housing.

Sensor The apparatus comprises the sensor configured to sense the person at the location. That is, the sensor is configured to sense the presence (c.f. the io absence) of persons at the location. It should be understood that the location comprises and/or is a geographic location, optionally including elevation, or a location relative to a coordinate system. It should be understood that the sensor is configured to sense the person at the location at a resolution, a precision and/or with an accuracy sufficient to determine the presence of the person at the location. In one example, the sensor is configured to sense a plurality of persons, including the person, at the location. In one example, the sensor is configured to determine a number of persons at the location. In one example, the sensor is configured to sense the person and/or a plurality of persons at the location and/or at a plurality of locations. In one example, the plurality of locations is mutually spaced apart, for example in one dimension or two or three mutually orthogonal dimensions. In this way, the sensor may sense person(s) at a plurality of different locations. In one example, the sensor comprises a plurality of sensors, for example a sensor array, configured to sense the person at the location, a plurality of persons at the location and/or a plurality of persons at a plurality of locations.

In one example, the sensor comprises and/or is a proximity sensor and/or a motion sensor. Generally, a proximity sensor is a sensor adapted to detect the presence of nearby objects without any physical contact. For example, a proximity sensor may emit an electromagnetic field or beam (for example, infrared radiation), and sense changes in the field or return signal. The object, -5 -in this case person, being sensed may be referred to as the target. Generally, proximity sensors have a relatively low-cost, relatively high reliability and relatively long functional life because of the absence of mechanical parts and lack of physical contact between the sensor and the sensed object. Suitable proximity sensors include inductive, optical, capacitive, magnetic and ultrasonic proximity sensors. Optical, capacitive and ultrasonic proximity sensors are preferred. Suitable motion sensors include passive infrared (PIR), ultrasonic, microwave, topographic and hybrid motion sensors. Motion sensors have a relatively low-cost, relatively high reliability and relatively long functional life io because of the absence of mechanical parts and lack of physical contact between the sensor and the sensed object. One example, the sensor comprises and/or is a camera, together with suitable software for object detection. Cameras may be used to identify the person and/or track the person. In one example the sensor comprises a camera and a proximity (e.g. depth) sensor.

In one example, the sensor is configured to track the location of the sensed person, for example currently, intermittently or continuously. In this way, the location of a moving person may be tracked down the sound projected theretowards whilst the person is moving.

In one example, the sensor comprises and/or is a fault-tolerant sensor. In this way, tolerance to faults is provided, for example by including redundancy, so as to improve an integrity of the sensor (high-integrity sensor). Such sensors may conform with industrial safety standards, for example.

Detector The apparatus comprises the detector configured to detect the current hazard associated with the location. It should be understood that a hazard is a risk or danger to the person and thus is contrary to the safety and/or well-being of the person. It should be understood that the hazard is concurrent or could be concurrent with the presence of the person at the location, such as due to a source of the hazard concurrently presenting the hazard and/or due to a source anticipated to present a hazard concurrent with the presence of the person at -6 -the location. It should be understood that the hazard is associated with the location, such that the person at the location is at risk of the hazard.

In one example, the detector is configured to detect the current hazard in a zone including the location. In one example, the zone comprises and/or is an area or region in an industrial building, construction site, laboratory or medical facility, agricultural space and/or transport sector. In one example, the detector is configured to detect a plurality of hazards, optionally in a plurality of zones, including a zone including the location.

In one example, the detector is communicatively coupleable to a source of to the current hazard and wherein the detector is configured to detect the current hazard based on data received therefrom, for example operational and/or safety status data.

In one example, the detector comprises and/or is a fault-tolerant detector. In this way, tolerance to faults is provided, for example by including redundancy, so as to improve an integrity of the detector (high-integrity detector). Such detector may conform with industrial safety standards, for example.

