CABLE CAR SYSTEM WITH AUTOMATIC PASSENGER TRACKING

Abstract

A passenger cable car system has multiple vehicles mounted on a haul rope for movement between its stations (2). Cameras (30) evaluate sequential image data from a predetermined disembarkation area (12) to detect the presence of a vehicle (3) and / or one or more passengers in this disembarkation area (12). A hazard detection evaluation unit connected to the cameras is configured to detect the presence of a passenger in the disembarkation area (12) and, upon such presence, when the vehicle (3) of the disembarked passenger leaves the disembarkation area (12) and another vehicle (3) enters the disembarkation area (12) or is within a predetermined distance of such entry, to generate an emergency deceleration or emergency stop signal. The signal directly and automatically brakes or stops the vehicle(s) (3) without the need for an operator to be present.In addition, image signals from the cameras (30) are transmitted via a signal transmitter to an employee display device so that an employee can restart the cable car system if necessary.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a cable car system for passengers having a boarding station and an alighting station for the passengers, comprising a plurality of vehicles mounted on a traction cable for movement between the boarding station and the alighting station, the vehicles being arranged to move along a loop passing through the boarding station and the alighting station, each vehicle comprising a seating area for at least one passenger, and comprising electronic passenger detection means. STATE OF THE ART

[0002] Cable car systems are subject to safety regulations that monitor passenger boarding and disembarkation at the mountain and valley stations and intervene if problems arise. Station attendants are available at both the mountain and valley stations for this purpose. These station attendants monitor the functionality of the cable car system and boarding and disembarkation during normal operation. In the event of a passenger encountering problems, such as the failure to close or open a safety bar, a skier falling in the boarding or disembarkation area, or someone accessing the system from outside the designated access points, the station attendant has access to an emergency stop button on the cable car system to resolve the problem before the system is returned to service.

[0003] Such a cable car system is known from WO 2012 / 172198 A1, in which electronic passenger detection means detect the presence of a passenger sitting on the seating area and the position of the safety bar, wherein for this detection the electronic detection means comprise an image recording device for generating an image representative of the configuration of a vehicle traveling through the field of view of the image recording device and further comprise an analysis unit for the captured image in order to determine the presence of a passenger sitting in the vehicle and the position of the safety bar.

[0004] A system for the improved operation of ski lifts is known from WO 2021 / 011157 A1. It comprises at least one memory and at least one processor coupled to the at least one memory, wherein the at least one memory stores computer-executable instructions which, when executed, cause the at least one processor to: record a digital video of one or more boarding and disembarking operations of a ski lift; generate digital images from this video; automatically detect, while the ski lift is in operation, a potential problem situation in one or more of the boarding and disembarking areas of the ski lift based on the plurality of digital images; and initiate an action, while the ski lift is in operation, to address the potential problem situation in the one or more of the boarding and disembarking areas of the ski lift while the potential problem situation still exists. PRESENTATION OF THE INVENTION

[0005] Based on this prior art, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improvement in the monitoring of a cable car system. In particular, the object of the present invention is to provide a cable car system that is largely autonomous. In other words, the aim is to enable regular operation, i.e. operation without the presence of an operator. If intervention in the operating processes becomes necessary, such as slowing down the cable car or even stopping the cable car system for safety reasons, the control unit of the cable car system ensures this. Only for restarting the system does an operator, e.g. at the remote station, have to view the images supplied by the control unit and ensure that the system can be restarted without danger.

[0006] This task is solved for a cable car system according to claim 1 with a monitoring of an exit station or according to claim 9 with a monitoring of an entry station. Of course, the exit station and entry station at the valley station and / or at the mountain station can also be monitored accordingly. Furthermore, a cable car system with an exit station can also be a middle station and the same applies to a cable car system with an entry station, which can also be realized at a middle station. A middle station is a station between the valley station and the mountain station where boarding and / or alighting is possible, but otherwise the

