Collision avoidance method and system

• US 20050162262A1
• Filed: 01/27/2004
• Published: 07/28/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Paul Steven Dowdy
• Original Assignee: Paul Steven Dowdy
• Inventors: Dowdy, Paul Steven
• Granted Patent: US 7,075,458 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/439
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 49/00 Arrangements of nautical instruments or navigational aids nautical measuring instruments G01C; radio navigation, analogous arrangements using other waves G01S
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/166 for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 3/02 Anti-collision systems
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 9/02 Anti-collision systems

Abstract

In one embodiment, a vehicular collision avoidance method is provided that includes monitoring a control of a vehicle and activating a first alarm if the control is not adjusted in a sufficient amount of time. The monitored control is normally and regularly adjusted by the vehicle'"'"'s operator such that the time between adjustments is sufficiently smaller than the time normally needed to avoid a collision after it is detected that the control is no longer being controlled. The first alarm is activated if it is determined that the control is not adjusted in a sufficiently small amount of time from its preceding adjustment. Thus, the vehicle'"'"'s operator or other vehicle member can react and take measures to ensure that the vehicle is under suitable control upon activation of the alarm and thereby avoid a possible collision.

Claims

1. A method for avoiding vehicular collisions, comprising:

monitoring a control of a vehicle, the control normally being regularly adjusted by the operator such that the time between adjustments is sufficiently less than the time needed to inhibit a collision after it is no longer controlled by the operator; and

activating a first alarm if the control is not adjusted in a sufficient amount of time from a preceding adjustment.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising sounding a second alarm if the control continues to not be adjusted for a second sufficient amount of time.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the first alarm is provided to the operator of the vehicle.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising disabling the first alarm and continuing to monitor the control in response to a signal from the operator.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the second alarm is provided externally to the vehicle operator to allow the vehicle to be disabled by an entity other than the operator.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the first alarm is provided in the pilot house of a tug.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the monitored control is a mechanism for moving a rudder of the tug.

8. A collision avoidance system, comprising:

a sensor for monitoring a vehicle control, the sensor providing a signal indicative of whether the control is adjusted;

a first timer connected to said sensor to receive the provided signal, the timer activating a first alarm if from the provided signal it determines that an excessive amount of time elapses without the control being adjusted.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the sensor monitors a steering element of the vehicle.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the vehicle is a tug, and the sensor is mounted to directly or indirectly monitor movement of a tug rudder.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the sensor comprises a slotted disk mounted about a steering column and an Optical switch operably positioned about the disk to generate a signal when the disk is rotated indicating that the steering column is being adjusted.

12. The system of claim 8, further comprising a second timer connected to the first timer, the second timer being activated in response to the first timer determining that an excessive amount of time elapsed without the control being adjusted, the second timer activating a second alarm if a preset amount of time elapses before the second timer is deactivated.

13. The system of claim 12, further comprising a docking switch connected to the first timer to disable said first timer upon activation by a user, the first timer remaining deactivated until the control is once again adjusted.

14. A collision avoidance system for a tug having a rudder and a steering system to control the rudder, comprising:

a sensor communicatively linked to the steering system for monitoring adjustment of the rudder, the sensor generating a signal indicative of whether the rudder is adjusted;

a first timer connected to said sensor to receive the generated signal, the first timer activating a first alarm if from the signal it is determined that a first preset amount of time elapses without the rudder being adjusted.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the sensor comprises a slotted disk mounted about a steering column and an optical switch operably positioned about the disk to generate a signal when the disk is rotated indicating that the steering column is being adjusted.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the sensor comprises a circuit integrated with a hydraulically actuated rudder control system.

17. The system of claim 14, further comprising a second timer connected to the first timer, the second timer being activated in response to the first timer determining that an excessive amount of time elapsed without the rudder being adjusted, the second timer activating a second alarm if a second preset amount of time elapses before the second timer is deactivated.

18. The system of claim 17, further comprising a docking switch connected to the first timer to disable said first timer upon activation by a user, the first timer remaining deactivated until the rudder is once again adjusted.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein the first alarm comprises a device for notifying an operator of the tug that an alarm condition exists, said first alarm device being mounted in a wheel house of the tug.

20. The system of claim 19, further comprising a second alarm mounted outside of the wheel house to notify crew members that an alarm condition exists if the first alarm is not deactivated within a preset amount of time.