JP2006098128A - Collapse detector and method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a collapse detector and a method which enable the detection of the collapse over a wide range, grasping of a fine variation, and easy separation of the collapse from a phenomenon other than the collapse. <P>SOLUTION: The collapse detector 10 is provided with: acceleration sensor units 11 which are provided to a plurality of collapse monitoring locations, which are provided with radio communication means for constructing a self-organizing network, and which output a signal when the acceleration of the collapse is equal to or more than a preset threshold; a relay means 14 which is connected with the self-organizing network, which determines the occurrence of the collapse when the number of the acceleration sensor units 11 that have detected the accelerations is equal to or more than a preset value, and which outputs a disaster warning; and a means for announcing the occurrence of the collapse by inputting the disaster warning. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a collapse detection apparatus and method, and more particularly to a collapse detection apparatus that detects a phenomenon in which a cliff, a mountain, or the like collapses due to a natural disaster.

When a cliff or mountain collapses, traffic such as roads and railways passing nearby is interrupted or human disasters occur, so it is necessary to detect the collapse as soon as possible to avoid danger. As a method for detecting the collapse of a cliff or the like, for example, there are the following techniques. First, install an optical fiber, wire, net, etc. in a place where there is a risk of collapsing, and when the collapsing occurs, the degree of stress applied to the optical fiber by the rock or earth caused by the collapsing, For example, there is a technique for detecting collapse by detecting displacement, cutting, etc. (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Secondly, there is a technology that provides a camera for imaging a fall monitoring location, monitors the fall with this camera, and detects a fall by detecting a change in the image due to the fall. Third, there is a technique for detecting a collapse by installing an acoustic emission (AE) sensor at a collapse monitoring location and detecting sound or vibration generated at the time of the collapse with the AE sensor (see, for example, Patent Document 2). Fourth, there is a technique for detecting a fall by installing a case provided with a roll detection means at a fall monitoring location and detecting the roll of the case when the fall occurs (see, for example, Patent Document 3).
JP 2000-97737 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-300729 JP-A-11-185187

  However, when equipment such as an optical fiber or wire is installed at the place where the fall is monitored, the fall can only be detected at the place where the equipment is provided, so that the fall cannot be detected over a wide area. Since it is arranged open, the initial small collapse cannot be detected.

Further, in the case of monitoring the collapse, it is possible to detect a change of a relatively large image, but a minute change may not be detected. In addition, it is necessary to have a high level of technology to separate image changes into collapse and other phenomena.
Further, when an AE sensor is installed at a fall monitoring location, it is difficult to determine whether the sound or vibration detected by the AE sensor is due to a fall phenomenon.

Even when a case for detecting rolling is installed at the collapse monitoring location, when the dangerous location collapses without the rolling detection means rolling, for example, when a landslide occurs, the rolling detection means collapses. Cannot be detected.
An object of the present invention is to provide a collapse detection device and method that can detect collapse over a wide range and capture minute changes, and can easily distinguish between collapse and other phenomena.

  In order to achieve the above object, a collapse detection device according to the present invention is provided with a plurality of acceleration sensor units diffused in a collapse monitoring location, and the acceleration sensor unit includes a wireless communication unit and communicates with a plurality of acceleration sensor units. Acceleration is detected by moving together with the fallen soil, and connected to a network connected by a plurality of the acceleration sensor units, and an alarm is output according to the number of sensor units detected by the acceleration sensor units. The relay means is provided, and means for notifying the occurrence of a collapse by inputting the alarm is provided.

The acceleration sensor unit further includes an arithmetic processing unit that determines whether or not the acceleration detected by the acceleration sensor unit is equal to or greater than a preset threshold value.
In addition, the relay means includes means for determining that a collapse has occurred if the number of the acceleration sensor units that have detected the acceleration is equal to or greater than a preset value.

  Also, the collapse detection method according to the present invention provides a plurality of acceleration sensor units at a collapse monitoring location, sets the normal mode and the power saving mode, the acceleration sensor unit in the normal mode detects acceleration, and the acceleration is detected. The acceleration sensor unit that activates the acceleration sensor unit in the power saving mode if the signal level of the signal is equal to or higher than a preset threshold, and detects an acceleration equal to or higher than a preset threshold among the activated acceleration sensor units It is characterized in that the occurrence of a collapse is detected if the number of is greater than a preset value.

