Intelligent road cone system for expressway and layout method of intelligent road cone system
The smart road cone system's autonomous mobile chassis and IoT management platform solve the problems of low efficiency and high safety risks in the traditional manual deployment of road cones. It enables fast and safe deployment and adaptive adjustment of warning areas, improving traffic diversion efficiency.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202510918613.1
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2025-07-02
- Publication Date
- 2025-09-09
AI Technical Summary
Traditional traffic cones in accident handling and road control suffer from low manual deployment efficiency, high safety risks, lack of dynamic adjustment capabilities, and insufficient single-cell capacity.
The intelligent traffic cone system, including an autonomous mobile chassis, cones, charging compartments, and stacking troughs, is combined with three sets of mobile wheels, a flip mechanism, and an IoT management platform to achieve autonomous movement, dynamic adjustment, and efficient deployment of traffic cones.
It improves the spatial utilization of traffic cones, reduces manual intervention, realizes fast and safe warning area layout and adaptive adjustment, and improves traffic diversion efficiency and driving safety.
Smart Images

Figure CN120608474A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of traffic equipment, and in particular to a smart traffic cone system for highways and a method for deploying the same. Background Art
[0002] With the continuous increase in traffic volume on highways, the demand for temporary operations such as road construction, maintenance, and traffic accident handling is becoming increasingly frequent. Traditional road cones have exposed significant shortcomings in accident handling and road control: First, manual deployment is inefficient, especially in harsh environments such as rain, snow, and at night, posing extremely high safety risks to operators; second, existing road cones lack dynamic adjustment capabilities, and the warning area is fixed, making it difficult to adapt to the changing needs of traffic accident scenes; third, traditional rechargeable road cones are stored horizontally, and the capacity of each compartment is insufficient. Summary of the Invention
[0003] The object of the present invention is to provide a smart traffic cone system for highways and a method for deploying the same, so as to solve the problems raised in the above-mentioned background technology.
[0004] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object of the invention, the present invention adopts the following technical solutions: The present invention provides a smart road cone system for highways, comprising a charging compartment and at least two smart road cones stacked within the compartment. The smart road cone comprises an autonomously movable chassis and a cone barrel fixed to the top of the chassis. A connecting hole is provided through the center of the chassis, communicating with the cone barrel, allowing adjacent cone barrels to be inserted and positioned. The charging compartment includes a shell with an open side, a charging module disposed in the shell, and a stacking trough body rotatably disposed at the open end of the shell, wherein one end of the stacking trough body is open and the other end of the stacking trough body is sealed, and the sealed end of the stacking trough body is hinged to the bottom end of the open end of the shell by a rotating shaft and can be switched between a first state and a second state around the rotating shaft; when the stacking trough body is in the first state, the stacking trough body is completely embedded in the shell and perpendicular to the ground; when the stacking trough body is in the second state, the stacking trough body is completely moved into the shell and closely attached to the ground, and the lower edge of the open end of the stacking trough body forms a ramp for the entry and exit of the smart road cone, and the sealed end is provided with a positioning cone matching the connecting hole; The mobile chassis is provided with three sets of moving wheels, which include a side moving wheel group, a steering gear wheel group and a bottom moving wheel group, wherein the steering gear wheel group and the bottom moving wheel group are symmetrically arranged on both sides of the bottom of the mobile chassis, and the side moving wheel group is installed on the side of the mobile chassis close to the steering gear wheel group through a mounting plate, and a plane tangent to the rolling wheels of the steering gear wheel group and the bottom moving wheel group forms a first rolling plane, and the steering gear wheel group and the side moving wheel group are staggered, and a plane tangent to the rolling wheels of the steering gear wheel group and the side moving wheel group forms a second rolling plane, and the first rolling plane is perpendicular to the second rolling plane; a flip mechanism is provided near the open end inside the stacking trough body, and the flip mechanism is used to force the mobile chassis to rotate 90 degrees through mechanical constraint when the smart road cone enters and exits the stacking trough body, so that the first rolling plane or the second rolling plane contacts the bottom surface of the stacking trough body.
[0005] Furthermore, a sealed cavity is formed in the hollow interior of the mobile chassis, which integrates an autonomous navigation module, a Beidou / GPS dual-mode positioning module, a 4G communication module and a battery. A 360° circular LED warning light strip is embedded in the outer wall of the cone, with 24 sets of independently addressable RGBW lamp beads built in. It supports multi-mode switching such as strobe, breathing, and marquee, and is linked to the cloud traffic management platform through the 4G communication module, and can automatically switch to red, blue or yellow warning signals according to the level of the accident.
[0006] Furthermore, the smart traffic cone continuously uploads location data to the IoT management platform via the 4G communication module during movement. The platform combines the data from multiple traffic cones to adjust the warning area boundaries in real time and simultaneously updates the warning range through the public transportation service app. The IoT management platform can upload the processed data to a public transportation service app with high user penetration, and use the app to provide voice prompts to drivers and passengers of vehicles within 2km of the smart traffic cone deployment area. The IoT management platform can transmit data to internal management platforms such as the maintenance project management platform, record and manage sensitive information such as the coordinates and time of events such as parking, construction, and road closures, and realize the management and statistics of all real-time and historical operation information, engineering information, and hardware equipment information.
[0007] Furthermore, the charging module includes a wireless charging module, which includes a wireless receiving coil arranged on a side of the sealed cavity away from the moving wheel group, and a transmitting coil fixed on a side of the shell away from the opening and corresponding to the wireless receiving coil. The wireless receiving coil and the transmitting coil can realize contactless charging of the smart road cone in a stacked state.
[0008] Furthermore, an energy storage box is provided on one side of the charging compartment, and an energy storage module is provided in the energy storage box. The energy storage module integrates the mains interface and the solar photovoltaic panel interface, supports both mains charging and solar charging modes, and provides power for the charging module and the smart road cone.
[0009] Furthermore, the shell is composed of an internal frame and an outer shell, and a horizontal guide shaft is installed on the top of the internal frame through rotation on the bearing seat, and two guide wheels are fixedly installed at both ends of the guide shaft, and a winch is also installed on the internal frame below the two guide wheels. The winch has two winding drums corresponding to the guide wheels, and a steel wire rope is wound on the winding drum, and the free end of the steel wire rope passes around the corresponding guide wheel and is fixedly connected to the end of the stacking trough body away from the rotating shaft. A torsion spring is provided on the rotating shaft, and when the torsion spring is in normal state, the stacking trough body is in the second state.
[0010] Furthermore, the flipping mechanism includes an intercepting rod horizontally fixed to the top of the stacking trough body, and a friction structure fixed to the bottom surface of the stacking trough body, intercepting blocks are fixed to the two side walls of the stacking trough body between the intercepting rod and the open end of the stacking trough body, and the friction structure includes a friction strip embedded in the bottom surface of the stacking trough body and corresponding to the steering gear wheel set; when the mobile road cone enters the stacking trough body, the intercepting rod can intercept the cone cylinder, and under the drive of the steering gear wheel set, the smart road cone is flipped to the second state around the rotation axis of the rolling wheel of the steering gear wheel set; when the mobile road cone moves out of the stacking trough body, the mobile chassis can pass through the intercepting rod and be intercepted by the intercepting block, and under the drive of the steering gear wheel set, the smart road cone is flipped to the first state around the rotation axis of the rolling wheel of the steering gear wheel set.
[0011] Furthermore, bull's eye balls are symmetrically provided on the left and right sides of the mobile chassis. When the smart traffic cone enters the stacking slot, the bull's eye balls on the left and right sides of the mobile chassis respectively contact the two side walls of the stacking slot.
[0012] A method for deploying the above-mentioned smart road cone system for highways includes the following steps: S1. Removing traffic cones from the charging compartment: The stacking trough of the charging compartment is unfolded to its second position, with the stacking trough and the housing forming a 90-degree angle and parallel to the ground. Driven by the steering wheel assembly, the stacked smart traffic cones are sequentially moved along the stacking trough through the flipping mechanism and out of the stacking trough. As they pass through the flipping mechanism, mechanical constraints force the mobile chassis to rotate 90 degrees, bringing the first rolling plane of the mobile chassis into contact with the bottom surface of the stacking trough. After the smart traffic cones are removed, the stacking trough rotates around its rotation axis to its first position. S2. Path Planning and Initiation: The target operation area is selected through the IoT management platform, a navigation path is generated using the Beidou / GPS dual-mode positioning module, and movement instructions are sent to the smart traffic cones. S3. Autonomous Movement and Collaborative Positioning: Multiple smart cones autonomously move along a navigation path to the target area. During movement, they upload their coordinates to the platform in real time via a 4G communication module. The platform dynamically adjusts the distance between adjacent cones based on their position data, generating a continuous warning area boundary. S4. Status switching and warning synchronization: When the smart road cone reaches the preset coordinates, the steering wheel locks the mobile chassis position, and the LED warning light on the top of the cone starts flashing. The platform synchronizes the revised warning area boundaries to the public transportation service app and sends a voice warning to vehicles entering the area within 2km. S5. Exception handling and repositioning: If the smart road cone is offset beyond the preset coordinate threshold due to external forces, the platform triggers an alarm and replans the path, driving the road cone back to the target position and updating the app's warning range.
[0013] Compared with the existing technology, one or more of the above technical solutions have the following beneficial effects: 1. This invention improves space utilization through the nested cone structure and vertical stacking design. A single charging compartment can accommodate multiple traffic cones. The dual-state switching of the stacking trough combined with a flipping mechanism shortens the deployment of traffic cones and eliminates manual intervention throughout the entire process.
[0014] 2. This invention uses three sets of moving wheels and a double rolling surface design with the guidance of bull's eye balls to achieve precise stacking of traffic cones. The steering gear wheel group is reused as a turning fulcrum, reducing the number of independent drive units.
[0015] 3. The smart road cones of this invention have built-in autonomous navigation modules and Beidou / GPS dual-mode positioning modules, which can move autonomously according to preset paths or remote commands, enabling rapid deployment and adaptive adjustment of warning areas.
[0016] 4. The IoT management platform of this invention can record and manage all real-time and historical operation information, project information, and hardware equipment information, improving management efficiency. By integrating with the public transportation service app, it can provide voice prompts to vehicles approaching the area where smart traffic cones are deployed, improving driving safety.
[0017] It is to be understood that the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] The accompanying drawings, which constitute a part of the present invention, are used to provide a further understanding of the present invention. The exemplary embodiments of the present invention and their descriptions are used to explain the present invention and do not constitute improper limitations on the present invention.
[0019] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the first state structure of the charging bin of the present invention; Figure 2 yes Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the cross-sectional structure; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the second state structure of the charging bin of the present invention; Figure 4 yes Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the second perspective structure; Figure 5 yes Figure 4 Schematic diagram of cross-section structure; Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the smart traffic cone from a first-person perspective of the present invention; Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the smart traffic cone from a second perspective of the present invention; Figure 8 yes Figure 7 Schematic diagram of the cross-sectional structure; Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the intelligent traffic cone entering the stacking trough of the present invention; Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the intelligent traffic cone removed from the stacking trough of the present invention; Figure 11 It is a schematic diagram of the structure after installation of the present invention.
[0020] In the picture: 1-charging compartment; 11-shell; 111-internal frame; 112-outer shell; 12-charging module; 13-stacking trough; 131-positioning cone; 132-ramp; 14-rotating shaft; 2-smart road cone; 21-mobile chassis; 211-connecting hole; 212-side moving wheel group; 213-servo wheel group; 214-bottom moving wheel group; 215-sealed chamber; 216-battery; 22-cone; 221-annular L-ED warning light strip; S1-first rolling plane; S2-second rolling plane; 3-flipping mechanism; 31-interceptor rod; 32-interceptor block; 33-friction strip; 34-bull's eye ball; 4-energy storage box; 5-guide shaft; 51-guide wheel; 52-winch; 53-reel; 54-wire rope. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0021] In order to enable those skilled in the art to better understand the present invention, the following will clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments in the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without making creative efforts should fall within the scope of protection of this application.
