WO2019002681A1

WO2019002681A1 - Safety arrangement for work areas

Info

Publication number: WO2019002681A1
Application number: PCT/FI2018/050499
Authority: WO
Inventors: Vikke SAARELAINEN
Original assignee: Nevia Oy
Priority date: 2017-06-29
Filing date: 2018-06-26
Publication date: 2019-01-03
Also published as: FI128027B; FI20175620A; FI20175620A1

Abstract

A solution for improving safety in connection with work are-as is presented. The solution comprises detecting (200) a vehicle, determining (202) movement properties of the vehicle, detecting (204) if one or more properties exceed given thresholds and giving (206) an indication of a first type of one or more properties exceed a threshold and an indication of a second type if a threshold is not exceeded.

Description

SAFETY ARRANGEMENT FOR WORK AREAS

Technical Field

The exemplary and non-limiting embodiments of the invention relate generally to a solution for improving safety in connection with work areas where there are workers working among moving vehicles or devices.

Background

Roads need maintenance from time to time. Asphalt or other surface material need patching or replacement and also other maintenance actions need performing. In general, maintenance work is done at the same time normal traffic passes the road work site. Generally speaking, there has been a great deal of improvement in road safety and safety at road work sites. However, the increase in traffic volume, the increase of various disturbances to drivers and maintenance workers and even an increase in general carelessness have contributed to the fact that there is an increase the risks of both workers and traffic passing work sites.

In addition to road works, the same type of problem applies also to other work areas where there are workers working among moving vehicles or devices. Such areas may be construction or building sites, where there are construction machines moving in the same area with pedestrian workers or railway works, for example.

Education, traffic surveillance and other measures have seen to increase safety. However, road work which is to a large extent performed manually by workers on the road, is still very accident prone. There is a clear need to improve safety in connection with road works.

Brief description

An object of the present invention is to provide a method and an arrangement for implementing the method so as to provide a solution to the above problem. The objects of the invention are achieved by a method for improving safety in connection with work areas, comprising: detecting a vehicle; determining movement properties of the vehicle; detecting if one or more properties ex- ceed given thresholds and giving an indication of a first type of one or more properties exceed a threshold and an indication of a second type if a threshold is not exceeded.

The objects of the invention are also achieved by an arrangement for improving safety in connection with work areas, comprising: a detector config- ured to detect a vehicle and determine movement properties of the vehicle; a control unit configured to detect if one or more property exceed a given threshold and; a transmitter configured to, under the control of the control unit, transmit an indication of a first type of one or more property exceed a threshold and an indi- cation of a second type if a threshold is not exceeded, and transmitting utilising a communication network information related to detected vehicles and the determined movement properties to a Traffic Message Channel server.

The objects of the invention are also achieved by an arrangement for improving safety in connection with work areas, comprising: a detector to detect a vehicle and determine movement properties of the vehicle; a control unit for detecting if one or more properties exceed a given threshold and an indicator unit giving an indication of a first type of one or more properties exceed a threshold and an indication of a second type if a threshold is not exceeded and transmit, utilising a communication network, information related to detected vehicles and the determined movement properties to a Traffic Message Channel server.

The embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the dependent claims.

Brief description of the drawings

In the following the invention will be described in greater detail by means of preferred embodiments with reference to the attached [accompanying] drawings, in which

Figure 1 illustrates an example of a safety arrangement in connection with a road work;

Figure 2 is a flow chart illustrating an embodiment;

Figure 3 illustrates an example of an apparatus according to an embodiment;

Figure 4 illustrates an example of a mobile unit according to an embodiment.

Detailed description of some embodiments

Figure 1 illustrates an example of an arrangement according to an embodiment of the invention. The arrangement is configured to improve safety in connection with work areas where there are workers working among moving vehicles or devices. Figure 1 illustrates an example where an embodiment of the invention is applied in connection with roadworks, especially where are workers on the road and where traffic is allowed despite the road work. Typically the or- ganiser of the roadwork has set a lowered speed limit on the area under maintenance. The vehicles moving on the road are expected to reduce the velocity of the vehicles when entering the road work area However, not all drivers notice the speed limit or reduce the velocity for some other reason, thus causing a potential security risk for themselves and the workers performing the maintenance.