  When a collapse occurs at the danger monitoring location, the acceleration sensor unit moves with the earth and sand to detect the acceleration, so that the occurrence of the collapse can be reliably detected. In addition, since a plurality of acceleration sensor units are provided at the danger monitoring location, it is possible to detect a collapse over a wide range. And since the acceleration sensor unit itself is small, long-distance communication cannot be performed. However, since the acceleration sensor unit is connected to adjacent acceleration sensor units by communication, a network is constructed. Can output a signal. In addition, since the relay means is connected to the network, the signal output from the acceleration sensor unit can be transmitted over a long distance.

  Since the plurality of acceleration sensor units provided in the danger monitoring location are set to either the normal mode or the power saving mode, the operation detection unit for the year can be realized as the entire collapse detection device. Also, if the normal mode sensor unit detects acceleration reliably, that is, if it detects acceleration above the threshold, the power saving mode sensor unit is activated to detect, so is the acceleration detected in a wide range? It can be determined whether acceleration is detected locally. When acceleration is detected in a wide range, that is, when the number of acceleration sensor units that have detected acceleration equal to or greater than a threshold value is equal to or greater than a set value, it is determined that a collapse has occurred, so that the collapse can be detected.

  In the following, the best mode of the collapse detection device and method according to the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory diagram of a collapse detection device. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the acceleration sensor unit. The collapse detection device 10 includes an acceleration sensor unit 11 that monitors the collapse of a cliff, a mountain, etc., a means 14 that relays an acceleration detection signal of the acceleration sensor unit 11, and an acceleration detection signal that is input via the relay means 14 to generate a collapse. Is provided with a disaster monitoring facility 16 for informing the user.

  The acceleration sensor unit 11 includes an acceleration detection sensor 12 that detects an acceleration that occurs when a collapse monitoring location collapses, a wireless communication unit 18 that transmits acceleration data measured by the acceleration detection sensor 12, a central processing unit (CPU) 20, and an acceleration. A power supply 22 that supplies power to the detection sensor 12 and the wireless communication unit 18 is provided. In FIG. 2, the connection between the power source 22, the acceleration detection sensor 12, the CPU 20, and the wireless communication unit 18 is omitted. The power source 22 includes a primary battery, a secondary battery, a capacitor, a fuel cell, a solar battery, a microwave power receiving device that receives microwave power to obtain power, or a semiconductor element that generates the Seebeck effect. This is a power supply source that is configured by a thermoelectric generator or the like that generates electric power when it occurs, and that does not receive power supply from outside by wire.

  The CPU 20 stores a threshold value of a signal level detected by the acceleration detection sensor 12 in advance. Then, the acceleration signal level detected by the acceleration detection sensor 12 is compared with the threshold value, and if the detected acceleration signal level is equal to or higher than the threshold value, a signal is output to the wireless communication unit 18. The CPU 20 is provided with means for controlling the normal mode and the power saving mode of the acceleration sensor unit 11.

  A wireless communication unit 18 is connected to the acceleration detection sensor 12, and the wireless communication unit 18 is connected to an antenna 24. The wireless communication unit 18 uses Bluetooth technology. Next, wireless communication using Bluetooth will be described. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of wireless communication using Bluetooth. In wireless communication using Bluetooth, communication is performed between a chip (master) 26 that is responsible for controlling communication and a chip (slave) 28 to be controlled, but by software incorporated in the wireless communication unit 18 or The master 26 and the slave 28 can be switched by an external command. Therefore, it is possible to effectively extend the communication distance by connecting a plurality of acceleration sensor units 11 within the communication distance with each other wirelessly. That is, the acceleration detection signal output from the acceleration sensor unit 11 is transmitted via another acceleration sensor unit 11. The communicable distance of the acceleration sensor unit 11 is approximately several tens of meters.

  The acceleration sensor unit 11 incorporates software that finds a nearby acceleration sensor unit 11 capable of wireless communication and autonomously constructs a wireless communication network. For this reason, the worker who installs the acceleration sensor unit 11 at the collapse monitoring point considers what network each acceleration sensor unit 11 actually constitutes as long as attention is paid to the communication distance between the acceleration sensor units 11. Since it is not necessary, it is possible to easily construct a network even if it is not a network construction specialist.

