JP2007072802A - Information communication system using helmet with camera - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information communication system excellent in flexibility and expandability by merging a helmet with a camera and a portable sensor unit in the information communication system which communicates image information photographed by the camera of the helmet with the camera to a base station. <P>SOLUTION: Each sensor detection information from many ball type sensor units 10 distributed and arranged in a wide range in a work spot by a worker is transmitted to the base station 5 while being relayed by the ball type sensor units 10 or the communication function of the helmet 2 with the camera. Since the helmet 2 with the camera is worn by the worker, it is movable together with the worker in the work spot within the range that communication is secured with the base station 5. The ball type sensor unit 10 can be fed even to a place where it is hard for the worker to go in by being rolled. It is preferable that the kind of the ball type sensor unit 10 can be identified by an external color. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an information communication system for communicating detection data of a sensor through a helmet with a camera.

Conventionally, the situation of a work site is photographed with a camera, or photographed and recorded with a video camera. Such photography work was only recorded by a professional recording staff.
The helmet is not only for the safety of the wearer but also a symbol of the management of the safety manager and the fulfillment of the duty of safety attention to the owner. On the other hand, the camera has observation, monitoring, threatening, deterrent effects, etc., but basically has a recording / recording function.

  With the camera being attached to the helmet along with the downsizing and high performance of the camera, if the worker wears a helmet with a camera including a microphone, he / she is conscious when performing work Regardless of this, it is possible to shoot a moving image or still image of the work site from the operator's viewpoint without losing eyes and hands, as was the case with conventional cameras and microphones. If a communication function is provided, two-way communication is possible between workers or a work center. Since the operator can move on the site, there is an advantage that the blind spot for shooting is reduced unlike a fixed point camera.

  There has been proposed a low-cost head mounting tool with a camera that can easily check the shooting range of a small camera attached to a head mounting tool such as a helmet (see Patent Document 1). According to this proposal, in the helmet with a camera, the finder in the small camera with a finder attached to the helmet body is composed of a transparent plate and an index formed on the transparent plate. With the finder, the photographer can always recognize the range indicated by the index as the shooting range among the range that can be seen through the transparent plate when wearing the helmet with the camera. Therefore, the photographer can easily check the shooting range of the small camera body using the viewfinder without obstructing the field of view.

    With a simple and low-cost means of attaching a small video camera to the firefighter's helmet, it is possible to grasp the current fire situation of the firefighter in charge of firefighting activities with an image in the command car, and further the situation is the central command center of the fire department However, a fire field situation grasping device that can be grasped has been proposed (see Patent Document 2). According to this proposal, the same direction as the line of sight of the firefighter is photographed with a small video camera attached to the helmet of the firefighter. The image signal of the camera is sent to the SS wireless receiver mounted on the command vehicle by an SS wireless (spread spectrum wireless communication system) transmitter with specific low power, and an image is displayed on the image display device. Further, the image signal received by the SS radio receiver is sent from the first mobile phone terminal to the second mobile phone terminal installed at the central control center, and an image is displayed on the image display device.

On the other hand, the sensor units available in the market are conventionally uniform, and various types of sensors are provided depending on the application. If it is a sensor provided with a wireless function, it is possible to transmit information obtained by the sensor to a remote place without going through a cable. However, in general, the installation location of the sensor is stationary, and it is necessary to install the sensor within a range where radio can reach from the relay base, which is inferior in flexibility and expandability. Also, it cannot be determined in general what kind of function the sensor unit has from the shape of the sensor device or the sensor unit.
JP 2003-337364 A (paragraphs [0015] to [0020], FIGS. 1 and 2) JP 2003-337364 A (paragraphs [0010] to [000016], FIGS. 1 and 2)

  Therefore, paying attention to the communication function of the helmet with camera, combining the portable sensor unit to maximize the portability of the sensor and improve the flexibility and expandability of the communication system There are issues to be addressed.

  An object of the present invention is to fuse a helmet with a camera and a portable sensor unit in an information communication system for communicating image information taken by a camera of a helmet with a camera to a base station via a communication function provided in the helmet with a camera. Therefore, it is to provide an information communication system excellent in flexibility and expandability.

  In order to solve the above problems, an information communication system according to the present invention is portable in an information communication system that communicates image information taken by a camera of a camera-equipped helmet to a base station via a communication function provided in the camera-equipped helmet. The sensor detection information detected by the sensor unit is transmitted to a base station through a helmet with a camera by using ZigBee, which is a wireless PAN technology.