Directional sound device The apparatus comprises the directional sound (also known as sound from ultrasound) device for projecting the sound towards the sensed person at the location. Directional sound refers to the use of devices to create fields of sound which spread less than most (small) traditional loudspeakers. In all wave-producing sources, the directivity of any source, at maximum, corresponds to the size of the source compared to the wavelengths it is generating: the larger the sound source is compared with the wavelength of the sound waves, the more directional beam results. The specific transduction method has no impact on the directivity of the resulting sound field: the analysis relies only on the aperture function of the source, per the Huygens-Fresnel principle. Sound from ultrasound is the name given to the generation of audible sound from modulated ultrasound generated by ultrasonic devices (also known as parametric -7 -speakers) without using an active receiver. This happens when the modulated ultrasound passes through a nonlinear medium which acts, intentionally or unintentionally, as a demodulator. The ultrasonic devices achieve high directivity by modulating audible sound onto high frequency ultrasound. The higher frequency sound waves have a shorter wavelength and thus do not spread out as rapidly. The higher frequency sound waves substantially change the speed of sound in the air that it passes through. The air within the beam behaves nonlinearly and extracts the modulation signal from the ultrasound, resulting in sound that can be heard only along the path of the beam, or that appears to io radiate from any surface that the beam strikes. This technology allows a beam of sound to be projected over a long distance to be heard only in a small well-defined area; for a listener outside the beam, the sound pressure decreases substantially. This effect cannot be achieved with conventional loudspeakers, because sound at audible frequencies cannot be focused into such a narrow beam. For this reason, the resulting directivity of these ultrasonic devices is far higher than physically possible with any loudspeaker system.

In one example, the directional sound device comprises and/or is a parametric speaker comprising a transducer or an array of transducers, a drive circuit and an audio source. Typically, the drive circuit takes a carrier input, such as a 40 kHz carrier input (i.e. ultrasonic), which is modulated with the sound from the audio source, amplified and sent to the transducer or array thereof for projection.

In one example, the projected sound has a directionality in a range from 1° to 60°, preferably 2.5° to 30°, more preferably 5° to 15° radius conical.

In one example, the directional sound device is steerable and/or moveable and wherein the controller is configured to steer and/or move the directional sound device to project the sound towards the sensed person. In this way, the directional sound device may be steered or moved (e.g. by a servomotor) so as to project the sound towards the sensed person, such that a particular directional sound device may project sound towards a plurality of locations and/or towards -8 -a moving person. In one example, the directional sound device comprises an actuator, configured to physically move the directional sound device and/or a transducer thereof. In one example, the directional sound device comprises an array of transducers for steering the projected sound. Steering of projected sound using an array of transducers is known, for example for sonar, though has not as yet been previously applied to directional sound devices.

In one example, the directional sound device comprises and/or is an acoustic hailing device, AHD, for example a Long Range Acoustic Device, LRAD. AHDs are characterized by their ability to create long-range, directional io voice communications and warning tones. Their directionality is typically 5° to 60° radius conical at a 2 kHz tone.

Preferably, the apparatus comprises a plurality of directional sound devices, i.e. one or more directional sound devices, for example two to five directional sound devices (e.g. two, three, four or five directional sound devices), most preferably the apparatus comprises two directional sound devices.

Controller The apparatus comprises the controller configured to control the directional sound device to project sound towards the sensed person, based on the detected hazard.

That is, the controller is configured to control the directional sound device to conditionally project sound (i.e. an audio warning) towards the location, if a person is sensed at the location (i.e. targeted) and if a current hazard is detected (i.e. selectively).

The controller may be configured to selectively prioritise to project sound towards one person at one location, from a plurality of persons at the location and/or at a plurality of locations (i.e. a plurality of persons at a plurality of different respective locations). The prioritisation process may be based on prioritising a person who is closest to a detected hazard, based on selecting a prioritised hazard (e.g. a particularly dangerous hazard) from a list of known hazards, -9 -based on data received from the hazard (e.g. an operational mode); or any combination thereof.

