JP2020112963A - Street light, and monitoring method for intersection - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a street light which is useful for safety in passing an intersection.SOLUTION: A street light 100 is installed at an intersection of a first road and a second road or in the vicinity thereof. The street light 100 comprises: a lighting fixture 106 which can be lighted in multiple light colors including at least one warning color; a monitoring apparatus 102 which monitors the first road and the second road; a data processing section 110 which generates first approaching object information D1 indicating a distance to the intersection and a speed regarding a first approaching object from the first road and generates second approaching object information D2 indicating a distance to the intersection and a speed regarding a second approaching object from the second road on the basis of output data D0 from the monitoring apparatus 102; and a light color control section 112 which controls the lighting fixture 106 so as to be lighted in the warning color when it is predicted that the first approaching object meets the second approaching object at the intersection on the basis of the first approaching object information D1 and the second approaching object information D2.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

The present invention relates to a street light and an intersection monitoring method.

Various proposals have been made from the viewpoint of increasing the added value of street lights. For example, a street light having an information display function of projecting advertising information and road guidance information on the road by illumination light (see, for example, Patent Document 1), and a size that an approaching vehicle fits in a nearby parking space. A street light that checks whether or not is proposed (for example, refer to Patent Document 2).

JP, 2009-145718, A Japanese Patent Publication No. 2018-517228

At intersections, especially those with no traffic lights and poor visibility, it is easy for traffic accidents to occur at the intersection. At night, the risk of traffic accidents increases.

The present invention has been made in view of these circumstances, and one of the exemplary objects of an aspect thereof is to provide a street light that is useful for safety of traffic at an intersection.

In order to solve the above problems, a street light according to an aspect of the present invention is a street light installed at an intersection of a first road and a second road or in the vicinity thereof, and a plurality of lighting colors including at least one warning color. Shows the distance to the intersection and the speed of the first approaching object from the first road based on the output data from the monitoring device that monitors the first road and the second road and the lighting device that can be turned on. A data processing unit that generates first approaching object information and generates second approaching object information indicating the distance and speed to the intersection for the second approaching object from the second road, the first approaching object information, and the second approaching object. And a lighting color control unit that controls the lamp so that the first approaching object and the second approaching object are lit with a warning color when it is predicted that the first approaching object and the second approaching object encounter each other at the intersection.

Another aspect of the present invention is a method of monitoring an intersection of a first road and a second road. This method includes a step of monitoring the first road and the second road, and whether the first approaching object from the first road and the second approaching object from the second road meet at the intersection based on the monitoring result. And a step of lighting a street light installed at or near the intersection with a warning color when it is determined that the first approaching object and the second approaching object encounter each other at the intersection.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a street light that is useful for safety of traffic at an intersection.

It is a figure which shows the streetlight which concerns on embodiment typically. It is a block diagram of the street light which concerns on embodiment. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of approaching object recognition and street light control executed in the street light according to the embodiment. 9 is a flowchart showing another example of approaching object recognition and street light control executed in the street light according to the embodiment. It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating operation|movement of the street light which concerns on embodiment.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described based on preferred embodiments with reference to the drawings. The embodiments do not limit the invention and are exemplifications, and all features and combinations thereof described in the embodiments are not necessarily essential to the invention. The same or equivalent constituent elements, members, and processes shown in each drawing are denoted by the same reference numerals, and duplicated description will be omitted as appropriate. Further, the scales and shapes of the respective parts shown in the respective drawings are set for the sake of convenience of description, and are not to be construed as limiting unless otherwise specified. Further, the terms "first", "second", etc. used in the present specification and claims do not indicate any order or importance, and are used to distinguish one configuration from another configuration. Is.

FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing a street light according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the street light according to the embodiment.

The street light 100 may be installed at or near the intersection 10. At the intersection 10, the first road 11 and the second road 12 intersect. Various moving objects such as pedestrians, bicycles, and automobiles can approach the intersection 10 from the first road 11 and the second road 12, respectively, and pass through the intersection 10.