  Further, after the wireless communication network is constructed, even if some of the acceleration sensor units 11 constituting the network break down and the originally constructed data transfer path is cut off, other acceleration sensors existing within the communicable distance A new network can be immediately constructed via the unit 11.

  FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a construction example of a wireless communication network. Since the connection point of the network is described as a node, the wireless sensor unit is displayed as a node. As a premise, each node sets a network address (NWAD) necessary when a wireless network (NW) is constructed, together with a node address for node identification (specific to the wireless sensor unit). A node connected to an external network (PAS) is introduced into the node group, and an NW configuration management function (NWCMS) is provided here. A service function (called service class) is set for each node. Each node stores a program for transmitting and receiving a node search packet.

  Under such a premise, the means for forming the network is performed as follows. A search command is input to the PAS, which is a node having a function of connecting to an external network, by the function of another network or the node itself, and the PAS first searches for neighboring nodes. Neighboring nodes A and B that can receive this inquiry return a packet notifying a device-specific node address to the search packet. Next, the PAS inquires the service class from the nodes A and B, and the nodes A and B return the service class in response to the inquiry packet. Then, the network configuration management function (NWCMS) of the node PAS connects to the nodes A and B from the node PAS, and at the same time, the NWCMS gives a network address (NWAD) to the nodes A and B. Thus, the first scope of the node PAS and the nodes A and B is completed.

  Here, the scope is defined as follows. If this network is considered as a computer, the entire system description is enormous and its operation verification is not easy unless the configuration of the system part and the whole is considered. That part is a module in terms of program, but in a network with this spatial spread, it is an area that should be treated as one unit in space, so it is expressed as a scope. One scope can be thought of as moving like a programmable controller. The entire system is configured by connecting scopes. Since this network is premised on connection to an external network, the size of the processing system is not limited to the range expressed here.

  Next, the NWCMS of the node PAS commands the nodes A and B to search for devices. In accordance with this command, nodes A and B each transmit a search packet. Nodes C, D, E, and F that are in the vicinity and can receive wirelessly return a packet notifying A of the device-specific node address in response to the search packet. Similarly, the node D returns a packet notifying the node B of the device-specific node address in response to the search packet. Node A queries nodes C, D, E, and F, and node B queries node D for service classes. In contrast, the nodes C, D, E, and F return the service class to the node A in response to the inquiry packet, and the node D returns the service class to the node B in response to the search packet. The nodes A and B notify the node PAS of the nodes (C, D, E, and F), the existence of the node (D), and the service class, respectively.

  The NWCMS of the node PAS notifies the node A to connect to the nodes C, E, and F, respectively, and assigns a network address (NWAD) to each of them, and connects to the node B to the node D and connects to the network address (NWAD). NWAD) is notified.

  Next, the NWCMS of the node PAS commands the nodes C, E, F, and D to search for neighboring nodes. Nodes C, F, and D could not find neighboring nodes, but if node E finds a node called G, nodes C, F, and D notify NWCMS of node PAS that no node exists. On the other hand, the node E queries the service class of the node G and acquires the service class. The node E notifies the node PAS of the existence of the node G, its node address, and the service class.

It has been found that the next node (next node) of nodes C, D, and F does not exist by such an operation. So the network path is
Path 1: PAS-BD
Path 2: PAS-A-C
Path 3: PAS-AF
Path 4: PAS-AE
This is the configuration of the second scope.

  Since the network via node A may still be expanded, the NWCMS of node PAS outputs an instruction to search for a device to node G. In response to this, the node G transmits a search packet. The nodes H, I, and J that can receive this return a packet that notifies the node G of the device-specific node address in response to the search packet. Then, the node G inquires the service class from the nodes H, I, and J, the nodes H, I, and J return the service class to the node G in response to the inquiry packet, and the node G The existence of J and the service class are notified to the node PAS. The NWCMS of the node PAS notifies the network addresses to the nodes H, I, and J via the node G, respectively. Next, the NWCMS of the node PAS commands the nodes H, I, and J to search for the node.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, a node that can communicate with a starting node (PAS) is searched for, and a function that can be performed by each node simultaneously with the network address to the node that can communicate with the program stored in the originating node (service Class) is returned to the origin node program. An instruction to search for the next node is issued to the searched node, and by repeating this one after another, the final node that cannot be searched is obtained, and the network is completed.