The apparatus may comprise a plurality of directional sound devices for projecting sound towards the sensed person at the location. The controller may be further configured to select one directional sound device from the plurality of directional sounds devices and directionally projecting sound towards the sensed person at the location using said selected one directional sound device, based on the detected hazard. In other words, the controller may be advantageously able to select which directional sound device is best located and to orientated to project (e.g. at the highest fidelity) sound towards the sensed person at a location.

In a preferred example, the apparatus comprises a plurality of directional sound devices and the controller is further configured to select one directional sound device from the plurality of directional sounds devices and the controller is configured to control said one selected directional sound device to project sound towards the sensed person, based on the detected hazard. The controller may be configured to calculate that the selected one directional sound device is closest to the location, from for example data from the detector, the sensor and/or the directional sound device.

The controller may be further configured to mute one or more directional sound devices if, for example, the sensed person is at a location which is detected as too close to a directional sound device (e.g. less than 0.5m from a directional sound device). This advantageously prevents hearing damage to the sensed person.

In one example, the controller comprises a processor and a memory, for

example a computer.

Identifier In one example, the apparatus comprises an identifier configured to establish an identity of the person and the controller is configured to control the -10 -directional sound device to project the sound towards the sensed person at the location, based on the established identity. In this way, projection of the sound may be dependent upon (i.e. projected or not projected) the established identity and/or the projected sound may be specific to the person. It should be understood that the identifier is thus a sensing element configured to identify the person. For example, the identifier may establish the identity of the person using facial recognition from an image of the user acquired by a camera. For example, the identifier may establish the identity of the user by reading an RFID tag of the user. In one example, the identifier comprises and/or is a camera and/or a radio-io frequency identification (RFID) detector. Other identifiers are known.

Source In one example, the source comprises and/or is industrial, agricultural or medical machinery or a part of thereof. Examples of industrial machinery include manufacturing, handling and assembling lines for engineering and construction and chemical process plants. Examples of agricultural machinery include farming equipment and processing. Examples of medical machinery include diagnostic, surgical and therapeutic equipment. In one example, the source is an industrial robot or a part thereof. In one example, the source comprises and/or is a land craft, watercraft and/or aircraft, for example for road traffic or air traffic management.

In one example, the apparatus comprises a source of the detected hazard. Safety system In one example, the detector is communicatively coupleable to a safety system and wherein the detector is configured to detect the hazard based on safety data received therefrom. In this way, the safety system is augmented to include the apparatus. In one example, the controller is configured to control the directional sound device to project the sound responsive to the safety data, for example in response to a particular safety datum and/or the projected sound may be particular to, for example customised for, the safety data. In this way, more responsive and/or selective audio warnings may be projected towards the person.

In one example, the apparatus comprises the safety system. Heard sound In one example, sound heard by the sensed person has a frequency in a range from 20 Hz to 20 KHz (i.e. an audible frequency). In one example, sound heard by the sensed person has a frequency in a range from 15 kHz to 20 KHz. As described previously, the sound to be heard by the person is modulated onto carrier ultrasound, having a relatively higher frequency. Sounds in the range lo from 15 kHz to 20 KHz are of relatively high frequency and typically may be heard by younger, but not older, persons. Hence, the audio warning may be used as a deterrent for relatively younger persons.

In one example, sound heard by the sensed person has a pressure level of at least 110 dB. That is, the sound heard by the person is relatively loud.

Method A second aspect provides a method of projecting sound towards a person, the method comprising: sensing the person at a location; detecting a current hazard proximal the location; and directionally projecting sound towards the sensed person at the location, based on the detected hazard.

The sensing, the person, the location, the hazard, the directionally projecting and/or the sound may be as described with respect to the first aspect.

Preferably the apparatus and the method are utilised in a factory, on a factory floor, for example a manufacturing factory floor.

Definitions -12 -Throughout this specification, the term "comprising" or "comprises" means including the component(s) specified but not to the exclusion of the presence of other components. The term "consisting essentially of" or "consists essentially of" means including the components specified but excluding other components except for materials present as impurities, unavoidable materials present as a result of processes used to provide the components, and components added for a purpose other than achieving the technical effect of the invention, such as colourants, and the like.