As an example, the street light 100 is installed at an intersection with poor visibility without a traffic light. As shown in FIG. 1, at least a part of the periphery of the intersection 10 (the back side of the paper surface in the figure) has a structure 14 that restricts the field of view, such as a fence or a densely-arranged building. Therefore, it is difficult to see the first road 11 to the second road 12. A moving body approaching the intersection 10 from the first road 11 is unlikely to find a moving body approaching the intersection 10 from the second road 12. Similarly, the first road 11 is also difficult to see from the second road 12.

Needless to say, the installation location of the street light 100 is not particularly limited. The street light 100 may be installed at an intersection where a traffic light is installed or an intersection where visibility is good. The intersection angle of the roads at the intersection 10 and the number of intersecting roads may be various. Further, the street light 100 may be installed near the pedestrian crossing instead of at the intersection 10 or may be installed at another place.

As will be described later in detail, the street light 100 has an abnormality such as a traffic accident when the first approaching object from the first road 11 and the second approaching object from the second road 12 may encounter at the intersection 10, or at the intersection 10. It is configured to light up in a warning color when a situation occurs.

The street light 100 includes a monitoring device 102, a street light control unit 104, and a lamp 106. As shown in FIG. 2, the street light control unit 104 includes a data processing unit 110 and a light color control unit 112.

The monitoring device 102 monitors the first road 11 and the second road 12. The monitoring device 102 includes at least one monitoring sensor. A dedicated monitoring sensor may be provided in the streetlight 100 for each road connected to the intersection 10, such as a first monitoring sensor that monitors the first road 11 and a second monitoring sensor that monitors the second road 12. In other words, each of the plurality of monitoring sensors may monitor different directions from the intersection 10. Alternatively, the street light 100 may be provided with a monitoring sensor having a wide field of view that collectively monitors a plurality of roads connected to the intersection 10, for example, the first road 11 and the second road 12.

The monitoring device 102 or the monitoring sensor detects an approaching object to the intersection 10 by image processing or by using radio waves or light, for example. The configuration of the monitoring device 102 is not particularly limited and may be, for example, a camera, a LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging, Laser Imaging Detection and Ranging), a millimeter wave radar, or another sensor or radar.

The monitoring device 102 generates output data D0 and outputs it to the street light control unit 104. When the monitoring device 102 is a camera, the output data D0 may be image data captured. The output data D0 may be point cloud data from LiDAR or millimeter wave radar.

The lamp 106 can be turned on in a plurality of light colors, and the plurality of light colors include a normal color (for example, white) and at least one warning color different from the normal color (for example, red, orange, yellow, etc.). .. The lamp 106 may be capable of lighting with a plurality of warning colors. The lamp 106 may be capable of lighting in any other color (for example, blue, green, etc.). The lighting color, the presence/absence of blinking, the brightness, and the like of the lighting fixture 106 are controlled by the lighting color control unit 112. The configuration of the lamp 106 is not particularly limited, and may include, for example, a light source such as an LED (light emitting diode) and a lighting circuit that drives the light source to light it. The lighting circuit may be controlled by the lighting color control unit 112 so that the light source emits light in a desired manner. The light source can emit light in the three primary colors of light and may have red, green, and blue LED chips.

The data processing unit 110 generates the first approaching object information D1 and the second approaching object information D2 based on the output data D0 from the monitoring device 102. The data processing unit 110 processes image data captured by a camera, or processes point cloud data by LiDAR or millimeter wave radar, and outputs a first approaching object from the first road 11 and a second approaching object from the second road 12. Detects approaching objects in real time. Various existing methods can be used for such data processing, and will not be described in detail here.

The first approaching object information D1 includes, for example, first approaching object position data indicating the distance of the first approaching object to the intersection 10, and first approaching object speed data indicating the approaching speed of the first approaching object to the intersection 10. .. Similarly, the second approaching object information D2 is, for example, second approaching object position data indicating the distance of the second approaching object to the intersection 10, and second approaching object speed indicating the approaching speed of the second approaching object to the intersection 10. Contains data. The approaching object position data is grasped based on the output data D0. The approaching object velocity data may be grasped as a temporal change in the distance indicated by the approaching object position data. Here, the “distance” indicated by the position data is a linear distance if the road connecting to the intersection 10 extends straight from the intersection 10. If the road connecting to the intersection 10 is curved, the “distance” may be the length along the road from the position of the approaching object to the intersection 10.