The arrangement comprises a detecting unit 100, a central unit 102 and one or more moving units 104A, 104B, 104C. The detecting unit 100 is configured to monitor traffic on the area where maintenance is performed. The detecting unit is configured to detect any vehicle 108 on the road and approaching the area. In an embodiment, the detection is realized with a radar or Doppler radar. The detection may be realised also with other perception devices such as a camera, thermographic camera or an induction loop, for example.

The central unit may communicate with the one or more moving units 104A, 104B, 104C using a wireless connection 106A, 106B, 106C. In an embodi- ment, the wireless connection is realised with a Zigbee network operating on 2.4 GHz frequency. One transceiver, typically the transceiver in the central unit, establishes a radio network to which other transceivers, typically the transceivers in the one or more moving units, are configured to join. However, any other suitable radio technology, such as Bluetooth™, Bluetooth™ Low Energy or cellular communications may be used as well, as one skilled in the art is well aware. In an embodiment, the messages in the radio network are encrypted so that only intended participants are able to communicate using the network.

Typically the one or more moving units are worn by the workers performing the maintenance.

The detecting unit 100 is configured to monitor traffic on the area where maintenance is performed. The detecting unit is configured to detect any vehicle 108 on the road and approaching the area. In an embodiment, the detection is realized with a radar or Doppler radar.

Figure 2 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an embodiment of the invention. The flowchart illustrates an example of the operation of the arrangement of Figure 1.

In step 200, the arrangement is configured to detect a vehicle. The detection unit is configured to monitor the desired observed work area, such as a road where road maintenance is performed. Beams 110 of one or more percep- tion devices such as radars or Doppler radars may be directed to the road as illustrated in Figure 1. As a vehicle or other moving device enters the area covered by the beams a detection may be performed.

In step 202, the arrangement is configured to determine movement properties of the vehicle. In an embodiment, the movement properties of the vehicle may include the location, direction of movement, velocity or changes in the velocity of the vehicle. The determination may be performed in the detection unit or in the central unit.

In step 204, the arrangement is configured to detect if one or more properties exceed given thresholds. For example, the velocity of the detected vehicle may be compared to a given speed limit. Likewise it may be detected that the vehicle accelerates or moves towards area where maintenance crew is working and where vehicles should not be driving.

In step 206, the arrangement is configured to give an indication of a first type of one or more properties exceed a threshold and an indication of a second type if a threshold is not exceeded.

In an embodiment, the detection of exceeding the thresholds is performed in the central unit 102. The central unit may be configured to transmit an indication to the one or more moving units 104A, 104B, 104C using a wireless connection that a threshold is exceeded or that a vehicle is moving but not exceeding any threshold. The moving units may give an alarm to the wearer of the unit according to the indication. In an embodiment, there are a set of predefined messages stored in the central unit and the central unit is configured to transmit to the one or more moving units a given predefined message selected from the set on the basis of the detection.

In an embodiment, the central unit is configured to be in contact with a network server via a communication network such as Internet. In an embodiment, the central unit is configured to transmit determined values to the network server, which is configured to perform detection of exceeding the thresholds. The network server may send messages to the central unit and central unit may be configured to transmit an indication to the one or more moving units 104A, 104B, 104C using a wireless connection in a similar manner if the detection were made in the central unit.

In an embodiment, the detection of exceeding the thresholds is performed in the one or more moving units 104A, 104B, 104C. The central unit 102 may be configured to transmit determined values to the one or more moving units 104A, 104B, 104C which may compare the values to thresholds and give an alarm to the wearer of the unit according to the determination. In an embodiment, the alarm or indication given to the wearer of the moving unit may be visible indication, or audible indication, or both, or any other kind of indication such as a vibrations, for example. In an example embodiment, indication of an approaching vehicle having movement properties exceeding thresholds may be indicated with a red light, indication of an approaching vehicle having movement properties not exceeding thresholds may be indicated with a yellow light, and indication that no vehicles are approaching may be indicated with a green light. Absence of a light may indicate there is no connection to the central unit.

