Personnel classification and response system

• US 9,080,723 B2
• Filed: 05/17/2012
• Issued: 07/14/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Kriel, Bradley Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): ELAHI, SHAN E
• Application Number:
  US13/474,091
• Publication Number:
  US 20130307978A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,153 Days
• Field of Search: 348/148
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F16P 3/142 using image capturing devices
• CPC Class Codes: F16P 3/147 using electro-magnetic technology, e.g. tags or radar
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/245 by locating a pattern; Special marks for positioning
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/58 Recognition of moving objects or obstacles, e.g. vehicles or pedestrians; Recognition of traffic objects, e.g. traffic signs, traffic lights or roads
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/02 Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons

Abstract

A personnel classification and response system, and related method and computer program product are disclosed. The system may comprise an image capture member and a controller connected to the image capture member. Some embodiments may also comprise a ranging apparatus. The ranging apparatus may be configured to provide a distance from a person to a vehicle. The image capture member may be configured to provide an image of the vicinity of the vehicle, the image including the person. The controller may be configured to identify in the image a marker and to activate a warning apparatus based on the marker and a zone in which the marker is disposed.

Claims

1. A personnel classification and response system comprising:

an image capture member that provides an image of the vicinity of a vehicle, the image including a person and a marker disposed on the person; and

a controller connected to the image capture member, the controller configured to identify in the image the marker and to activate a warning apparatus based on the marker and a zone relative to the vehicle in which the marker is located.

2. The personnel classification and response system of claim 1, wherein the marker is a colored marker and the controller is configured to determine the color of the marker and to activate a warning apparatus based on the color of the marker and the zone in which the marker is disposed.

3. The personnel classification and response system of claim 2, wherein the color of the marker is associated with a personnel classification.

4. The personnel classification and response system of claim 1, wherein the warning apparatus stops operation of the vehicle if the marker is not allowed in the zone.

5. The personnel classification and response system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to determine a first boundary range for the zone based on a first set of vehicle parameters.

6. The personnel classification and response system of claim 5, wherein the controller is configured to determine a second boundary range for the zone based on a second set of vehicle parameters, the first boundary range different from the second boundary range and the first set of vehicle parameters different from the second set of vehicle parameters.

7. The personnel classification and response system of claim 1, further comprising a ranging apparatus connected to the controller, the ranging apparatus configured to provide a distance from the person to the vehicle, wherein the vehicle is an autonomous vehicle.

8. A method of responding to a person in the vicinity of a vehicle, the method comprising:

processing an image of the vicinity of the vehicle to identify a marker disposed on the person;

determining a zone relative to the vehicle in which the marker is present; and

activating a warning apparatus based on the zone and the result of the processing step.

9. The method of claim 8, in which the processing step further includes identifying the color of the marker.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the color of the marker is associated with a personnel classification.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the warning apparatus stops operation of the vehicle if the marker is not allowed in the zone.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the vehicle is an autonomous vehicle.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the warning apparatus slows operation of the vehicle if the marker is not allowed in the zone.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the warning apparatus causes the image to be displayed on a display if the marker is not allowed in the zone.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the warning apparatus causes the marker to be highlighted in the image displayed if the marker is not allowed in the zone.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the display is in the cab of the vehicle.

17. The method of claim 8, further comprising determining a boundary range for the zone based on a first set of vehicle parameters.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising determining second boundary range for the zone based on a second set of vehicle parameters, the second range different from the first range.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising receiving a signal detecting the person at a first distance from the vehicle, wherein the zone is determined based on the first distance.

20. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer usable medium having a computer readable program code embodied therein, the computer readable program code adapted to be executed to implement a method for responding to a person in the vicinity of a vehicle, the method comprising:

receiving a signal detecting the person at a distance from the vehicle;

receiving an electronic image of the vicinity of the vehicle, the image including the person;

processing the image to identify the color of a marker disposed on the person, the color associated with a personnel classification;

determining a zone relative to the vehicle in which the marker is present based on the distance; and

activating a warning apparatus based on the zone and the color of the marker.