Safety system for operations having a working field on an opposite side of a barrier from a device

• US 10,127,792 B1
• Filed: 05/12/2017
• Issued: 11/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2017
• Status: Expired

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Troy, James J., Georgeson, Gary E., Lea, Scott W., Wright, Daniel J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bolourchi, Nader
• Application Number:
  US15/593,520
• Publication Number:
  US 20180330596A1
• Time in Patent Office: 550 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B23B 49/00 Measuring or gauging equipment on boring machines for positioning or guiding the drill; Devices for indicating failure of drills during boring; Centering devices for holes to be bored marking-out equipment B25H7/00; measuring devices, gauges G01B
• CPC Class Codes: B25F 5/00 Details or components of portable power-driven tools not particularly related to the operations performed and not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 5/10 Manufacturing or assembling aircraft, e.g. jigs therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F16P 3/14 the means being photocells or other devices sensitive without mechanical contact
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/182 Level alarms, e.g. alarms responsive to variables exceeding a threshold
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/318 Received signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0681 Configuration of triggering conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/70 Services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC]

Abstract

Systems and methods for increasing situational awareness for a tool operator and an individual approaching a working field of the tool are described. An example method includes activating a first device, where the first device has a working field and has an operational path configured to intersect a barrier. A proximity sensor of the second device then detects a presence of an object in a sensor zone of the second device. The second device transmits a wireless signal to the first device indicating the presence of the object in the sensor zone of the second device. Then at least one of the first device and the second device issues a first alert indicating the presence of the object in the sensor zone of the second device.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

activating a first device, wherein the first device has a working field, wherein the first device has an operational path configured to intersect a barrier;

detecting, via a proximity sensor of a second device, a presence of an object in a sensor zone of the second device;

transmitting, via the second device, a wireless signal to the first device indicating the presence of the object in the sensor zone of the second device; and

issuing a first alert, via at least one of the first device and the second device, indicating the presence of the object in the sensor zone of the second device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting, via the proximity sensor of the second device, the presence of the object in the sensor zone of the second device comprises detecting the presence of the object in the working field of the first device, and wherein issuing the first alert comprises disabling at least one operative function of the first device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

arranging the second device in a non-line-of-sight position relative to the first device such that the first device and the second device are arranged on opposite sides of the barrier.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining, via the second device, a signal strength of the first device;

displaying a signal strength indicator on at least one of the first device and the second device, wherein the displayed signal strength indicator is based on the determined signal strength; and

positioning the second device relative to the first device based on the displayed signal strength indicator.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

moving the first device to a location remote from the second device;

determining, via the second device, a signal strength of the first device is less than a predetermined signal strength threshold; and

in response to determining the signal strength of the first device is less than the predetermined signal strength threshold, moving the second device in a direction of the first device.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein moving the second device in the direction of the first device comprises the second device automatically moving along a guide-rail or a track in response to sensor feedback.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

determining, via the second device, the signal strength of the first device;

determining, via the second device, the signal strength of the first device meets or exceeds the predetermined signal strength threshold; and

in response to determining the signal strength of the first device meets or exceeds the predetermined signal strength threshold, ceasing movement of the second device.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising

determining that a signal strength of the second device failed to be detected by the first device for a predetermined amount of time;

and

issuing a second alert via the first device.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein issuing the first alert comprises issuing a visual alert, an audible alert, or a tactile alert.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein issuing the first alert comprises at least one of activating a feedback mode of either the first device or the second device or disabling at least one operative function of the first device.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

in response to detecting, via the proximity sensor of the second device, the presence of the object in the sensor zone of the second device, recording via a computing device of the second device or a network at least one sensor-signal event.

12. A system, comprising:

a first device having a receiver and at least one of a first alert indicator and an override switch; and

at least one second device having a transmitter and a proximity sensor, the proximity sensor configured for communication with the transmitter of the second device, the second device configured to send at least one wireless signal to the receiver of the first device to activate one of the first alert indicator or the override switch in response to the proximity sensor detecting an object within a sensor zone of the second device.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the second device is arranged in a non-line-of-sight position relative to the first device such that the first device and the second device are arranged on opposite sides of a barrier.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein at least one of the first device and the second device has an alignment indicator configured to indicate a signal strength of the first device received by the second device.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the alignment indicator comprises a plurality of LEDs, a multicolored LED or a light that blinks at different rates based on the signal strength of the first device.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the proximity sensor comprises at least one of an optical sensor, an infrared sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, a tactile sensor, a contact sensor, a capacitive sensor, a laser-based sensor, a through-beam sensor, a camera-based sensor and a motion sensor.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein the first alert indicator comprises a controller configured to cause at least one of visual, audible, or tactile feedback.

18. The system of claim 12, wherein the second device further comprises a computing device configured to automatically move the second device in response to a determination by the computing device that a signal received from the first device has a signal strength that is lower than a predetermined signal strength threshold.

19. The system of claim 12, further comprising:

a second alert indicator coupled to the first device and configured to activate in response to a determination that a signal strength of the second device failed to be detected for a predetermined amount of time.

20. A system, comprising:

a first device having a receiver and at least one of a first alert indicator and an override switch; and

a plurality of second devices each having a proximity sensor and a transmitter that is configured for communication with the proximity sensor, the plurality of second devices configured to send at least one wireless signal to the receiver of the first device to activate one of the first alert indicator or the override switch in response to at least one of the plurality of second devices detecting an object in a sensor zone of the at least one of the plurality of second devices, the plurality of second devices are configured to be arranged in a non-line-of-sight position relative to the first device such that the first device and the plurality of second devices are arranged on opposite sides of a barrier.