[0007] Such a cable car system for passengers has a passenger boarding station and a passenger alighting station, and a plurality of vehicles mounted on a traction cable for movement between the boarding station and the alighting station. The vehicles are arranged to move along a loop passing through the boarding station and the alighting station, each vehicle including a seating area for at least one passenger. Electronic passenger detection means are also provided for detecting the presence of a passenger in the vehicle.Furthermore, the system comprises one or more cameras with which the presence of a vehicle and / or one or more passengers or persons in a predetermined exit area can be determined by evaluating their successive image data, and a virtual entry vehicle grid which is provided transversely to the entry movement of a vehicle at an exit edge of the exit area, the sensors of which can detect the entry of an object or a person.A hazard detection evaluation unit is connected to the camera(s) for receiving image data and the virtual entry vehicle grid and is configured to detect the presence of a person in the disembarkation area and, in the event of such presence, when the vehicle of the disembarked passenger leaves the disembarkation area and another vehicle enters the disembarkation area or is within a predetermined distance of such entry, to generate an emergency deceleration or emergency stop signal and transmit it to the motor control of the cable car system for implementing the said signal for the movement of the vehicles, and also to transmit image signals from the cameras via a signal transmitter to an operator display device.Such an operator display device then provides an opportunity for an operator who is not at that station to record the situation and, once it has been resolved, to restart the system and move the vehicles in normal operation.

[0008] The hazard detection evaluation unit can be configured such that, by evaluating successive image data from the cameras, it can detect a fall of a person detected in the image data in the predetermined exit area, on the basis of which the emergency deceleration or emergency stop signal can be generated.

[0009] The hazard detection evaluation unit can also be configured in such a way that, by evaluating successive image data from the cameras, the movement of a person in the direction of the vehicle's path can be detected, on the basis of which the emergency deceleration or emergency stop signal can be generated.

[0010] Advantageously, the peripheral edge of the disembarkation area is completely closed by the additional elements from the group of one or more physical access barriers, in particular fences, a virtual passenger exit gate, and a virtual exit vehicle gate, whereby these additional elements are connected to the hazard detection evaluation unit in order to trigger the aforementioned emergency deceleration or emergency stop signal upon detecting the entry of a non-passenger into the disembarkation area. The physical access barriers can also be station walls. If they are fences or chains arranged between posts, these can be equipped with sensors that are not triggered by, for example, landing birds, but are triggered if a person leans on these elements and climbs over them. They can also simply seal off the disembarkation area passively.

[0011] The virtual passenger exit gates and virtual vehicle exit gates are typically light barriers that operate with visible or infrared light and react to people passing through them or to objects protruding or being inserted into these gates. Virtual gates in two sensor rows arranged horizontally next to each other, covering two parallel planes between them, also allow the hazard detection and evaluation unit to detect the direction of movement of an object or person, which can be incorporated into the evaluation. The virtual vehicle gates are usually switched off when a vehicle is passing through, or the typical signal is recognized as a vehicle passage signal and ignored.

[0012] Instead of an emergency stop signal, an emergency deceleration signal can be triggered if, for example, the detected person turns back in a movement towards the vehicle's path and leaves the monitored area, which can be determined by evaluating the image data and comparing it with the sensor data.

[0013] The virtual entry vehicle grid and the virtual exit vehicle grid, i.e. the vehicle passage boundary lines, can be assigned lateral vehicle boundary gates, whereby these lateral vehicle boundary gates are connected to the hazard detection evaluation unit in order to trigger the said emergency deceleration or emergency stop signal upon detection of the access of a non-passenger to the exit area when triggered by touch or pivoting movement of the gates.

[0014] Adjacent to the exit area, opposite the direction of vehicle movement beyond an exit edge, a pre-exit area can be provided. This pre-exit area has an area that is lower than the exit area and is equipped with one or more pressure plates, preferably connected, which are connected to the exit edge by an inclined sliding surface. The pressure plates are connected to the hazard detection evaluation unit in order to trigger the aforementioned emergency deceleration or emergency stop signal upon detection of a passenger or non-passenger on the pressure plate, possibly with a delay only upon the entry of another vehicle. This pre-exit area can be helpful if passengers open the bar in chair systems and then, through error or carelessness, leave their seats prematurely before the actual exit area, which always corresponds to a minor fall.The pressure plates are designed to absorb this fall, while the sliding surface to the actual exit area ensures that these fallen persons do not successfully attempt to climb up to the exit area, as they would then risk a collision with the next chair arriving.

[0015] For this purpose, the surface equipped with pressure plates can advantageously be inclined downwards perpendicular to the direction of travel toward a lateral exit surface, in order to allow persons on the pressure plates to exit the pre-exit area following gravity. This may then even eliminate the need for an emergency stop, apart from deceleration. In this case, after the exit from the danger zone—i.e., the pre-exit area before the next seat passes—is detected by the cameras and pressure plates, and normal operation is then resumed without informing the attendant display device of the avoided emergency. However, in this case, it is advisable to at least document the occurrence of the incident.

[0016] The operator display device can be an operator's smartphone with a control app for the cable car system, which can therefore issue control commands in addition to a screen and intercom. Alternatively, it can be a screen and intercom in a cable car control room with controls for the cable car system. Multiple smartphones and / or control rooms can also be alerted.

[0017] According to another embodiment according to claim 10, a cable car system for passengers with the same preamble is specified, wherein one or more cameras with which the presence of a vehicle and / or one or more passengers in a predetermined direct boarding area (instead of an alighting area) can be determined by evaluating their successive image data, a virtual entry vehicle grid which is provided transversely to the entry movement of a vehicle at an entry edge of the direct boarding area, and a hazard detection evaluation unit are provided, which is connected to the camera(s) for receiving image data and the virtual entry vehicle grid and is configured to determine the presence of a passenger in the direct boarding area and, in the case of such a presence,When the vehicle of the boarding passenger leaves the direct boarding area and another vehicle enters the boarding area or is within a predetermined distance of such an entrance, an emergency deceleration or emergency stop signal is generated and transmitted to the motor control system of the cable car system for the implementation of the said signal for the movement of the vehicles, and also to transmit image signals from the cameras via a signal transmitter to an operator display device.

[0018] For all cable car systems according to this description, the boarding station can be a valley station and the exit station a mid-station or a mountain station. Alternatively, the boarding station can be a mountain station and the exit station a mid-station or a valley station. Finally, the boarding station can be a mid-station and the exit station either a valley station or a mountain station.

[0019] Cable car installations according to one or the other embodiment have vehicles which are chairs, chairs with seat bar locking and further chairs with seat bar locking and with hoods.

[0020] Further embodiments are specified in the dependent claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] Preferred embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to the drawings, which are for illustrative purposes only and are not to be construed as limiting. In the drawings: Fig. 1 shows a schematically illustrated exit station of a cable car system; Fig. 2 shows a schematically illustrated cross-section of two exit areas of an exit station according to Fig. 1 ; Fig. 3 shows a plan view of Fig. 2 ; and Fig. 4 a block diagram of a control device of a cable car system. DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0022] The Fig. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of an exit station 2 of a cable car system of a chairlift with vehicles 3. The drawing is capable of showing several embodiments simultaneously. These can be cable car systems with or without a locking bar, with optional hoods 6 being provided. Other alternatives include cable car systems with vehicles 3 uncoupled at the stations, as well as cable car systems with vehicles permanently attached to the haulage cables.

[0023] In a cable car system without a locking bar, a first exit area 11 and a second exit area 12 are monitored. The name first exit area 11 indicates the possibility of a passenger exiting, which is however unwanted and represents a potential emergency. The first exit area 11 is located spatially in the direction of vehicle movement after the area 13 where a vehicle 3 is uncoupled from the haul rope from line 14 to the exit edge 15, i.e. the beginning of the area in which passengers are to stand up and leave the cable car system. This corresponds to the area of ​​entry and braking of the vehicle 3 to the exit speed for uncoupleable vehicles. For permanently coupled vehicles, the travel speed also corresponds to the exit speed.

[0024] The second exit area 12 is defined by the area from the exit edge 15, in which the possibly braked vehicle moves at a constant exit speed and is then usually moved in a quarter circle from this second exit area 12, as in Fig. 1 However, the invention works equally well with chairlifts with straight exits, as well as with any exit angle other than 90 degrees. The monitored exit is simply arranged differently.

