COLLISION AVOIDANCE SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AN UNDERGROUND MINE ENVIRONMENT
First Claim
1. A collision avoidance system for vehicles and humans, comprising:
- a thermal imaging module for imaging one or more areas of interest and for providing object recognition for recognizing one or more of humans, vehicles, and electrical infrastructure;
an asset tracking module with communications and tracking software;
a motion module for providing direction and speed of travel of an asset;
collision avoidance software configured to provide for;
proximity detection of one or more of assets, vehicles, and humans;
threat determination based on a rating algorithm and multiple inputs; and
collision avoidance based on the threat determination.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Described are methods and systems for collision avoidance in an underground mine environment that use one or more of a computer vision component, an asset tracking system, and a motion detection component for the purpose of determining and responding to potential collision threats. Imaging is captured and processed in real time, so that assets of interest can be identified and used in evaluating potential for collision with other assets. Location data from an asset tracking system is likewise evaluated and used to determine proximity of assets in relation to the host. A final input is provided by the motion detection component that intelligently determines movement patterns and direction of travel. Once these components'"'"' inputs are collectively evaluated, a proximity or a threat value is generated which determine an audible or visual signal or action to prevent collision and increase safety in unfavorable conditions.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A collision avoidance system for vehicles and humans, comprising:
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a thermal imaging module for imaging one or more areas of interest and for providing object recognition for recognizing one or more of humans, vehicles, and electrical infrastructure; an asset tracking module with communications and tracking software; a motion module for providing direction and speed of travel of an asset; collision avoidance software configured to provide for; proximity detection of one or more of assets, vehicles, and humans; threat determination based on a rating algorithm and multiple inputs; and collision avoidance based on the threat determination. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A collision avoidance system, the system comprising:
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a computer vision component; an asset tracking component; a motion detection component for calculating a directional velocity component for the asset tracking component; and a collision avoidance component configured to receive inputs from the computer vision component, asset tracking component, and motion detection component and to combine the inputs into an algorithm to produce an output that determines a warning or action for avoidance of a collision between a first asset and a second asset. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A collision avoidance system, the system comprising:
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a computer vision component comprising; an imaging modality comprising one or more thermal infrared cameras configured to provide a thermal image capture of a region of interest; a computer processor; and a memory comprising a set of computer-executable instructions configured for instructing the computer processor to analyze the thermal image capture to identify assets present in the region of interest; an asset tracking component based on fixed mesh radio nodes and mobile mesh radio nodes, wherein a mobile mesh radio node is placed on a first asset and the asset tracking component is configured to determine the location of the mobile mesh radio node based on a Received Signal Strength Indication (RSSI) between the mobile mesh radio node and surrounding fixed mesh radio nodes; a motion detection component configured to determine a directional velocity component for the asset tracking component based on an accelerometer-based motion sensor device placed on the first asset, wherein the directional velocity component comprises a speed and direction of travel; and a collision avoidance component which is configured to receive inputs from the computer vision component, the asset tracking component, and the motion detection component and combine the inputs into an algorithm programmed in a set of computer-executable instructions which instruct a computer processor to calculate a Threat Rating Value that determines a warning or action for the first asset to avoid collision with a second asset. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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18. A method for avoiding asset collisions, the method comprising:
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providing a thermal image of a first asset with a computer vision component and identifying the type of asset with the computer vision component, the computer vision component comprising; a video imaging component comprising one or more thermal infrared cameras which provide video image frames comprising a thermal image capture of an object; a computer processor; and a memory comprising a set of computer-executable instructions which instruct the computer processor to analyze video image frames received from the video imaging component to identify assets present in the thermal image capture, wherein the set of computer-executable instructions employ object classification algorithms to identify the asset; tracking the location of the first asset with an asset tracking component comprising fixed mesh radio nodes and mobile mesh radio nodes, wherein a mobile mesh radio node is placed on a first vehicle or a human and the asset tracking component determines the location of the mobile mesh radio node based on a Received Signal Strength Indication (RSSI) between the mobile mesh radio node and surrounding fixed mesh radio nodes; tracking the speed and direction of travel of the first asset with a motion detection component which determines a directional velocity component for the asset tracking component based on an accelerometer-based motion sensor device placed on the first asset, wherein the directional velocity component comprises a speed and direction of travel; determining a Threat Rating Value through a collision avoidance component which receives inputs from the computer vision component, asset tracking component, and motion detection component and combines the inputs into an algorithm programmed in a set of computer-executable instructions which instruct a processor to calculate the Threat Rating Value; and issuing a warning or instruction for action for the first asset to avoid collision with a second asset based on the Threat Rating Value. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification