System for monitoring operator performance

• US 6,470,240 B1
• Filed: 11/07/2000
• Issued: 10/22/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Vigil Systems Pty Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Vigil Systems Pty Ltd.
• Inventors: Haynes, Ian Frederick, Gibson, Robert Walter Lockhart
• Primary Examiner(s): Camby, Richard M.
• Application Number:
  US09/706,826
• Time in Patent Office: 714 Days
• Field of Search: 701/1, 701/35, 701/36, 701/58, 701/59
• US Class Current: 701/1
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0825 using optical means
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0833 using audio means
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/085 using electronic data carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0875 using magnetic data carriers

Abstract

A system (50) for monitoring and/or evaluating performance of an operator of a controllably movable object is provided. The object has operational parameters including turning, accelerating and braking operations, and at least one of the operational parameters changes with behaviours of the operator. The system (10 or 50) comprises a housing member (52) with a chamber therein and a sensing unit (64) positioned on said housing member (52) or in said chamber. The sensing unit (52) is a multi-axial moving coil accelerometer and each axis being arranged to sense one of said operational parameters. The system (50) also has a processing unit including a data acquisition sub-system (70) and an event decision subsystem (68) coupled to receive signals representative of the operational parameters from said sensing unit (52) to process the received signals and to provide output signals corresponding to the performance relating to one or more aspects of the operating behaviours of said operator; and an indication unit including an audio indication (72) and a visual indication (74) arranged to receive the output signals and to thereby provide an indication of the operator performance.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring and/or evaluating performance of an operator of a controllably movable object having operational parameters and at least one of the operational parameters is changeable when varying an aspect of operating behaviours of the operator, the system comprising:

a housing member with a chamber therein;

a sensing unit positioned on said housing member or in said chamber, the sensing unit having one or more sensors, each sensor being arranged to sense at least one of said operational parameters;

a processing unit arranged to receive signals representative of the operational parameters from said one or more sensors, to process the received signals and to provide output signals corresponding to the performance relating to one or more aspects of the operating behaviours of said operator;

a calibration unit for selectively calibrating the system for use with different types of controllably movable objects; and

an indication unit arranged to receive the output signals and to thereby provide an indication of the operator performance, the calibrating unit including means for calibrating any one or a combination of two or more of the following;

terrain;

local traffic regulation;

traffic condition;

application;

expected weather condition; and

expected operator performance.

3. The system according to claim 1 wherein said one or more sensors including a plurality of single axial accelerometers or gyroscopes, and each of the accelerometers or gyroscopes is adapted to sense the operational parameters relating to any one of the following:

acceleration/deceleration;

orientation in one of multiple axes;

application of a braking or retarding device;

cornering;

lane changing;

smoothness of operation;

gear changing;

warning lights;

road quality;

weather conditions;

speed; and

position.

4. The system according to claim 1 wherein said one or more sensors including one or more multi axial accelerometers or gyroscopes, and each axis of the accelerometers or gyroscopes is adapted to sense one of the followings:

acceleration/deceleration;

orientation in one of multiple axes;

application of a braking or retarding device;

cornering;

lane changing;

smoothness of operation;

gear changing;

warning lights;

road quality;

weather conditions;

speed; and

position.

5. The system according to claim 1 wherein said processor unit being connected to a data logging unit having memory means adapted to store the received signals and/or the output signals, and the processor unit being adapted to selectively retrieve said output signals for display on the indication unit and/or selectively transfer the received signals and/or the output signals to an external terminal device.

6. The system according to claim 1 wherein said processor unit being connectable to a communications device for communicating with a remote communications device.

7. The system according to claim 6 wherein said remote communications device is a base station which is arranged to communicate between the processor unit and the communications device the received signals and/or the output signals stored in the memory means, and/or to transmit program codes to said processor unit, and/or to transmit information for displaying on the indication unit and/or to store in said memory means.

8. The system according to claim 6 wherein said remote communications device is a geo position satellite for communicating position data between the processor unit and said satellite.

11. The system according to claim 1 wherein said system includes an interface for connecting said calibration unit to an external calibration device adapted for calibrating the calibration unit.

12. The system according to claim 1 wherein said system includes a battery pack for powering said system and/or a power connector for connection to an external power source for charging and/or powering said system.

13. The system according to claim 1 wherein said system includes fixing means for removably fixing to said controllably movable object.