[0022] See also Figures 1-11The present invention provides a smart traffic cone system for highways. The smart traffic cone system can be set up at intervals along the highway (such as Figure 11 As shown), it includes a charging compartment 1 and a plurality of smart traffic cones 2 stacked in the charging compartment 1; Figure 6 and Figure 7 As shown, the smart traffic cone 2 comprises an autonomously movable chassis 21 and a cone 22 fixed to the top of the chassis 21. A connecting hole 211 is provided through the center of the chassis 21, connecting to the interior of the cone 22 and allowing adjacent cones 22 to be inserted and positioned. Under normal conditions, multiple smart traffic cones 2 can be nested vertically through the connecting hole 211 in the center of the chassis 21 and stored within the charging compartment 1, protecting and replenishing the smart traffic cones. When deployment is needed (for example, during maintenance work, at the scene of a traffic accident, or during a temporary road closure), several smart traffic cones 2 in the system are removed, and the autonomously movable chassis 21 drives the smart traffic cones 2 to the corresponding position to isolate a warning area.
[0023] In order to achieve a seamless transition from vertical stacking and energy storage to horizontal mobile deployment of multiple smart road cones 2, that is, while ensuring ultra-high-density storage of smart road cones 2, multiple smart road cones 2 can be quickly and autonomously moved out of the charging compartment 1 for isolation operations, shortening the deployment time of road cones and reducing the risk of manual intervention.
[0024] Combine Figure 1 and Figure 3 As shown, in this embodiment, the charging compartment 1 includes a shell 11 with an open side, a charging module 12 arranged in the shell 11, and a stacking trough 13 rotatably arranged at the open side of the shell 11. One end of the stacking trough 13 is open, and the other end of the stacking trough 13 is sealed. The sealed end of the stacking trough 13 is hinged to the bottom end of the open side of the shell 11 through a rotating shaft 14, and can rotate around the rotating shaft 14 in a first state (such as Figure 1 ) and the second state (as shown Figure 3 When the stacking trough 13 is in the first state, the stacking trough 13 is completely embedded in the housing 11 and perpendicular to the ground; when the stacking trough 13 is in the second state, the stacking trough 13 is completely removed from the housing 11 and closely attached to the ground, and the lower edge of the open end of the stacking trough 13 forms a ramp 132 for the entry and exit of the smart road cone 2, and the closed end is provided with a positioning cone 131 that matches the communication hole 211.
[0025] like Figure 2As shown, this embodiment is based on the above-mentioned configuration. Under normal conditions, the stacking trough 13 of the charging bay 1 is maintained in a vertical position by the rotating shaft 14. Multiple smart traffic cones 2 are stacked longitudinally in a nested manner through the connecting holes 211 of the mobile chassis 21, forming a compact columnar structure. The bottom of the cone barrel 22 of the bottom layer of traffic cones is embedded in the positioning cone 131 at the sealed end of the stacking trough 13, forming an axial lock. The charging module 12 can charge the mobile chassis 21 of each layer of traffic cones. When the system receives a deployment command, the stacking trough 13 switches from a vertical position (first position) to a horizontal position (second position) to facilitate the removal of the smart traffic cones 2.
[0026] like Figure 6-Figure 8 As shown, further, in this embodiment, three groups of moving wheels are provided on the mobile chassis 21, and the three groups of moving wheels include a side moving wheel group 212, a steering gear wheel group 213 and a bottom moving wheel group 214, wherein the steering gear wheel group 213 and the bottom moving wheel group 214 are symmetrically arranged on both sides of the bottom of the mobile chassis 21, and the side moving wheel group 212 is installed on the side of the mobile chassis 21 close to the steering gear wheel group 213 through a mounting plate, and a plane tangent to the rolling wheels of the steering gear wheel group 213 and the bottom moving wheel group 214 forms a first rolling plane S1, and the steering gear wheel group 213 and the side moving wheel group 212 are staggered, and a plane tangent to the rolling wheels of the steering gear wheel group 213 and the side moving wheel group 212 forms a second rolling plane S2, and the first rolling plane S1 is perpendicular to the second rolling plane S2. A flip mechanism 3 is provided inside the stacking trough 13 near the open end. The flip mechanism 3 is used to force the mobile chassis 21 to rotate 90 degrees through mechanical constraints when the smart road cone 2 enters and exits the stacking trough 13, so that the first rolling plane S1 or the second rolling plane S2 contacts the bottom surface of the stacking trough 13 (reference Figure 10 and Figure 9 shown).