  Note that the NWCMS of the node PAS self-determines whether this network is maintained at a certain time, a certain time interval, or an event. For example, the node PAS makes an inquiry to each node, and the determination is made based on the response time, the number of hops, and the like. When it is determined that it is necessary, the operation from the beginning is performed again to refresh the configuration.

  Such an acceleration detection sensor 12 is constituted by a micro electro mechanical system (MEMS), and thus is extremely miniaturized, and the wireless communication unit 18 can be realized by several chips. Further, the power source 22 can be downsized as a whole by using a button battery.

The relay unit 14 includes a collapse detection unit, and stores a set value for determining that a collapse has occurred when the plurality of acceleration detection sensors 12 detect acceleration. The relay means 14 determines that a collapse has occurred and outputs a disaster warning to the disaster monitoring facility 16 when the number of acceleration sensor units 11 that have detected acceleration exceeds the set value. Such a relay means 14 is installed within a communicable distance of at least one acceleration sensor unit 11. Since the relay unit 14 only needs to have a function of determining whether or not the relay unit 14 is collapsed and transmitting a warning signal, the size of the relay unit 14 may be increased.
The disaster monitoring facility 16 inputs the disaster warning and notifies a monitoring person or the like waiting for the occurrence of a collapse at the danger monitoring location.

  Next, the operation of the collapse detection device 10 will be described. First, a plurality of acceleration sensor units 11 are provided at a fall monitoring point on a cliff or mountain. At this time, the interval between the adjacent acceleration sensor units 11 is within the communicable distance range of the acceleration sensor units 11. When the acceleration sensor unit 11 is installed at the collapse monitoring location, the acceleration sensor unit 11 autonomously connects to the adjacent acceleration sensor unit 11 through communication, and immediately forms a self-organizing network of the plurality of acceleration sensor units 11.

  The operation mode of the acceleration sensor unit 11 includes a normal mode in which the acceleration detection sensor 12 is operated, and a power saving mode in which only a minimum circuit that receives an activation signal from the outside operates. When the power source 22 is a non-power generating element, particularly a small battery such as a button battery, the normal mode has only a few months of operation time, but the power saving mode can have an operation time of several years. By combining these operation modes, the operation time of the entire collapse detection device 10 can be set to several years.

  A very small number (for example, 5% of the entire acceleration sensor unit 11) of the plurality of acceleration sensor units 11 arranged in the collapsed part is operated in the normal mode, and the remaining sensors are operated in the power saving mode. At this time, the battery capacity of the acceleration sensor unit 11 operating in the normal mode is always monitored by itself, and when the battery capacity becomes low, a signal for starting the acceleration sensor unit 11 in the nearest power saving mode is transmitted. Then, it stops its operation as a sensor. In this way, by keeping the number of acceleration sensor units 11 activated in the normal mode constant at all times, the fall detection device 10 as a whole realizes an operation period in units of years. In addition, the self-organization network constructed using the Bluetooth technology can reconstruct the entire network of the fall detection device 10 even when the operation of several acceleration sensor units 11 in the fall detection device 10 is stopped. The function can be maintained. Furthermore, even if the acceleration sensor unit 11 is provided at the fall monitoring location and a self-organizing network is constructed, and a new acceleration sensor unit 11 is provided at the fall monitoring location, the entire network of the fall detection device 10 can be reconstructed.

  In the collapse detection device 10 that has constructed such a self-organizing network, when the acceleration detection sensor 12 in the acceleration sensor unit 11 operating in the normal mode detects an acceleration equal to or higher than the threshold, the acceleration sensor unit 11 is abnormal. Immediately after it is determined that a signal has occurred, a signal for operating all the acceleration sensor units 11 in the normal mode is transmitted, and observation by all the acceleration sensor units 11 is performed. When the acceleration sensor unit 11 of the set value or more detects an acceleration of the threshold value or more, the relay unit 14 determines that a disaster has occurred and outputs a disaster warning to the disaster monitoring facility 16. In other cases, the normal monitoring state is restored.