  According to this information communication system, sensor detection information detected by the sensor unit can be transmitted to the base station in cooperation with the helmet with camera. Since the helmet with a camera is worn by an operator, the helmet can be moved within a range where communication with the base station is ensured together with the operator at the work site. The operator can distribute the sensor units to be carried in a wide range at the work site. By using ZigBee, even if a large number of sensor units are arranged in a distributed manner, sensor detection information can be transmitted to the base station while the communication functions of the sensor units or the helmet with a camera are relayed.

  In this information communication system, a plurality of sensor units are linked to a helmet with a camera in a tree shape, and sensor detection information detected by each sensor unit is relayed to a sensor unit arranged upstream of the tree to communicate with the helmet with a camera. be able to. As long as the helmet with camera is within the communication range with the base station, as long as communication between the sensor units and between the sensor unit and the helmet with camera is possible, the sensor unit is also out of the communication range from the base station. Sensor detection information can be transmitted to the base station, and the communication distance can be substantially extended.

  In the above information communication system, image information or sensor detection information can be communicated to a remote place via a communication network such as the Internet via a base station. If the image information and sensor detection information are transmitted to the base station, the field information can be communicated to a remote place by relaying the base station and using a communication network such as the Internet.

  In the above information communication system, the sensor unit can be a ball-type sensor unit whose outer shape is substantially ball-shaped. The ball-type sensor unit has a compact overall shape and is ready for installation. Also, by rolling, it can be sent to a place where it is difficult for an operator to enter.

  In the above information communication system using a ball-type sensor unit, the ball-type sensor unit accommodates a rechargeable battery, a transmitter and a sensor, and has a spherical main body having an antenna and an operation switch, and the spherical main body is removable. And a pedestal to be placed. Since it has a rechargeable power supply and contains the main elements inside, it is unified into a compact ball shape. Moreover, the posture of the ball-type sensor unit can be stabilized by having the pedestal.

  In the information communication system using the ball type sensor unit, the ball type sensor unit can be color-coded for each detection target. By color-coding the ball-type sensor unit according to the type of sensor, a sensor unit that can be identified at a glance is provided, and the selection of the sensor unit is simplified for a worker on site. Examples of detection targets detected by the sensor unit include physical quantities such as position, temperature, vibration, toxic gas amount, humidity, and illuminance, but these are shown as examples and are not limited thereto.

  Each information communication system described above is a fire fighting information communication system in which a helmet with a camera is a helmet worn by a firefighter, a base station is a personal computer mounted on a fire engine, and a sensor unit is a sensor unit that is thrown into a fire site. Can be applied. According to this fire-fighting information communication system, if a firefighter is within the communication range from the base station, a sensor unit, especially a ball-type sensor unit, is sent to a fire site where further fire-fighting work seems dangerous. By this, the situation of the fire scene can be grasped at the base station. In addition, since the base station can also receive multiple image information and sensor detection information through the helmets with cameras of multiple firefighters at the base station, the base station can grasp the overall situation of the fire site and fire fighting work site. Is also possible.

  Since the information communication system according to the present invention has a configuration in which the helmet with camera and the ball-type sensor unit are combined as described above, the image information captured by the camera of the helmet with camera and the ball type Sensor information detected by the sensor can be transmitted to the base station. Also, the sensor detection information can be transmitted to the base station through the helmet with camera while the ZigBee network is adopted and the sensor units relay data.

  When the sensor unit is an integrated ball type sensor unit that houses the rechargeable battery, transmitter, and sensors, the outer shape is unified into a compact ball shape and connected to a power source. The battery can be repeatedly charged and used, and a simple data collection device can be obtained in a short period of time. Furthermore, various sensors are made into a series, and the color of the ball-type sensor unit having a different shape is changed for each type of sensor, and even a mixed sensor unit can be identified by color.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of an information communication system according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram in which an information communication system according to the present invention is applied to a fire fighting information communication system as a network example in a fire fighting activity.

  In the fire fighting information communication system 1 shown in FIG. 1, a small video camera 3 is attached to a helmet 2 worn by a fireman who is engaged in a fire fighting operation at a fire site. Shoot fire scenes and firefighting scenes from the perspective of firefighters. A fire engine (command car) 4 on which a commander who takes charge of fire fighting operations of firefighters rides at a fire site is equipped with a movable base station (personal computer gateway) 5. Video information photographed by the camera 3 is transmitted to the base station 5. As with the conventional helmet, a voice microphone can be attached to the helmet 2, and the voice information of the firefighters can be transmitted between the firefighters and the commander. FIG. 1 schematically shows a fire fighting example in a city fire and a fire fighting example in a forest fire as an example.