Figure 3 illustrates an embodiment. The figure illustrates a simplified example of an apparatus in which embodiments of the invention may be applied. The figure illustrates an apparatus comprising the detection unit 100 and the central unit 102. In some embodiments, the detection unit 100 and the central unit 102 may be separate units connected with a wired or wireless connection.

It should be understood that the apparatus is depicted herein as an example illustrating some embodiments. It is apparent to a person skilled in the art that the apparatus may also comprise other functions and/or structures and not all described functions and structures are required. Although the apparatus has been depicted as one entity, different modules and memory may be implemented in one or more physical or logical entities.

The apparatus of the example includes a control circuitry 300 configured to control at least part of the operation of the apparatus.

The apparatus may comprise a memory 302 for storing data. Furthermore the memory may store software 304 executable by the control circuitry 300. The memory may be integrated in the control circuitry.

The apparatus comprises a transceiver 306. The transceiver is operationally connected to the control circuitry 300. It may be connected to an antenna arrangement (not shown) comprising one more antenna elements or antennas. The control circuitry may communicate with one or more mobile unit utilising the transceiver 306. In an embodiment, the transceiver 306 is a Zigbee transceiver operating on 2.4 GHz frequency. However, the transceiver may be realised with any other suitable radio technology, such as Bluetooth™ or Bluetooth™ Low Energy as well, as one skilled in the art is well aware.

The apparatus comprises another transceiver 308. The transceiver is operationally connected to the control circuitry 300. It may be connected to an antenna arrangement (not shown) comprising one more antenna elements or antennas. The control circuitry may communicate with a network server via a communication system utilising the transceiver 308. In some embodiments the transceiver 308 is a wireless transceiver of a cellular communication system such as GSM, UMTS, LTE or the like. In some embodiments the transceiver is a wireless local area network (WLAN, Wi-Fi) transceiver. In some embodiments the transceiver is configured to communicate with the Internet via a wired connection.

The software 304 may comprise a computer program comprising program code means adapted to cause the control circuitry 300 of the apparatus to control the transceivers 306, 308.

The control circuitry 300 is configured to execute one or more applications. The applications may be stored in the memory 302.

The apparatus may further comprise one or more interfaces 310 operationally connected to the control circuitry 300. The interface may connect the apparatus to one or more perception device units 312, 314. The interface may be a serial port or a parallel port or any other suitable interface.

The apparatus may further comprise satellite navigation unit 316, such as a GPS, GLONASS, for example. The control circuitry 300 may determine the location of the apparatus utilising the location unit.

In an embodiment, the perception device units 312, 314 form a detec- tor and together with the interface 310 form a detection unit 100 and the control circuitry 300, memory 302, satellite navigation unit 316 and transceivers form a central unit 102. However, other division of components is also possible.

In an embodiment, the detector, which may be under control, of the control circuitry 300, is configured to detect a vehicle and determine movement properties of the vehicle. In an embodiment, the movement properties of the vehicle may include the location, direction of movement, velocity or changes in the velocity of the vehicle. The determination may be performed in the detection unit or in the central unit.

In an embodiment, the control circuitry 300 may be configured to de- tect if one or more properties exceed given thresholds. For example, the velocity of the detected vehicle may be compared to a given speed limit. Likewise it may be detected that the vehicle accelerates or moves towards area where maintenance crew is working and where vehicles should not be driving.

In an embodiment, the control circuitry 300 may control the trans- ceiver 306 to transmit an indication to the one or more moving units 104A, 104B, 104C that a threshold is exceeded or that a vehicle is moving but not exceeding any threshold. In an embodiment, there are a set of predefined messages stored in the memory and the control unit may be configured to control the transceiver to transmit to the one or more moving units a given predefined message selected from the set.

In an embodiment, the apparatus may further comprise a camera or other sensor which may be configured to capture images or video of vehicles approaching the maintenance area. The control circuitry of the apparatus may control the operation of the camera on the basis of data received from the detector. In an embodiment, the images and/or videos may be stored in the memory of the apparatus or transmitted to a network server. In an embodiment, associated data, such as time stamp and measured properties of the movement of the vehicle in the images or videos is stored or transmitted as well.

In an embodiment, information on the road maintenance operation, such as the location of the operation, is transmitted to a Traffic Message Channel (TMC) system.