Further, the first approaching object information D1 may include first approaching object type data indicating the type of the first approaching object. Similarly, the second approaching object information D2 may include second approaching object type data indicating the type of the second approaching object. Types of approaching objects include, but are not limited to, pedestrians, bicycles, and automobiles, for example. The approaching object type data is grasped based on the output data D0. The approaching object type data may be based on data processing such as image processing on the output data D0. Alternatively, the approaching object type data may be based on the approaching object speed data because the approaching speed range can be assumed according to the approaching object type such as a pedestrian at a low speed and a car at a high speed.

Based on the first approaching object information D1 and the second approaching object information D2, the lighting color control unit 112 lights up with a warning color when it is predicted that the first approaching object and the second approaching object will encounter at the intersection 10. Control 106. The lamp color control unit 112 generates a warning color lighting signal S1 for instructing lighting with a warning color, and the lamp 106 is controlled according to the warning color lighting signal S1.

The street light control unit 104 can be implemented by a combination of a processor (hardware) such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), and a microcomputer, and a software program executed by the processor (hardware). For example, the data processing unit 110 can be configured by a digital signal processor, and may be configured by, for example, a combination of a CPU or a microcomputer and a software program, an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), an ASIC (Application Specified IC), or the like. You may comprise.

The street light 100 also includes a communication device 114. Through the communication device 114, the street light control unit 104 can communicate with other devices such as a higher-level control device such as a traffic control system and other peripheral street lights 100. The street light 100 can transmit the output data D0, the first approaching object information D1, the second approaching object information D2, and the warning color lighting signal S1 to another device through the communication device 114. The communication device 114 has an antenna 114a, and the streetlights 100 can wirelessly communicate with each other. Note that the configuration of the communication device 114 is not particularly limited, and the street lights 100 may be able to communicate by wire.

Therefore, in addition to the output data D0 acquired by the monitoring device 102 provided in itself, the street light control unit 104 of a certain street light 100 is not limited to the other street lights 100 (for example, another street light installed near the intersection 10). It is possible to generate the first approaching object information D1 and the second approaching object information D2 by using the output data D0 acquired by the street light). By doing so, even when the structure 14 causes a blind spot at the intersection 10, it is possible to monitor an approaching object from a place where the visibility is not easily obstructed. For example, the first street light monitoring device 102 installed facing the first road 11 monitors the first road 11, and the second street light monitoring device 102 installed facing the second road 12 The second road 12 can be monitored.

The street light 100 may have, as an accessory device, a guide light installed at the intersection 10 or in the vicinity thereof, for example. The guide light may be embedded in the road surface. The guide light may be capable of lighting in a plurality of lighting colors including at least one warning color, like the lighting device 106. The street light 100 may control such an accessory device through the communication device 114. For example, the guide light is configured to illuminate with a warning color according to the warning color lighting signal S1, and the street light 100 transmits the warning color lighting signal S1 to the guide light and controls the guide light in synchronization with the lamp 106. Good. In this way, the street light 100 can also turn on the guide light with the warning color when the lamp 106 is turned on with the warning color. Similarly, the street lamp 100 may control the lamps 106 of other street lamps 100 in synchronization with the lamps 106 provided on the street lamp 100.

As shown in FIG. 1, the street light 100 has a column 120 installed on the ground near the intersection 10, and the monitoring device 102, the street light control unit 104, the lamp 106, and the communication device 114 are attached to the column 120. Has been. The monitoring device 102, the lamp 106, and the communication device 114 are installed on the upper portion or the upper end of the support column 120, and thus are disposed above the intersection 10. The location of each device shown in the figure is an example, and other locations are possible.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of approaching object recognition and street light control executed in the street light according to the embodiment. This routine is repeatedly executed by the street light control unit 104 in a predetermined cycle (for example, a cycle of several milliseconds to several tens of milliseconds).