  Two-way communication is possible between the fire engine 4 and the firefighter so that the commander can give a command to each firefighter and a report from the firefighter to the commander. That is, in order to transmit the image information obtained by the small video camera 3 and the sound information picked up by the sound microphone to the firefighter, a wireless transmitter (not shown) is carried in the helmet 2 or separately from the helmet 2. Yes. The fire engine 4 includes a base station 5 that receives image information, audio information, and sensor detection information, which will be described later, wirelessly transmitted from the communication function of the helmet 2, and a display device such as a liquid crystal monitor that displays the received image information as an image. In addition, a speaker (headphone) that converts sound information into sound can be mounted. The helmet 2 can be provided with a sensor unit (not shown) in addition to the camera 3, and the detected sensor detection information is transmitted to the base station 5 together with the video information.

  An operator (firefighter) carries a plurality of ball-type sensor units 10 and can install the ball-type sensor units 10 at necessary places. The sensor detection information detected by the ball-type sensor unit 10 is transmitted to the base station 5 through the communication function of the camera-equipped helmet 2 using ZigBee, which is a wireless PAN technology. ZigBee (read as “ZigBee”) is a communication technology similar to Bluetooth, and uses IEEE 802.15.4 standardized by IEEE (The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc.) as a physical layer interface. Wireless PAN (Personal Area Network) technology that uses the 2.4 GHz band. ZigBee is slower than Bluetooth (up to 250 Kbps), but the transmission distance is relatively long (maximum transmission distance is about 30 m), but it has excellent power saving and low component costs, making it easy to incorporate into equipment. There are features. For example, even from a large number of transmitters installed in a wide area where radio waves do not reach from the base station, it passes through a repeater placed within the range where the transmitter's radio waves can reach (it can also pass through multiple repeaters Thus, data can be transmitted to one aggregation server called a coordinator.

  According to the information communication system 1, sensor detection information detected by the ball-type sensor unit 10 can be transmitted to the base station 5 in cooperation with the camera-equipped helmet 2. Since the helmet 2 with a camera is worn by a firefighter, it can move within a range where communication with the base station 5 is ensured together with the firefighter at the fire site. The firefighter can disperse and arrange the ball-type sensor units 10 carried in a wide range at the fire site. By using ZigBee, even if a large number of ball-type sensor units 10 are arranged in a distributed manner, the communication function of the other ball-type sensor units 10 or one or a plurality of firefighter's camera-equipped helmets 2 is relayed for sensor detection information. However, transmission to the base station 5 is possible.

  The ball-type sensor unit 10 can be used in the form of placing, carrying, rolling, attaching to an object, and the like. Since the outer shape of the ball-type sensor unit 10 is a ball, the ball-type sensor unit 10 can be thrown into a place where a firefighter cannot enter by rolling. The image information and sensor detection information transmitted to the base station 5 can be recorded in the remote fire station 7 and the fire headquarters 8 through a communication network such as the Internet 6. Can also communicate.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a communication network of the camera-equipped helmet 2 and the plurality of ball-type sensor units 10 extending from one base station (gateway) 5. A plurality of ball-type sensor units 10 are linked to the helmet 2 with a camera in a tree shape, and the sensor detection information detected by each ball-type sensor unit 10 is relayed to the ball-type sensor unit 10 arranged upstream of the tree. Can communicate with helmet. As long as the helmet 2 with camera is within the communication range with the base station 5, as long as communication is possible between the ball-type sensor units 10 and between the ball-type sensor unit 10 and the helmet 2 with camera, the base station 5 The sensor detection information can be transmitted to the base station 5 even from the ball-type sensor unit 10 outside the communication range, and the communication distance can be substantially extended.

