Remote Controlled Mobile Traffic Control System and Method

• US 20170154524A1
• Filed: 11/28/2016
• Published: 06/01/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Leo Beaulieu
• Original Assignee: Leo Beaulieu
• Inventors: Beaulieu, Leo
• Granted Patent: US 9,972,205 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: E01F 9/30 Arrangements interacting with transmitters or receivers otherwise than by visible means, e.g. using radar reflectors or radio transmitters E01F11/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E01F 9/60 Upright bodies, e.g. marker posts or bollards; Supports for road signs
• CPC Class Codes: E01F 9/65 with rotatable, swingable or adjustable signs or signals E01F9/646 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E01F 9/662 mounted on vehicles, e.g. service vehicles; Warning vehicles travelling along with road-maintenance, e.g. remotely controlled
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/07 Controlling traffic signals
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/087 Override of traffic control, e.g. by signal transmitted by an emergency vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0955 transportable
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/00 Network arrangements or protocols for supporting network services or applications user-to-user messaging H04L51/00; network arrangements, protocols or services for supporting real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds

Abstract

A remote controlled mobile traffic control system which can be used in the place of a human flag person. A mobile platform with an adjustable traffic control indicator thereon is controlled by a remote control. The operator can move the platform and change the indication of the traffic control apparatus from a safe distance. The apparatus permits “flagging” of traffic in a moving traffic control zone arrangement, and operational safety is maximized. A traffic barrier arm is movable between deployed and retracted positions obstructing the path of oncoming traffic, for example by a remote controlled actuator or by remote controlled turning of the platform. A remote alarm unit accompanies to the work crew to alarm them of traffic entering the work zone without authorization or at unsafe speed. The apparatus can travel with a moving or changing work zone, either by human remote control or autonomous “follow me” functionality.

Claims

1. A remote controlled mobile traffic control apparatus comprising:

a mobile platform;

a locomotion system installed on the mobile platform to carry the mobile platform in a movable manner over a ground surface;

a traffic control indicator mounted on the mobile platform and operable to display different traffic control indications to oncoming traffic approaching said mobile platform; and

a control module installed on the mobile platform and operable to receive incoming signals from one or more remote devices communicable therewith from remote distances to switch between the different traffic control indications displayed to the oncoming traffic and move the mobile platform over the ground surface via the locomotion system.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a traffic control barrier mounted or mountable on the mobile platform and movable into and out of a deployed position obstructing a travel path of the oncoming traffic beside said mobile platform, wherein the control module is operable to transition the traffic control barrier into and out of said deployed position based on the incoming signals from the one or more remote devices.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the traffic control barrier comprises a barrier arm pivotally supported or supportable on the mobile platform for pivotal movement between an orientation reaching laterally outward from the mobile platform in the deployed position and an orientation of lesser lateral extent when withdrawn from the deployed position.

6. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the barrier arm is held stationary on the mobile platform in a position reaching outwardly to one side thereof, and the control module is arranged to turn the mobile platform into one of two differently facing directions using the locomotion system in response to incoming indicator control signals from the one or more remote devices in order to either face said one side toward the travel path of the oncoming traffic so that the barrier arm reaches into said travel path, or face said one side in another direction placing the barrier arm outside said travel path.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the different traffic control indications comprise a continuously illuminated red indicator representing a traffic stop signal, and a flashing yellow/amber indicator representing a traffic caution signal.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 in combination with said one or more remote devices, wherein said one or more remote devices comprises a motion sensing hand-held remote sized for carrying in one-hand of an operator and arranged to generate the drive control signals based on detected movement of the hand-held remote in said one-hand of the operator, leaving another hand of the operator free for other tasks.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 in combination with an alarm unit separate of, or separable from, the mobile platform for placement of said alarm unit at a work zone located down-road of the mobile platform and remotely of the one or more remote device, said alarm unit being operable to emit an audible alarm warning one or more workers of a vehicle approaching the work zone in an unauthorized or unsafe manner.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 in combination with said one or more remote devices, wherein said one or more remote devices has a safety alarm actuator operable to transmit an alarm signal to the remote alarm unit to trigger the alarm at the remote alarm unit.

20. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the alarm unit comprise a local alarm actuator operable at the alarm unit by one worker at the work zone to warn other workers within or near said work zone.

21. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the traffic control indicator is mounted atop a support that stands upright from the mobile platform, and the apparatus comprises a self-plumbing mechanism for orienting the support in a vertically upright position.

28. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the locomotion system comprises three ground wheels movably carrying the mobile platform, said three wheels comprising two powered drive wheels operable in synchronous relation to one another for straight conveyance of the mobile platform and in differential relation to one another for turning conveyance of the mobile platform, and a non-powered caster wheel.

29. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the locomotion system comprises a disengagement mechanism operable to decouple one or more driven ground engagement members thereof from one or more motors of the locomotion system to reduce resistance to movement of the mobile platform by means other than said one or more motors of the locomotion system.

32. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the traffic control indicator is carried by a support shaft that stands upright from the mobile platform to carry the traffic control indicator at a spaced elevation thereabove, and the traffic control indicator is pivotally supported for movement between a working position standing upright from atop said support shaft and a tilted storage position of reduced elevation relative to the upright working position.

36. The apparatus of claim 1 in combination with said one or more remote devices, at least one of which comprises a leader device, wherein said control module on the mobile platform is configured to autonomously drive the location system in a manner following movement of said leader device along the road surface.

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39. A method of remote-controlled traffic control comprising:

(a) positioning a mobile platform on or proximate a road surface at or proximate a starting end of a work zone with a traffic control indicator carried on said mobile platform to inform oncoming traffic approaching said work zone; and

(b) using a remote device at a remote distance from said mobile platform to switch between different traffic control indications displayed by the traffic control indicator to the oncoming traffic;

wherein positioning of said mobile platform at or proximate the starting end of the work zone in step (a), and/or subsequent repositioning of said mobile platform, is performed by a locomotion system on the mobile platform based on incoming signals received at said mobile platform from a remote distance away therefrom to command operation of the locomotion system.

42. The method of claim 39 wherein said repositioning of said mobile platform is controlled via said incoming signals and comprises moving the mobile platform along the road surface.

43. The method of claim 42 wherein said repositioning of said mobile platform comprises moving the mobile platform along the road surface in accordance with expansion, contraction or movement of the work zone, whereby the starting end of the work zone changes location and the mobile platform travels with said changing end of the work zone.

44. The method of claim 42 wherein said repositioning of said mobile platform comprises moving the mobile platform along the road surface away from said work zone as the oncoming traffic lines up before said starting end of the work zone, whereby lined up traffic further back from the work zone is informed by the traffic control indicator of the moving mobile platform.

47. The method of claim 42 wherein said repositioning of said remote-controlled mobile platform comprises moving said remote-controlled mobile platform into the path of an oncoming vehicle that is exceeding a safe speed limit or attempting to enter the work zone without authorization, thereby presenting a stop-inducing crash hazard to said oncoming vehicle.

48. The method of claim 42 wherein said repositioning of said mobile platform mobile platform comprises autonomously operating the locomotion system in a manner following a leader device from which said incoming signals are being received.

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