The term "consisting of" or "consists of' means including the components io specified but excluding other components.

Whenever appropriate, depending upon the context, the use of the term "comprises" or "comprising" may also be taken to include the meaning "consists essentially of" or "consisting essentially of", and also may also be taken to include the meaning "consists of' or "consisting of'.

The optional features set out herein may be used either individually or in combination with each other where appropriate and particularly in the combinations as set out in the accompanying claims. The optional features for each aspect or exemplary embodiment of the invention, as set out herein are also applicable to all other aspects or exemplary embodiments of the invention, where appropriate. In other words, the skilled person reading this specification should consider the optional features for each aspect or exemplary embodiment of the invention as interchangeable and combinable between different aspects and exemplary embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the invention, and to show how exemplary embodiments of the same may be brought into effect, reference will be made, by way of example only, to the accompanying diagrammatic Figures, in which: -13 -Figure 1 schematically depicts an apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment; and Figure 2 schematically depicts a method according to an exemplary embodiment.

S

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 schematically depicts an apparatus 10 according to an exemplary embodiment.

The apparatus 10 comprises: io a sensor 110 configured to sense a person P at a location L; a detector 120 configured to detect a current hazard H associated with the location L; a directional sound device 130 for projecting sound towards the sensed person P at the location L; and a controller 140 configured to control the directional sound device 130 to project sound S towards the sensed person P, based on the detected hazard H. Figure 2 schematically depicts a method according to an exemplary embodiment.

The method is of projecting sound towards a person.

At S201, the method comprises sensing the person at a location.

At S202, the method comprises detecting a current hazard proximal the location.

At 5203, the method comprises directionally projecting sound towards the sensed person at the location, based on the detected hazard.

Although a preferred embodiment has been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications -14 -might be made without departing from the scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims and as described above Attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or lo process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at most some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, and drawings) may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Claims

-15 -CLAIMS1. An apparatus comprising: a sensor configured to sense a person at a location; a detector configured to detect a current hazard associated with the location; a directional sound device for projecting sound towards the sensed person at the location; and a controller configured to control the directional sound device to project io sound towards the sensed person, based on the detected hazard.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises and/or is a proximity sensor and/or a motion sensor.
3. The apparatus according to any previous claim, wherein the sensor is configured to track the location of the sensed person.
4. The apparatus according to any previous claim, comprising an identifier configured to establish an identity of the person and wherein the controller is configured to control the directional sound device to project the sound towards the sensed person at the location, based on the established identity.
5. The apparatus according to any previous claim, wherein the detector is configured to detect the current hazard in a zone including the location.
-16 - 6. The apparatus according to any previous claim, wherein the detector is communicatively coupleable to a source of the current hazard and wherein the detector is configured to detect the current hazard based on data received therefrom.
7. The apparatus according to claim 6, comprising the source.
8. The apparatus according to any previous claim, wherein the detector is communicatively coupleable to a safety system and wherein the detector is io configured to detect the current hazard based on safety data received therefrom.
9. The apparatus according to claim 8, comprising the safety system.
10. The apparatus according to any previous claim, wherein the directional sound device is steerable and/or moveable and wherein the controller is configured to steer and/or move the directional sound device to project the sound towards the sensed person.
11. The apparatus according to any previous claim, wherein the directional sound device comprises and/or is an acoustic hailing device, AHD.
12. The apparatus according to any previous claim, wherein the apparatus provides and/or is a safety barrier.
13. The apparatus according to any previous claim, wherein the apparatus comprises a plurality of directional sound devices and wherein the controller is further configured to select one directional sound device from the plurality of -17 -directional sounds devices and wherein the controller is configured to control said one selected directional sound device to project sound towards the sensed person, based on the detected hazard.
14. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the controller is configured to calculate that the selected one directional sound device is closest to the location.
15. A method of projecting sound towards a person, the method to comprising: sensing the person at a location; detecting a current hazard proximal the location; and directionally projecting sound towards the sensed person at the location, based on the detected hazard.