  Each ball-type sensor unit 10 has an outer color defined for each type of sensor. By defining a different color for each type of sensor, it is possible to identify what the sensor is for detecting and what the detection target is with a glance. Examples of detection targets detected by the sensor unit include physical quantities such as position, temperature, vibration, toxic gas amount, humidity, and illuminance. The operator can identify the ball-type sensor unit 10 based on the color, simplifying the on-site selection operation and eliminating sensor selection errors. As an example of identification by color, for example, blue can be a vibration sensor, yellow can be a gas sensor, green can be a temperature sensor, red can be a humidity sensor, etc., but this is an example, and depending on the number of sensor types, The number can be changed, and the correspondence with the sensor contents is not limited to this. The color is the whole color, but it can be combined with an appropriate pattern as long as a part can be seen from any direction.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a specific example of a ball-type sensor unit used in the information communication system according to the present invention, where (a) is an external perspective view, and (b) is an internal schematic diagram focusing on functions. (C) is a figure which shows the charger for a ball-type sensor unit. As shown in the external view of FIG. 3A, the ball-type sensor unit 10 includes a spherical main body 11 having a spherical shape as a whole, and a switch 12 is provided on the top thereof, and a switch is provided on the surface of the spherical main body 11. An LED 13 that is lit when 12 is on, and a pedestal 14 on which the spherical body 11 is detachably mounted are provided at the bottom.

  As shown in FIG. 3B, the ball-type sensor unit 10 includes an antenna 15 for communication with the outside, a transmission unit 16 connected to the antenna 15, various sensors 17 having a detection function, and a rechargeable power supply unit 18. It has. Since it has a rechargeable power supply and contains the main elements inside, it is unified into a compact ball shape. Moreover, the installation attitude | position of the ball-type sensor unit 10 can also be stabilized by having the base 14. FIG. Further, although not shown, a camera can be provided. In this case, it is not used in a rolling manner, but is placed on or attached to another object, that is, used as a fixed point camera. As shown in FIG. 3 (c), the charger 20 for charging the power supply unit 18 is connected to an outlet or the like, a plug 21 and a connection cord 22 for receiving power supply, and a terminal connected to the connection cord 22 inside. 23. When the ball-type sensor unit 10 is placed on the charger 20, the terminal 23 is automatically connected to the power supply unit 18 and charging is started.

  As described above, the ball-type sensor unit 10 can be used in a manner such as rolling, placing, etc., and there is no trouble of being limited to a predetermined installation. There is also a simple usage example where data is acquired for a short time. As long as the helmet 2 of the worker is within the communication range with respect to the base station 5, the data can be relayed and transmitted in a daisy chain manner as long as the communication function of the helmet 2 and the ball-type sensor unit 10 can communicate. Therefore, it is possible to substantially increase the communication distance. In the above example, the fire site was cited as the work site, but this is only an example, and not only various civil engineering / construction work sites, tunnel excavation work sites, but also disaster sites caused by earthquakes, etc. It is clear that this is applicable to cases.

The system block diagram which applied the information communication system by this invention to the fire fighting information communication system as a network example in a fire fighting activity. The figure which shows an example of a cooperation of the ball-type sensor unit used for the system shown in FIG. 1, and a helmet with a camera. The conceptual diagram which shows the specific example of the ball-type sensor unit used for the system shown in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

1 Firefighting information communication system 2 Helmet with camera 3 Camera 4 Fire engine (command car)
5 Base station 6 Internet 7 Fire department 8 Fire department 9 Mobile phone 10 Ball sensor unit 11 Body 12 Switch 13 LED
14 Base 15 Antenna 16 Transmitter 17 Various Sensors 18 Rechargeable Power Supply 20 Charger 21 Plug 22 Connection Cord 23 Terminal

Claims (7)

  In the information communication system that communicates image information taken by the camera of the camera-equipped helmet to the base station via a communication function provided in the camera-equipped helmet, the sensor detection information detected by the portable sensor unit is wireless PAN technology. By using ZigBee, the information communication system transmits to the base station through the helmet with a camera.   A plurality of the sensor units are linked to the helmet with a camera in a tree shape, and the sensor detection information detected by the sensor unit is relayed to the helmet with the camera via the sensor unit arranged upstream of the tree. The information communication system according to claim 1, wherein:   The information communication system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the image information or the sensor detection information is communicated to a remote location via a communication network such as the Internet via the base station.   The information communication system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the sensor unit is a ball-type sensor unit whose outer shape is substantially ball-shaped.   The ball-type sensor unit includes a rechargeable battery, a transmitter, and a sensor, a spherical main body having an antenna and an operation switch, and a pedestal on which the spherical main body is detachably mounted. The information communication system according to claim 4.   The information communication system according to claim 4, wherein the ball-type sensor unit is color-coded for each detection target.   The helmet with a camera is a helmet worn by a firefighter, the base station is a personal computer mounted on a fire engine, and the sensor unit is applied to a fire field as a sensor unit applied to a fire fighting information communication system The information communication system according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

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