First, the monitoring device 102 is used to monitor the first road 11 and the second road 12 (S10). The monitoring device 102 generates the output data D0, and the streetlight control unit 104 acquires the output data D0. The street light controller 104 may collect the output data D0 from the monitoring devices 102 of the plurality of street lights 100 that are close to each other.

The first approaching object information D1 and the second approaching object information D2 are generated based on the output data D0 from the monitoring device 102 (S11). The data processing unit 110 receives the output data D0 from the monitoring device 102 and generates the first approaching object information D1 and the second approaching object information D2 based on the output data D0. As described above, the first approaching object information D1 indicates the distance and speed of the first approaching object from the first road 11 to the intersection 10, and the second approaching object information D2 is the second approaching object information D2 from the second road 12. The distance and speed to the intersection 10 are shown for approaching objects.

Based on the first approaching object information D1 and the second approaching object information D2, it is determined whether the first approaching object and the second approaching object encounter at the intersection 10 (S12). The light color control unit 112 receives the first approaching object information D1 and the second approaching object information D2, and based on the distance and speed of the first approaching object and the distance and speed of the second approaching object, the two approaching objects intersect. At 10, it is determined whether to encounter.

For example, the light color control unit 112 obtains the expected passing time of the intersection 10 of the first approaching object from the distance and the speed of the first approaching object, and from the distance and the speed of the second approaching object, the intersection 10 of the second approaching object. The expected passing time of is calculated, and the time difference between these predicted passing times is calculated. When this time difference is within the threshold value, the light color control unit 112 predicts that two approaching objects will encounter at the intersection 10. When the time difference exceeds the threshold value, the light color control unit 112 predicts that the two approaching objects do not meet at the intersection 10. The threshold value of the time difference can be appropriately set based on the empirical knowledge of the designer or the experiment or simulation by the designer. The threshold value may be, for example, 10 seconds or less or 5 seconds or less.

When it is predicted that the first approaching object and the second approaching object will encounter each other at the intersection 10 (Y in S12), the lamp 106 is controlled to turn on with the warning color (S13). The warning color is, for example, orange or yellow. The lamp color control unit 112 generates a warning color lighting signal S1 and outputs it to the lamp 106. Upon receiving the warning color lighting signal S1, the lamp 106 lights up with a warning color. When the warning color lighting signal S1 instructs to blink, the lamp 106 blinks in the warning color.

When it is predicted that the first approaching object and the second approaching object do not meet at the intersection 10 (N in S12), the lamp 106 is controlled to turn on in the normal color (S14). The light color control unit 112 does not generate the warning color lighting signal S1 or generates a signal instructing lighting in the normal color. Therefore, the lamp 106 lights up in a normal color. In this case, for example, when it is not necessary to turn on the street light 100 in the daytime, the lamp 106 may be turned off.

In this way, the lighting color control of the street light 100 based on the recognition of the approaching object to the intersection 10 is performed, and the present routine ends.

Note that the light color control unit 112 may control the light color of the street light 100 based on the type of approaching object. The light color control unit 112 turns on the warning color when it is predicted that the first approaching object and the second approaching object encounter each other at the intersection 10 and the types of the first approaching object and the second approaching object are a specific combination. Alternatively, the lamp 106 may be controlled. For example, when one of the first approaching object and the second approaching object is a pedestrian or a bicycle and the other is an automobile, the street light 100 may be turned on with a warning color. Alternatively, when both the first approaching object and the second approaching object are automobiles, the street light 100 may be turned on with a warning color.

There may be various lighting patterns of the street light 100 in the warning color. For example, blinking may be used instead of continuous lighting. The lamp color control unit 112 may control the lamp 106 to blink with a warning color when it is predicted that the first approaching object and the second approaching object will encounter at the intersection 10. The use of blinking expands the range of expression.

The lamp color control unit 112 may control the lamp 106 to blink in different blinking cycles according to the speed of the first approaching object or the second approaching object. For example, the blinking cycle may be shorter as the relative speed of the first approaching object and the second approaching object is higher. Further, the lamp 106 may blink at high speed in accordance with the faster speed of the approaching speed of the first approaching object to the intersection 10 and the approaching speed of the second approaching object to the intersection 10. In this way, it is possible to notify that there is a high-speed approaching object.