[0025] In systems with a locking bar device and otherwise possibly relaxed safety requirements, monitoring of the first exit area 11 with regard to disembarking passengers 3 can be omitted, since they can only leave the seating area 5 after the bar has been released. Advantageously, the first exit area 11 is still monitored; this exit area 11 is then significantly shorter in the direction of travel of the vehicle 2, namely only between the release of the locking bar at the locking bar locking edge 14 and the exit edge 15. However, in systems without a locking bar, there is also an area covered with pressure plates 31.

[0026] However, the later-mentioned spatial monitoring for persons entering the safety zone of the first or second exit areas 11, 12 from outside using physical access barriers 34, such as a perimeter fence, is still necessary. The access barriers 34 are equipped with sensors that, upon contact with the access barriers, particularly upon overcoming the barrier, transmit a corresponding trigger signal to the evaluation unit. A weight-dependent sensor can be provided to prevent false triggering by small animals, birds, or simply snow. Instead of a weight-dependent sensor, a trigger signal can also be compared with corresponding images from camera 30 to determine the actual presence of a large animal or a person overcoming the barrier.For this purpose, lateral vehicle limit gates 36 and 136 are provided at the entrance and exit of vehicles 3. These are flush with the entering vehicle 3 and trigger an emergency stop upon contact. Instead of contact, a deflection of the flag-shaped gates by a predetermined angle around a vertical axis can also transmit such a signal to the control unit. These gates 36 and 136 complement the fence 34 surrounding the first and second exit areas 11 and 12, respectively.

[0027] In addition to the vehicle limit gates 36 and 136, further safety features may be present as a ramp limit. A ramp limit is a vertical virtual gate 32 and 132 between the two opposing vehicle limit gates 36 and 136, respectively, in the entry and exit areas of the vehicle. Fig. 1it is only arranged below the clearance height of the vehicle 3, in particular a chair. However, it can also (as in the Fig. 2 (shown) over a greater height and then deactivated when a vehicle passes through. It is essential that these virtual gates are triggered when a person passes through them in any direction, i.e., perpendicular to the path of the incoming or outgoing vehicle.

[0028] The essential feature is the virtual exit gate 33, shown here as a dashed virtual barrier, which is arranged between lateral physical access barriers 34. This gate allows exiting the second exit area 12 but reports entry into this area from outside to the system's control unit. This can be done directly by comparing video surveillance images of this second exit area 12 by a camera 30 with the signals from this virtual exit gate 33, by determining the direction of movement of a person in the second exit area 12 and the exit from the video-monitored area, or by a transversely arranged sequence of two or more light barriers, with which the direction of movement can be determined.Of course, in a multi-chairlift, several people may exit the second exit area 12 over an extended period of time; then, video surveillance with person detection may detect an additional person entering this area at the same time. Although the lateral vehicle limit gate 136 is shown at a spatial distance from the physical fence 34, the vehicle limit gate 136 may be mounted on a movable pylon connected to a fence or the wall of the exit station 2 by a barrier chain.

[0029] The Fig. 2shows a schematic cross-section through the elevation profile of the first exit area 11 and partially of the second exit area 12. This first exit area 11 borders an approach route 13 located in the free area of ​​the route and begins with an approach zone from the unlocking of the safety bar at the safety bar unlocking edge 14, which is followed by the second exit area 12 after the exit edge 15. From the beginning of the approach zone, there is a surface that is essentially horizontal or at most slightly inclined in the direction of movement of the vehicle 3, which is advantageously covered by a pressure-sensitive mat 31 as a sensor surface. This beginning of the approach zone is generally lower than the exit zone in the second exit area 12.Therefore, this exit zone is connected to the horizontal surface of the approach zone by a rising zone which represents a sliding surface 35 or is configured with a sliding or sliding plate to form such a sliding surface, as can be seen from the approximately directly above it. Fig. 2 results..