14. The system according to claim 13 wherein said controllably movable object is a vehicle, a crane, a conveyor, a shaping tool, or a cutting tool.

15. The system according to claim 14 wherein said system is fixed to a part of the vehicle which is visible while driving.

16. The system according to claim 1 wherein the processor unit is adapted to indicate said output signals in a form that allows evaluation of the operator'"'"'s performance.

17. The system according to claim 16 wherein said system includes a real time clock and the processor unit is adapted to access the time when receiving each signal so that each received signal is time stamped.

18. The system according to claim 16 wherein the form of the indication includes aspects of the operating behaviours that require attention.

19. The system according to claim 1 wherein the system further includes a power management arrangement having a timing circuitry for providing a first predetermined time period following detection of the output signal by said one or more sensors, and a power control circuitry for reducing power consumption when the output signal is not detected following expiration of said first predetermined time period.

20. The arrangement according to claim 19 further comprising linked microprocessors or digital signal processors providing a low power standby mode.

2. A system for monitoring and/or evaluating performance of an operator of a controllably movable object having operational parameters and at least one of the operational parameters is changeable when varying an aspect of operating behaviours of the operator, the system comprising:

a sensing unit having one or more sensors, each sensor being arranged to sense at least one of said operational parameters including a parameter for turning of said object to a different direction;

a processing unit arranged to receive signals representative of the operational parameters from said one or more sensors, to process the received signals and to provide output signals corresponding to the performance relating to one or more aspects of the operating behaviours of said operator;

said one aspect or at least one of said aspects being turning said object to a different direction;

a calibration unit for selectively calibrating the system for use with different types of controllably movable objects; and

an indication unit arranged to receive the output signals and to thereby provide an indication of the operator performance, the calibrating unit including means for calibrating any one or a combination of two or more of the following;

terrain;

local traffic regulation;

traffic condition;

application;

expected weather condition; and

expected operator performance.

9. A system for monitoring and/or evaluating performance of an operator of a controllably movable object having operational parameters and at least one of the operational parameters is changeable when varying an aspect of operating behaviours of the operator, the system comprising:

a housing member with a chamber therein;

a sensing unit positioned on said housing member or in said chamber, the sensing unit having one or more sensors, each sensor being arranged to sense at least one of said operational parameters;

a processing unit arranged to receive signals representative of the operational parameters from said one or more sensors, to process the received signals and to provide output signals corresponding to the performance relating to one or more aspects of the operating behaviours of said operator;

said processor unit being connectable to a geoposition satellite for communicating therewith and for transferring positional data therebetween; and

an indication unit arranged to receive the output signals and to thereby provide an indication of the operator performance.

10. A system for monitoring and/or evaluating performance of an operator of a controllably movable object having operational parameters and at least one of the operational parameters is changeable when varying an aspect of operating behaviours of the operator, the system comprising:

a housing member with a chamber therein;

a sensing unit positioned on said housing member or in said chamber, the sensing unit having one or more sensors, each sensor being arranged to sense at least one of said operational parameters;

a processing unit arranged to receive signals representative of the operational parameters from said one or more sensors, to process the received signals and to provide output signals corresponding to the performance relating to one or more aspects of the operating behaviours of said operator;

a calibration unit for selectively calibrating the system for use with different types of controllably movable objects;

an interface for connecting said calibration unit to an external calibration device adapted for calibrating the calibration unit; and

an indication unit arranged to receive the output signals and to thereby provide an indication of the operator performance.

21. A system for monitoring and/or evaluating performance of an operator of a controllably movable object having operational parameters and at least one of the operational parameters is changeable when varying an aspect of operating behaviours of the operator, the system comprising:

a housing member with a chamber therein;

a sensing unit positioned on said housing member or in said chamber, the sensing unit having one or more sensors, each sensor being arranged to sense at least one of said operational parameters;

a processing unit arranged to receive signals representative of the operational parameters from said one or more sensors, to process the received signals and to provide output signals corresponding to the performance relating to one or more aspects of the operating behaviours of said operator;

the processor unit being adapted to indicate said output signals in a form that allows evaluation of the operator'"'"'s performance;

a real time clock to which the processor unit is adapted to access for retrieving the time when receiving each signal so that each received signal is time stamped; and

an indication unit arranged to receive the output signals in said form and to thereby provide an indication of the operator performance.