Collision avoidance system and method for an underground mine environment
First Claim
1. A collision avoidance system, the system comprising:
- a computer vision component comprising;
an imaging modality comprising one or more thermal infrared or ultraviolet cameras configured to provide an 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;
at least one motion detection component capable of determining a directional velocity component for the asset tracking component and comprising 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 a collision avoidance 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;
wherein the computer-executable instructions are configured to instruct the computer processor to calculate the Threat Rating Value as;
TRV=(KVH·
AVH·
VVH)+(KVO·
AVO·
VVO)+(KTS·
max[TRVTS1 . . . TRVTSn])wherein;
TRVTS1=CTS1·
DTS1·
VTS1
TRVTSn=CTSn·
DTSn·
VTSn KVH=Weight constant for a host computer vision component inputAVH=Amplitude level for the host computer vision component inputVVH=Value of the host computer vision component inputKVO=Weight constant for an object computer vision component inputAVO=Amplitude level for the object computer vision component inputVVO=Value of the object computer vision component inputKTS=Weight constant for the asset tracking component inputVTS1=Value of a first asset tracking component inputTRVTS1=Threat rating value for an nth asset tracking component inputCTSn=Confidence level for the nth asset tracking component inputDTSn=Directional velocity component for the nth asset tracking component inputVTSn=Value of the nth asset tracking component inputTRVTSn=Threat rating value for the nth asset tracking component inputTRV=Threat rating value for the Collision Avoidance Component.
1 Assignment
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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
19 Claims
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1. 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 or ultraviolet cameras configured to provide an 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; at least one motion detection component capable of determining a directional velocity component for the asset tracking component and comprising 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 a collision avoidance 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; wherein the computer-executable instructions are configured to instruct the computer processor to calculate the Threat Rating Value as;
TRV=(KVH·
AVH·
VVH)+(KVO·
AVO·
VVO)+(KTS·
max[TRVTS1 . . . TRVTSn])wherein;
TRVTS1=CTS1·
DTS1·
VTS1
TRVTSn=CTSn·
DTSn·
VTSnKVH=Weight constant for a host computer vision component input AVH=Amplitude level for the host computer vision component input VVH=Value of the host computer vision component input KVO=Weight constant for an object computer vision component input AVO=Amplitude level for the object computer vision component input VVO=Value of the object computer vision component input KTS=Weight constant for the asset tracking component input VTS1=Value of a first asset tracking component input TRVTS1=Threat rating value for an nth asset tracking component input CTSn=Confidence level for the nth asset tracking component input DTSn=Directional velocity component for the nth asset tracking component input VTSn=Value of the nth asset tracking component input TRVTSn=Threat rating value for the nth asset tracking component input TRV=Threat rating value for the Collision Avoidance Component. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for avoiding asset collisions, the method comprising:
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thermal imaging 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 or ultraviolet cameras which provide video image frames comprising a thermal or ultraviolet 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 or ultraviolet 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 a collision avoidance 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; wherein the Threat Rating Value is calculated as;
TRV=(KVH·
AVH·
VVH)+(KVO·
AVO·
VVO)+(KTS·
max[TRVTS1 . . . TRVTSn])wherein;
TRVTS1=CTS1·
DTS1·
VTS1
TRVTSn=CTSn·
DTSn·
VTSnKVH=Weight constant for a host computer vision component input AVH=Amplitude level for the host computer vision component input VVH=Value of the host computer vision component input KVO=Weight constant for an object computer vision component input AVO=Amplitude level for the object computer vision component input VVO=Value of the object computer vision component input KTS=Weight constant for the asset tracking component input VTS1=Value of a first asset tracking component input TRVTS1=Threat rating value for an nth asset tracking component input CTSn=Confidence level for the nth asset tracking component input DTSn=Directional velocity component for the nth asset tracking component input VTSn=Value of the nth asset tracking component input TRVTSn=Threat rating value for the nth asset tracking component input TRV=Threat rating value for the Collision Avoidance Component. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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Specification