[0030] Reference numeral 14 designates the longitudinal position of the unlocking release. The sliding surface 35, for example, has a maximum incline of 30 percent. At its transition to the second exit area, the virtual ramp barrier 32 and lateral vehicle barriers 36 of the entrance to this area 12 are located. A passenger falling from their seating area 5 from the unlocking release 14 lands on one or more of the pressure plates 31, thereby triggering at least one sensor, the signal from which is transmitted to the monitoring system, after which a corresponding image indicating this area is displayed to a railway employee. At the same time, in particular, an automatic emergency stop of the system can be triggered. Since the exit station 2 can operate without operator intervention, the alarm triggering can also be organized differently.First, the emergency stop is triggered, and at the same time, an image from one or more of the video cameras 30 is shown directly to a person / employee acting as a standby, for example, on a smartphone or on a screen visible or accessible to the person. A voice connection to the exit station can also be activated. The sliding surface 35 then prevents a former passenger leaving the area of ​​the pressure plate 31 from being injured by following vehicles or the feet or skis of passengers sitting in them because they reach the height of these vehicles. The pressure plate 31 itself can be inclined downwards transversely to the direction of travel of the cable car vehicles 3, so that passengers falling onto this system are guided laterally out of this area into another exit 39 according to arrow 38, possibly simply sliding down on the then slippery pressure plate 31 due to the effect of gravity.This exit 39 can already be located outside the first exit area 11, so that if the presence of a passenger who has fallen out is detected there, an emergency stop of the system may be omitted. An attendant can at least visually inspect area 11 for any remaining objects and, if necessary, check that the passenger who has fallen out is not injured. This can be done directly or via a visual and acoustic connection with this passenger.

[0031] The Fig. 4shows a control unit 100 for controlling the cable car system with regard to these safety aspects. For this purpose, it is connected to the conventional control unit 50 of the cable car system or is integrated into it (as shown here). The one or more video cameras 30 provide image data that is evaluated by an evaluation unit 40. This is video data from the cameras 30, from which images are extracted as a sequence of consecutive images. The control unit is designed for object detection, in particular for the vehicle 3 of the cable car system, be it a chair and the passengers. With regard to the chairs as vehicles, hood position detection and / or locking bar detection can additionally be provided. This status information can also be obtained by elements of the forced guidance (opening) of these objects.

[0032] For passengers, pose detection can be provided to determine whether the person(s) are standing or in a falling posture, which indicates an abnormal condition. Motion detection can also be provided to determine the direction of movement and the corresponding speed. Lack of movement or slow movement can also trigger sensor signals. These can be combined with an acoustic indication, such as a voice announcement, with a request to leave the second exit area 12 at a lower escalation threshold.

[0033] In cases of abnormal conditions that pose a major problem, such as falls, an alarm function is triggered. The posture is usually determined based on the posture of the human skeletal system. In addition, one or more emergency stop buttons 45 can be provided in or outside the second exit area 12 for the passengers themselves or third parties.

[0034] In addition to the signals received from the video signal evaluation unit 40 and the emergency stop button 45, the control unit 50 of the cable car system also receives the corresponding signals from the virtual grids 32, 33, 132, the pressure plates 31, the lateral vehicle limit gates 36, 136 and, if present, from sensors on the fences 34. These data can be evaluated in conjunction with image data.

[0035] The data from the monitoring system's control unit 50 is transmitted to a signal transmitter 55. This signal transmitter 55 can be a duty room with screens and, if necessary, a voice connection to the exit area, which can be provided in a staffed station, a mountain or valley station of the cable car system in question, or another cable car system of the operator. This duty room contains the employee's workstation, possibly with a view of a directly monitored boarding or exit area, one or more screens for the cable car control system, and an intercom system for the boarding or exit areas visible on the screen(s). These units constitute an employee display device. The signal transmitter 55 can also include a push notification connection to an employee's smartphone.Independently of this, the control unit 50 decides on a deceleration or emergency stop of the system as such, i.e., regardless of how an employee reacts. The smartphone then serves as an employee display device.

[0036] A screen can be controlled by the safety device to display an entry or exit zone when the detection device has detected a problem. The employee's primary task is to restart the system after a malfunction occurs and to review the relevant safety-relevant information related to such a malfunction. Instead of having a multitude of entry and exit zones displayed on a video wall, the safety device alerts the employee to a problem with the relevant video information.