The street light 100 may be lit in different colors depending on the situation. In this way, the range of expression will be further expanded. Multiple color selection and blinking may be used in combination. For example, various lighting patterns can be considered as follows.

When there is no automobile around the intersection 10, the street light 100 may be illuminated in blue. When only one vehicle is approaching the intersection 10, the street light 100 may be illuminated in white. When a pedestrian and an automobile are approaching around the intersection 10, the street light 100 may be lit alternately in white and yellow. If a head-to-head accident may occur, the lights may alternate between white and red.

In addition, the light color control unit 112 controls the lamp 106 to turn on the first warning color when it is predicted that the first approaching object and the second approaching object encounter at the intersection 10, and an abnormal situation occurs at the intersection 10. The lamp 106 may be controlled so that the second warning color different from the first warning color is lit during the lighting. Such an embodiment will be described below.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of approaching object recognition and street light control executed in the street light according to the embodiment. The process shown in FIG. 4 is different from the process shown in FIG. 3 in that the street light 100 is turned on with a warning color according to an abnormal situation such as a traffic accident, but the rest is generally common. .. In the following, different configurations will be mainly described, and common configurations will be briefly described or description thereof will be omitted.

First, the first road 11 and the second road 12 are monitored (S10), and the first approaching object information D1 and the second approaching object information D2 are generated (S11). Based on the first approaching object information D1 and the second approaching object information D2, it is determined whether the first approaching object and the second approaching object encounter at the intersection 10 (S12).

When it is predicted that the first approaching object and the second approaching object encounter each other at the intersection 10 (Y in S12), the lamp 106 is controlled so as to turn on with the first warning color (S13). When it is predicted that the first approaching object and the second approaching object do not encounter at the intersection 10 (N in S12), it is determined whether or not an abnormal situation occurs at or near the intersection 10 (S15). When it is determined that an abnormal situation has occurred (Y in S15), the lamp 106 is controlled so as to turn on in the second warning color (S16). As the second warning color, a color showing a higher warning level than the first warning color is selected. For example, the first warning color is orange or yellow, and the second warning color is red. When no abnormal situation has occurred (N of S15), the lamp 106 is controlled so as to light in the normal color (S14).

The determination as to whether or not an abnormal situation has occurred may be performed by the data processing unit 110. The data processing unit 110 may determine whether an abnormal situation has occurred in the monitoring area based on the output data D0 from the monitoring device 102. Since various existing methods can be used for the detection processing of such an abnormal situation, detailed description thereof will be omitted here.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram for explaining the operation of the street light according to the embodiment. The second road 12 is connected to the straight first road 11 to form a T-shaped intersection 10. As an example of the first approaching object, a vehicle 130 is approaching the intersection 10 from the first road 11. As an example of the second approaching object, a pedestrian 132 is approaching the intersection 10 from the second road 12. There is a structure 14 such as a fence from the second road 12 to the intersection 10, and it is difficult for the automobile 130 and the pedestrian 132 to see each other. If both of them enter the intersection 10 as they are, there is a risk of encountering a head accident. There is.

The street light 100 has a monitoring area 134, and detects a moving body that enters the monitoring area 134 and approaches the intersection 10 in real time. The monitoring device 102 generates image data including the automobile 130 on the first road 11 and the pedestrian 132 on the second road 12 in the monitoring area 134. The street light control unit 104 predicts that the automobile 130 and the pedestrian 132 will encounter each other at the intersection 10 by image processing, and generates the warning color lighting signal S1.

As a result, the lamp 106 lights up in a warning color (for example, blinks in yellow). From this, the driver of the automobile 130 can know that there is an approaching object (specifically, a pedestrian 132) from the second road 12 to the intersection 10. In addition, the pedestrian 132 can know that there is an approaching object (specifically, the automobile 130) from the first road 11 to the intersection 10. When the automobile 130 and the pedestrian 132 pass through the intersection 10, the lamp 106 returns to lighting in the normal color.

