Worksite proximity warning

• US 9,269,255 B2
• Filed: 02/17/2015
• Issued: 02/23/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Inventors: Best, Gregory C., Maynard, Kurtis L., Cameron, John F., Beaulieu, Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): Shafi, Muhammad
• Application Number:
  US14/624,514
• Publication Number:
  US 20150161872A1
• Time in Patent Office: 371 Days
• Field of Search: 701/50, 340/538.15, 340/5.61, 340/12.31, 340/FOR.410, 340/FOR.470, 702/150, 702/152
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B66C 13/40 Applications of devices for transmitting control pulses; Applications of remote control devices control in general G05
• CPC Class Codes: B66C 13/46 Position indicators for suspended loads or for crane elements
• CPC Class Codes: B66C 15/045 electrical
• CPC Class Codes: B66C 15/065 electrical
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/06 Systems determining position data of a target
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/93 for anti-collision purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/06 Systems determining the position data of a target
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/06 Systems determining position data of a target
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/14 specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2205/01 specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0284 Relative positioning
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/182 Level alarms, e.g. alarms responsive to variables exceeding a threshold

Abstract

Systems and methods for warning of proximity in a worksite are disclosed. A second transceiver is detected at a first transceiver, wherein the first transceiver is a mobile wearable device, and wherein the first transceiver and the second transceiver are located at a worksite. An ad-hoc network is established, at the first transceiver, between the first transceiver and the second transceiver. A distance is calculated, at the first transceiver, in three dimensions between the first transceiver and the second transceiver based on the detecting the second transceiver. A first safety envelope is defined, at the first transceiver, about the first transceiver and a second safety envelope about the second transceiver. An alarm is issued, at the first transceiver, when the first safety envelope comes in contact with the second safety envelope.

Claims

1. A method for warning of proximity in a worksite, said method comprising:

detecting, by a processor of a first transceiver, a second transceiver, wherein said first transceiver is a mobile wearable device, and wherein said first transceiver and said second transceiver are located at a worksite;

establishing, by said processor of said first transceiver, an ad-hoc network between said first transceiver and said second transceiver;

calculating, by said processor of said first transceiver, a distance in three dimensions between said first transceiver and said second transceiver based on said detecting said second transceiver and based on distance information shared between said first transceiver and said second transceiver;

defining, by said processor of said first transceiver, a first safety envelope about said first transceiver and a second safety envelope about said second transceiver; and

said first transceiver issuing an alarm, when said first safety envelope comes in contact with said second safety envelope.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said ad-hoc network comprises a plurality of transceivers in addition to said first transceiver and said second transceiver.

3. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said first transceiver is associated with an object that is wearable by a person located in said worksite wherein said object is selected from the group of objects consisting of:

a helmet, a vest, a belt, a headset, and an article of clothing.

4. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said second transceiver is a worksite object selected from the group of worksite objects consisting of:

a person, a piece of equipment, a crane, a vehicle, a tree, a building, and a partially constructed structure.

5. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said alarm is selected from the group of alarms consisting of:

an audible sound, a visible light, a flashing light, and a visual display.

6. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said issuing said alarm simultaneously occurs at said first transceiver and said second transceiver.

7. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein an intensity of said alarm increases until said first safety envelope is no longer in contact with said second safety envelope.

8. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said first transceiver and said second transceiver employ wideband to communicate.

9. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said first transceiver and said second transceiver employ 900 megahertz (MHz) to communicate.

10. A non-transitory computer-usable storage medium having instructions embodied therein that when executed cause a computer system to perform a method for warning of proximity in a worksite, said method comprising:

detecting, by a processor of first transceiver, a second transceiver, wherein said first transceiver is a mobile wearable device, and wherein said first transceiver and said second transceiver are located at a worksite;

establishing, by said processor of said first transceiver, an ad-hoc network between said first transceiver and said second transceiver;

calculating, by said processor of said first transceiver, a distance in three dimensions between said first transceiver and said second transceiver based on said detecting said second transceiver and based on distance information shared between said first transceiver and said second transceiver;

defining, by said processor of said first transceiver, a first safety envelope about said first transceiver and a second safety envelope about said second transceiver; and

said first transceiver issuing an alarm, when said first safety envelope comes in contact with said second safety envelope.

11. The non-transitory computer-usable storage medium as recited in claim 10 wherein said ad-hoc network comprises a plurality of transceivers in addition to said first transceiver and said second transceiver.

12. The non-transitory computer-usable storage medium as recited in claim 10 wherein said first transceiver is associated with an object that is wearable by a person located in said worksite wherein said object is selected from the group of objects consisting of:

a helmet, a vest, a belt, a headset, and an article of clothing.

13. The non-transitory computer-usable storage medium as recited in claim 10 wherein said second transceiver is a worksite object selected from the group of worksite objects consisting of:

a person, a piece of equipment, a crane, a vehicle, a tree, a building, and a partially constructed structure.

14. The non-transitory computer-usable storage medium as recited in claim 10 wherein said alarm is selected from the group of alarms consisting of:

an audible sound, a visible light, a flashing light, and a visual display.

15. The non-transitory computer-usable storage medium as recited in claim 10 wherein said issuing said alarm simultaneously occurs at said first transceiver and said second transceiver.