The apparatus may also calculate statistics related to the traffic in connection with the road maintenance, such as traffic density and data related to measured properties of the vehicle movements. For example, velocities of the vehicles may be stored and how the vehicles pass the maintenance site.

The apparatus may further comprise a power source 318 powering the components of the apparatus. The power source may be a battery which may be chargeable and the apparatus may comprise an interface 320, such as an USB (Universal Serial Bus) -interface for charging the battery. The power source may also be connectable to mains voltage. The power source may also be solar pow- ered.

Figure 4 illustrates an embodiment. The figure illustrates a simplified example of an apparatus acting as a moving unit 104A, 104B, 104C in which embodiments of the invention may be applied.

It should be understood that the apparatus is depicted herein as an ex- ample illustrating some embodiments. It is apparent to a person skilled in the art that the apparatus may also comprise other functions and/or structures and not all described functions and structures are required. Although the apparatus has been depicted as one entity, different modules and memory may be implemented in one or more physical or logical entities.

The apparatus of the example includes a control circuitry 400 configured to control at least part of the operation of the apparatus. The apparatus may comprise a memory 402 for storing data. Furthermore the memory may store software 404 executable by the control circuitry 400. The memory may be integrated in the control circuitry.

The apparatus comprises a transceiver 408. The transceiver is opera- tionally connected to the control circuitry 400. It may be connected to an antenna arrangement (not shown) comprising one more antenna elements or antennas. The control circuitry 400 may communicate with the central unit 102 utilising the transceiver 408. In an embodiment, the transceiver 408 is a Zigbee transceiver operating on 2.4 GHz frequency. However, the transceiver may be realised with any other suitable radio technology, such as Bluetooth™ or Bluetooth™ Low Energy as well, as one skilled in the art is well aware. In an embodiment, the apparatus comprises a receiver 408 instead of a transceiver. A receiver may replace the transceiver in applications where there is no need for the moving units to transmit data to the central unit 102.

The apparatus comprises an indication unit 406. The indication unit

406 may comprise one or more LEDs or other light sources and/or a speaker or any other suitable components which may be configured to give an indication to the user of the apparatus. The indication unit 406 is operationally connected to the control circuitry 400.

The software 404 may comprise a computer program comprising program code means adapted to cause the control circuitry 400 of the apparatus to control the operation of the indication unit. The control circuitry 400 may receive transmissions from the central unit 102 via the transceiver 408 and control the operation of the indication unit on the basis of the transmissions. Light sources of different colours may be lit, or different light pulses may be used or different audible indications, for example.

The apparatus may further comprise a battery 410 powering the components of the apparatus. The battery may be chargeable and the apparatus may comprise an interface 412, such as an USB (Universal Serial Bus) -interface for charging the battery.

In an embodiment, the control circuitry 400 receives using the transceiver 408 from the central unit a transmission stating that a threshold related to movement properties of a vehicle are exceeded or that a vehicle is moving but not exceeding any threshold. In an embodiment, the transmission is one of a set of predefined messages.

As mentioned, in an embodiment the detection of exceeding the thresholds is performed in the one or more moving units 104A, 104B, 104C. In such a case the apparatus of Figure 4 may be configured to receive from the central unit 102 determined values related to movement properties of a vehicle. The control circuitry 400 may be configured to compare the values to thresholds and control the indication unit 406 to give an alarm to the wearer of the apparatus according to the determination.

In an embodiment, the apparatus of Figure 4 may be installed to a helmet or proactive goggles or such worn by workers in the work area. In an embodiment, the apparatus may be divided into two parts, where a first part com- prising the control circuitry, memory and transceiver/receiver may be worn in a belt (for example) of a worker, and a second part comprising the indication unit, connected with a wired or wireless connection to the first unit, is located in connection with the helmet worn by the worker.

In an embodiment, the operation of the system is designed to improve the battery life of especially the moving units. For example, the transceivers of the moving units may be configured to be in active state twice a second and other wise in a sleeping state. The central unit may gather information from the detection unit continuously and store data for the sleeping moving units. When a moving unit, or the transceiver of the moving unit, wakes up into an active state, it may poll the central unit for data. The central unit may transmit the data stored for the moving station as a response to the poll.