  The disaster monitoring facility 16 inputs the disaster warning and outputs the occurrence of the collapse at the danger monitoring location, so that the monitoring staff or the like standing by at the facility knows the occurrence of the collapse.

  Such a collapse detection device 10 detects the collapse by spraying the acceleration sensor unit 11 to the collapse monitoring location, and therefore, compared to the case of detecting a collapse by providing a wire, a net or the like in the collapse monitoring location in the prior art. A wide range of collapse detection can be performed. Moreover, the acceleration detection sensor 12 can detect a small initial collapse by being densely provided at the collapse monitoring location.

  In addition, the collapse detection device 10 directly detects the acceleration at the time of collapse by the acceleration detection sensor 12, so that the number of erroneous detections is reduced, and a change at the time of the collapse can be detected. Further, the acceleration detection sensor 12 may detect a local change such as an animal touching the acceleration detection sensor 12, but whether or not it is collapsed by simultaneously monitoring the acceleration change of the plurality of acceleration detection sensors 12. You can tell the difference.

  Since Bluetooth is used for communication between the acceleration sensor units 11, the acceleration sensor unit 11 can construct a self-organizing network. Since the relay unit 14 is arranged so as to be incorporated in the self-organizing network, the relay unit 14 and the entire acceleration sensor unit 11 can be connected to each other via the relay unit 14. Can be output to the disaster monitoring facility 16. Furthermore, if the acceleration sensor unit 11 is arranged so that the distance between the adjacent acceleration sensor units 11 is kept within the Bluetooth communicable distance, the collapse can be detected even if the area of the fall monitoring portion is large. The detection device 10 can be formed.

Further, by utilizing the power saving mode of Bluetooth and setting the mode in which only a part of the entire acceleration sensor unit 11 is normally operated, the collapse detection device can be used even if the power source 22 of the acceleration sensor unit 11 is used as a non-power generation element such as a battery. A lifetime of several years can be obtained as a whole.
In the above-described embodiment, the acceleration detection sensor 12 is used as a sensor for detecting a collapse. However, other sensors such as a humidity sensor can be used.

It is a schematic explanatory drawing of a collapse detection apparatus. It is a block diagram of an acceleration sensor unit. It is explanatory drawing of the radio | wireless communication using Bluetooth. It is explanatory drawing of the construction example of a radio | wireless communication network.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ......... Collapse detection apparatus, 11 ...... Acceleration sensor unit, 12 ...... Acceleration detection sensor, 14 ...... Relay means, 16 ...... Disaster monitoring facility, 18 ...... Wireless communication part, 20 ... ... Central processing unit, 22 ......... Power supply.

Claims (4)

A plurality of acceleration sensor units are provided by diffusing in the collapse monitoring location, the acceleration sensor unit includes a wireless communication unit and is capable of communicating with the plurality of acceleration sensor units, and performs acceleration detection by moving together with the collapsed sand,
A relay unit is provided that is connected to a network that is connected by communication with a plurality of the acceleration sensor units, and that outputs an alarm according to the number of sensor units in which acceleration is detected by the acceleration sensor units,
Provided means for inputting the alarm and notifying the occurrence of collapse,
A collapse detection device characterized by that.   The collapse detection device according to claim 1, wherein the acceleration sensor unit includes an arithmetic processing unit that determines whether or not an acceleration detected by the acceleration sensor unit is equal to or greater than a preset threshold value. .   2. The collapse detection device according to claim 1, wherein the relay means includes means for determining that a collapse has occurred if the number of the acceleration sensor units that have detected the acceleration is equal to or greater than a preset value. . Provide multiple acceleration sensor units at the collapse monitoring location and set to normal mode and power saving mode,
If the acceleration sensor unit in the normal mode detects acceleration and the signal level of the acceleration is equal to or higher than a preset threshold, the acceleration sensor unit in the power saving mode is activated,
If the number of acceleration sensor units that detect acceleration among the activated acceleration sensor units is greater than a preset value, the occurrence of collapse is detected.
A collapse detection method characterized by that.

Images