16. The non-transitory computer-usable storage medium as recited in claim 10 wherein an intensity of said alarm increases until said first safety envelope is no longer in contact with said second safety envelope.

17. The non-transitory computer-usable storage medium as recited in claim 10 wherein said first transceiver and said second transceiver employ wideband to communicate.

18. The non-transitory computer-usable storage medium as recited in claim 10 wherein said first transceiver and said second transceiver employ 900 megahertz (MHz) to communicate.

19. A transceiver for warning of proximity in a worksite, said transceiver comprising:

a memory for storing a predetermined distance defining a first safety envelope about said transceiver, wherein said transceiver is a mobile wearable device located in said worksite;

a receiver for receiving a signal from a second transceiver and establishing an ad hoc network with between said transceiver and said second transceiver;

a processor for calculating a distance in three dimensions between said transceiver and said second transceiver based on said signal from said second transceiver and based on distance information shared between said transceiver and said second transceiver; and

an alarm component for issuing an alarm when said first safety envelope comes in contact with a second safety envelope defined about said second transceiver.

20. A method for warning of proximity in a worksite, said method comprising:

detecting by a processor of a base station, a first transceiver and a second transceiver, wherein said first transceiver is a mobile wearable device, and wherein said first transceiver, said second transceiver, and said base station are located at a worksite;

calculating, by said processor of said base station, a distance in three dimensions between said first transceiver and said second transceiver based on said detecting said first transceiver and second transceiver and based on distance information shared between said first transceiver and said second transceiver;

defining, by said processor of said base station, a first safety envelope about said first transceiver and a second safety envelope about said second transceiver; and

said base station sending a command to said first transceiver to issue an alarm at said first transceiver when said first safety envelope comes in contact with said second safety envelope.

21. The method as recited in claim 20 wherein said base station detects a plurality of transceivers each with a safety envelope in addition to said first transceiver and said second transceiver.

22. The method as recited in claim 20 wherein said first transceiver is associated with an object that is wearable by a person located in said worksite wherein said object is selected from the group of objects consisting of:

a helmet, a vest, a belt, a headset, and an article of clothing.

23. The method as recited in claim 20 wherein said second transceiver is a worksite object selected from the group of worksite objects consisting of:

a person, a piece of equipment, a crane, a vehicle, a tree, a building, and a partially constructed structure.

24. The method as recited in claim 20 wherein said alarm is selected from the group of alarms consisting of:

an audible sound, a visible light, a flashing light, and a visual display.

25. The method as recited in claim 20 wherein said sending said command sends commands to issue alarms to simultaneously occur at said first transceiver and said second transceiver.

26. The method as recited in claim 20 wherein an intensity of said alarm increases until said first safety envelope is no longer in contact with said second safety envelope.

27. The method as recited in claim 20 wherein said first transceiver and said second transceiver employ wideband to communicate.

28. The method as recited in claim 20 wherein said first transceiver and said second transceiver employ 900 megahertz (MHz) to communicate.

29. A non-transitory computer-usable storage medium having instructions embodied therein that when executed cause a computer system to perform a method for warning of proximity in a worksite, said method comprising:

detecting by a processor of a base station a first transceiver and a second transceiver at a base station, wherein said first transceiver is a mobile wearable device, and wherein said first transceiver, said second transceiver, and said base station are located at a worksite;

calculating, by said processor of said base station, a distance in three dimensions between said first transceiver and said second transceiver based on said detecting said first transceiver and second transceiver and based on distance information shared between said first transceiver and said second transceiver;

defining, by said processor of said base station, a first safety envelope about said first transceiver and a second safety envelope about said second transceiver; and

said base station sending a command to said first transceiver, to issue an alarm at said first transceiver when said first safety envelope comes in contact with said second safety envelope.

30. The non-transitory computer-usable storage medium as recited in claim 29 wherein said base station detects a plurality of transceivers each with a safety envelope in addition to said first transceiver and said second transceiver.

31. The non-transitory computer-usable storage medium as recited in claim 29 wherein said first transceiver is associated with an object that is wearable by a person located in said worksite wherein said object is selected from the group of objects consisting of:

a helmet, a vest, a belt, a headset, and an article of clothing.

32. The non-transitory computer-usable storage medium as recited in claim 29 wherein said second transceiver is a worksite object selected from the group of worksite objects consisting of:

a person, a piece of equipment, a crane, a vehicle, a tree, a building, and a partially constructed structure.

33. The non-transitory computer-usable storage medium as recited in claim 29 wherein said alarm is selected from the group of alarms consisting of:

an audible sound, a visible light, a flashing light, and a visual display.

34. The non-transitory computer-usable storage medium as recited in claim 29 wherein said sending said command sends commands to issue alarms to simultaneously occur at said first transceiver and said second transceiver.

35. The non-transitory computer-usable storage medium as recited in claim 29 wherein an intensity of said alarm increases until said first safety envelope is no longer in contact with said second safety envelope.

36. The non-transitory computer-usable storage medium as recited in claim 29 wherein said first transceiver and said second transceiver employ wideband to communicate.

37. The non-transitory computer-usable storage medium as recited in claim 29 wherein said first transceiver and said second transceiver employ 900 megahertz (MHz) to communicate.