Therefore, according to the street light 100 according to the embodiment, even if there is no traffic signal at the intersection 10 and there is a blind spot, the risk of a traffic accident at the encounter can be reduced. The street light 100 serves for safe passage of the intersection 10.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and modifications, and the embodiments and modifications may be combined and further modifications such as various design changes may be added based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art. The embodiments and modified examples in which such combinations or further modifications are added are also included in the scope of the present invention. The above-described embodiments and modifications, and a new embodiment resulting from a combination of the above-described embodiments and modifications and the following modifications, combine the effects of the combined embodiments, modifications and further modifications. Hold.

Generally, the lamp 106 is located at a high place, and therefore can be located above the view of the automobile 130 or the pedestrian 132. The automobile 130 and the pedestrian 132 may miss the lamp 106 that lights in the warning color. Therefore, the lamp 106 may be used as a main lamp for road lighting, and the street lamp 100 may have another lamp, so to speak, a sub lamp in addition to the lamp 106. The sub lamp may be attached to the column 120 at a position lower than the main lamp, and may be arranged, for example, at the same height as the eyes of the automobile 130 or the pedestrian 132 (for example, about 1 to 2 m from the ground). The auxiliary lighting device can be turned on with a plurality of lighting colors including at least one warning color, and may be turned on with the warning color by the lighting color control unit 112.

If necessary, the street light 100 may include a notification unit other than the lamp 106, such as a speaker and an electronic bulletin board. The street light control unit 104 generates the warning color lighting signal S1 based on the first approaching object information D1 and the second approaching object information D2, and outputs the warning information by voice from the speaker and/or displaying it on the electronic bulletin board. May work.

The street light 100 may be configured to draw a road surface at or near the intersection 10. For example, the street light 100 may project an image showing warning information on the road surface when a plurality of approaching objects are predicted to encounter at the intersection 10. Alternatively, the street light 100 may display on the road surface that it is safe, for example, by illuminating the pedestrian crossing provided at the intersection 10 in blue when it is predicted that an approaching object will not be encountered at the intersection 10.

Although the present invention has been described by using specific words and phrases based on the embodiments, the embodiments merely show one aspect of the principle and application of the present invention. Many modifications and changes in arrangement are possible without departing from the spirit of the present invention defined in the range.

10 intersections, 11 first road, 12 second road, 100 street light, 102 monitoring equipment, 106 lighting, 110 data processing unit, 112 light color control unit, D0 output data, D1 first approaching object information, D2 second approaching Item information.

Claims (5)

A street light installed at or near the intersection of the first road and the second road,
A lighting device capable of lighting in a plurality of lighting colors including at least one warning color,
Monitoring equipment for monitoring the first road and the second road,
First approaching object information indicating the distance and speed to the intersection is generated for the first approaching object from the first road based on the output data from the monitoring device, and the second approaching object from the second road is generated. A data processing unit for generating second approaching object information indicating the distance and speed to the intersection,
Based on the first approaching object information and the second approaching object information, when the first approaching object and the second approaching object are predicted to encounter each other at the intersection, the lamp is controlled to turn on with the warning color. A street light, comprising: a light color control unit. 2. The lighting color control unit controls the lighting device so as to blink with the warning color when it is predicted that the first approaching object and the second approaching object encounter at the intersection. Street light. The street lamp according to claim 2, wherein the lamp color control unit controls the lamp so as to blink in different blinking cycles according to the speed of the first approaching object or the second approaching object. The lamp color control unit controls the lamp so that the first approaching object and the second approaching object are lit in a first warning color when it is predicted that the first approaching object and the second approaching object encounter at the intersection, and an abnormal situation occurs at the intersection. The street lamp according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the lamp is controlled so that the lamp is turned on with a second warning color different from the first warning color when the lighting is on. A method of monitoring an intersection of a first road and a second road,
Monitoring the first road and the second road;
A step of determining whether a first approaching object from the first road and a second approaching object from the second road meet at the intersection based on the monitoring result;
When it is determined that the first approaching object and the second approaching object encounter at the intersection, lighting a street light installed at or near the intersection with a warning color.

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