The steps and related functions described in the above and attached figures are in no absolute chronological order, and some of the steps may be performed simultaneously or in an order differing from the given one. Other func- tions can also be executed between the steps or within the steps. Some of the steps can also be left out or replaced with a corresponding step.

The apparatuses or controllers able to perform the above-described steps may be implemented as an electronic digital computer, or a circuitry which may comprise a working memory (RAM), a central processing unit (CPU), and a system clock. The CPU may comprise a set of registers, an arithmetic logic unit, and a controller. The controller or the circuitry is controlled by a sequence of program instructions transferred to the CPU from the RAM. The controller may contain a number of microinstructions for basic operations. The implementation of microinstructions may vary depending on the CPU design. The program in- structions may be coded by a programming language, which may be a high-level programming language, such as C, Java, etc., or a low-level programming lan- guage, such as a machine language, or an assembler. The electronic digital computer may also have an operating system, which may provide system services to a computer program written with the program instructions.

As used in this application, the term 'circuitry' refers to all of the following: (a) hardware-only circuit implementations, such as implementations in only analog and/or digital circuitry, and (b) combinations of circuits and software (and/or firmware), such as (as applicable): (i) a combination of processor(s) or (ii) portions of processor(s)/software including digital signal processor(s), software, and memory(ies) that work together to cause an apparatus to perform various functions, and (c) circuits, such as a microprocessor(s) or a portion of a mi- croprocessor(s), that require software or firmware for operation, even if the software or firmware is not physically present.

This definition of 'circuitry' applies to all uses of this term in this application. As a further example, as used in this application, the term 'circuitry' would also cover an implementation of merely a processor (or multiple processors) or a portion of a processor and its (or their) accompanying software and/or firmware. The term 'circuitry' would also cover, for example and if applicable to the particular element, a baseband integrated circuit or applications processor integrated circuit for a mobile phone or a similar integrated circuit in a server, a cellular network device, or another network device.

It will be obvious to a person skilled in the art that, as the technology advances, the inventive concept can be implemented in various ways. The invention and its embodiments are not limited to the examples described above but may vary within the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A method for improving safety in connection with work areas, corn- prising:

detecting (200) a vehicle (108);

determining (202) movement properties of the vehicle (108); detecting (204) if one or more properties exceed given thresholds; giving (206) an indication of a first type if one or more properties exceed a threshold and an indication of a second type if a threshold is not exceeded, and

transmitting utilising a communication network information related to detected vehicles and the determined movement properties to a Traffic Message Channel server.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

determining location, direction of movement, velocity or changes in the velocity of the vehicle.

3. The method according to any preceding claim, further comprising: transmitting information on the determined properties to one or more recipients.

4. The method according to any preceding claim, wherein the indication generates a visible alarm at one or more recipients, the colour of the visible alarm depending on the type of the indication.

5. The method according to any preceding claim, further comprising: storing information related to detected vehicles and the determined movement properties.

6. An arrangement for improving safety in connection with work areas, comprising:

a detector (312, 314) configured to detect a vehicle (108) and determine movement properties of the vehicle (108);

a control unit (300) configured to detect if one or more properties ex- ceed a given threshold and; a transmitter (306) configured to, under the control of the control unit, transmit an indication of a first type if one or more property exceed a threshold and an indication of a second type if a threshold is not exceeded and transmit, utilising a communication network, information related to detected vehicles and the determined movement properties to a Traffic Message Channel server.

7. The arrangement according to claim 6, further comprising one or more moving units comprising

a receiver (408) , configured to receive indications from a transmitter; an indication unit (406) configured to generate an alarm on the basis of the indication.

8. The arrangement according to claim 7, wherein the indication unit (406) is configured to generate a visible alarm, the colour of the visible alarm de- pending on the type of the indication.

9. An arrangement for improving safety in connection with work areas, comprising:

a detector (312, 314) to detect a vehicle (108) and determine move- ment properties of the vehicle (108);

a control unit (300) for detecting if one or more properties exceed a given threshold and

an indicator unit giving an indication of a first type of one or more properties exceed a threshold and an indication of a second type if a threshold is not exceeded.