[0037] The safety device can detect four dangerous situations in particular. a.) A person, a third party or a passenger who has not properly disembarked finds themselves in a second disembarkation area 12 or is still in a first disembarkation area 11 and not already in area 39, while a vehicle is entering. b.) An unauthorized person moves into a first or second disembarkation area 11 or 12, either over a fence 34, through the virtual disembarkation gate 33, etc. c.) A passenger falls over in a second disembarkation area 12. d.) A person, a third party or a passenger who has not properly disembarked finds themselves in the entrance area 13 of the station while a vehicle is entering.

[0038] Dangerous situations can also be detected even when no vehicle is currently entering; the measures to be taken in such cases can be less intrusive.

[0039] If the invention is applied to an entry area 19, the features of the second exit area 12 can be applied accordingly. Here, the entry area 19 is considered the area beyond the gates 136. Said entry area 19 can be monitored in the same way as the second exit area 12. The system's safety functions include ensuring the "correct" camera perspective, which can be achieved by checking the comparison with a test image or a predefined, slightly changing image section. It must also be ensured that the images are actually extracted images from a video, which can be achieved by requiring that pixel values ​​of the image change during a sequence of entering vehicles, thus detecting the movement of at least one object in the detection area.Furthermore, the function of the detection system can also be improved by comparing different sensors, which can also include different camera perspectives. LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

[0040] 1 Boarding station Fence 2 Exit station 35 Sliding surface 3 vehicle 36 side vehicle restriction gate (vehicle entry) 5 seating area 6 hood 11 first exit area 37 Exit glide 12 second exit area 38 Exit direction 13 Disengagement area 39 Exit 14 Chair bar 40 Evaluation unit unlocking edge Hazard detection 15 Exit edge 45 Emergency stop button 19 Entry area 50 Control unit of the 30 video camera cable car system 31 printing plate 55 Signal transformer 32 virtual gate / light barrier gate (vehicle entry) 100 control unit 132 virtual grid / light barrier grid (vehicle exit) 33 virtual exit gate / light barrier gate (passenger exit) 136 side vehicle restriction gate (vehicle exit) 34 physical access barrier /

Claims

1. A cable car system for persons comprising: - an entry station (1) and an exit station (2) for persons as passengers, - a plurality of vehicles (3) mounted on a traction cable for movement between the entry station (1) and the exit station (2), the vehicles (3) being arranged to move along a loop passing through the entry station (1) and the exit station (2), each vehicle (3) comprising a seating area (5) for at least one passenger, - electronic passenger detection means (30, 31, 32, 33) for the presence of a passenger in the vehicle (3), characterized by- one or more cameras (30) provided for recording images of at least one predetermined exit area (12), - a virtual entry vehicle grid (32) provided transversely to the entry movement of a vehicle (3) at an exit edge (15) of the exit area (12) for detecting an object or person entering its monitoring plane, - an attendant display device, and - a hazard detection evaluation unit (50) connected to the camera(s) (30) for receiving image data and to the virtual entry vehicle grid (32) for receiving sensor data, and configured to detect the presence of a vehicle (3) and / or one or more persons in a predetermined exit area (12) by evaluating successive image data from the cameras (30),and in the event of such a person being present in a predetermined section of the exit area (12) or if, outside the passage of a vehicle through the virtual entry vehicle grid (32), an object entering the monitoring plane thereof is detected when a vehicle (3) enters the exit area (12) or is at a predetermined distance from such an entrance, an emergency deceleration or emergency stop signal can be generated and transmitted to the motor control of the cable car system for the implementation of said signal for the movement of the vehicles (3), and images from the cameras (30) can also be transmitted to the operator display device via a signal transmitter (55).

2. Cable car system according to claim 1, wherein the hazard detection evaluation unit (50) is configured such that, by evaluating successive image data from the cameras, a fall of a person detected in the image data in the predetermined exit area (12) can be detected, on the basis of which the emergency deceleration or emergency stop signal can be generated.

3. Cable car system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the hazard detection evaluation unit (50) is configured so that by evaluating successive image data from the cameras, the movement of a person in the direction of the travel path of the vehicles (3) can be detected, on the basis of which the emergency deceleration or emergency stop signal can be generated.

4. Cable car system according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the peripheral edge of the exit area (12) is preferably completely closed by at least one of the further elements from the group comprising: - one or more physical access barriers (34) with and / or without detection sensors, - a virtual passenger exit gate (33), and - a virtual exit vehicle gate (132), wherein this or these further elements, if provided with detection sensors, are connected to the hazard detection evaluation unit (50) so that upon detection of the access of a non-passenger to the exit area (12), said emergency deceleration or emergency stop signal can be triggered.

5. Cable car system according to claim 4, wherein lateral vehicle limit gates (36, 136) are assigned to the virtual entry vehicle gate (32) and, if present, to the virtual exit vehicle gate (132), wherein these lateral vehicle limit gates (36, 136) are connected to the hazard detection evaluation unit (50) so that upon detection of the access of a non-passenger into the exit area (12), said emergency deceleration or emergency stop signal can be triggered upon triggering by touch or pivoting movement of the gates.

6. Cable car system according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein adjacent to the exit area (12) opposite to the direction of vehicle movement beyond an exit edge (15) there is provided a pre-exit area (11), which has a surface which is lower than the exit area (12) and is provided with at least one pressure plate (31) which is connected to the exit edge (15) by an inclined sliding surface (35), wherein the pressure plate(s) (31) are connected to the hazard detection evaluation unit (50) so that when the presence of a person on the pressure plate (31) is detected, possibly with a delay only upon the entry of another vehicle (3), the said emergency deceleration or emergency stop signal can be triggered.

7. Cable car system according to claim 6, wherein the surface provided with the pressure plate(s) (31) is inclined downwards transversely to the direction of travel to a lateral exit surface (39) in order to enable persons located on the pressure plate(s) (31) to have an exit path (38) from the pre-exit area (11) following the force of gravity.

8. Cable car system according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the employee display device comprises one or more elements from the group: an employee's smartphone with a control app for the cable car system, and a screen and intercom system in a service room of the cable car system with control elements for the cable car system.

9. Cable car system according to one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the boarding station (1) is a valley station and the exit station (2) is a middle station or a mountain station, or wherein the boarding station (1) is a mountain station and the exit station (2) is a middle station or a valley station, or wherein the boarding station (1) is a middle station and the exit station (2) is either a valley station or a mountain station.

10. Cable car system for persons comprising: - an entry station (1) and an exit station (2) for persons as passengers, - a plurality of vehicles (3) mounted on a traction cable for movement between the entry station (1) and the exit station (2), wherein the vehicles (3) are arranged to move along a loop passing through the entry station (1) and the exit station (2), wherein each vehicle (3) comprises a seating area (5) for at least one passenger, - electronic passenger detection means (30, 31, 32, 33) for the presence of a passenger in the vehicle (3), characterized by- one or more cameras (30) provided for recording images of a predetermined direct boarding area (19), - a virtual entry vehicle gate (132) provided transversely to the entry movement of a vehicle (3) at an entry edge of the direct boarding area (19) for detecting an object or person entering its monitoring plane, - an attendant display device, and - a hazard detection evaluation unit (50) connected to the camera(s) (30) for receiving image data and to the virtual entry vehicle gate (132) for receiving sensor data and configured so that the presence of a passenger in the direct boarding area (19) can be determined by evaluating successive image data from the cameras (30), and in the case of such a presence,When the vehicle (3) of the boarding passenger leaves the direct boarding area (19) and another vehicle (3) enters the boarding area (12) or is at a predetermined distance from such an entrance, an emergency deceleration or emergency stop signal can be generated and transmitted to the motor control of the cable car system for the implementation of said signal for the movement of the vehicles (3), and images from the cameras (30) can also be transmitted to an operator display device via a signal transmitter (55).

11. Cable car system according to claim 10, wherein the boarding station (1) is a valley station and the exit station (2) is a middle station or a mountain station, or wherein the boarding station (1) is a mountain station and the exit station (2) is a middle station or a valley station, or wherein the boarding station (1) is a middle station and the exit station (2) is either a valley station or a mountain station.

12. Cable car system according to one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the vehicles (3) of the cable car system are from the group comprising chairs, chairs with seat bar locking and chairs with hoods and seat bar locking.