[0027] Based on the above arrangement, in the vertical stacking energy storage, the movable chassis 21 contacts the bottom surface of the stacking trough 13 through the second rolling plane S2 (the steering gear wheel group 213 and the side moving wheel group 212), and contacts the blocked end surface of the stacking trough 13 through the first rolling plane S1 (the steering gear wheel group 213 and the bottom moving wheel group 214) (refer to Figure 2 ), as shown in Figure 3 As shown, when the system receives the deployment command, the stacking trough 13 switches from the vertical state (first state) to the horizontal state (second state), and the smart traffic cones 2 stacked in the stacking trough 13 are driven by the steering gear group 213 to move in sequence along the length direction of the stacking trough 13 to the flip mechanism 3, as shown in FIG. Figure 9As shown, the flip mechanism 3 uses mechanical restraint to force the mobile chassis 21 to rotate 90° around the axis of the cone 22, so that the first rolling plane S1 of the mobile chassis 21 (the steering gear wheel group 213 and the bottom moving wheel group 214) contacts the bottom surface of the stacking trough 13, completing the transformation of the smart road cone 2 to the correct posture. After the rotation, the bottom moving wheel group 214 acts as a driven wheel to provide lateral support, and the smart road cone 2 provides driving force and rotation direction through the steering gear wheel group 213, so that the smart road cone 2 can move autonomously to the designated position to isolate the warning area. Conversely, Figure 10 As shown, after the deployment operation is completed, the stacking trough 13 switches from a vertical state (first state) to a horizontal state (second state). The smart traffic cones 2 sequentially enter the stacking trough 13 from the open end. The tilting mechanism 3, through mechanical restraint, forces the mobile chassis 21 to rotate 90 degrees in the opposite direction about the axis of the cone barrel 22, causing the mobile chassis 21 to contact the bottom surface of the stacking trough 13 through the second rolling plane S2 (the steering gear wheel assembly 213 and the side moving wheel assembly 212). At this time, the communication hole 211 of the mobile chassis 21 faces the closed end of the stacking trough 13. The smart traffic cones 2 are stacked horizontally by the steering gear wheel assembly 213. When all the smart traffic cones 2 have entered the stacking trough 13, the stacking trough 13 switches from the horizontal state (second state) to the vertical state (first state), and the multiple smart traffic cones 2 are stacked vertically and stored in the charging compartment 1.
[0028] During storage and charging, the smart road cone 2 utilizes a longitudinally nested structure, achieving ultra-high-density vertical storage through a central connecting hole 211 on the mobile chassis 21, significantly saving space in the charging compartment 1. The charging module 12 also centrally recharges and protects the stacked road cones, ensuring long-term equipment availability. During deployment, the stacking trough 13 pivots from a vertical to a horizontal position via an articulated axis. Its open end forms a ramp 132 with the ground, providing a smooth transition path for cone removal. A key flipping mechanism 3 mechanically constrains the mobile chassis 21 to rotate 90° at the moment of removal, allowing the first rolling plane S1 formed by the steering gear wheels 213 and the bottom moving wheels 214 to contact the ground, completing the transition of the smart road cone 2 to the correct posture. This significantly shortens cone deployment time and reduces the risk of manual intervention. This allows for the rapid establishment of a warning area, particularly in emergency scenarios such as traffic accidents or road maintenance, effectively improving operational safety and traffic diversion efficiency.
[0029] like Figure 8As shown, in this embodiment, a sealed cavity 215 is formed in the interior of the mobile chassis 21, and an autonomous navigation module, a Beidou / GPS dual-mode positioning module, a 4G communication module and a battery 216 are integrated in the sealed cavity 215. The outer wall of the cone 22 is embedded with a 360° annular LED warning light strip 221, which has 24 sets of independently addressable RGBW lamp beads built in, supports multi-mode switching such as strobe, breathing, and marquee, and is linked to the cloud traffic management platform through the 4G communication module, and can automatically switch to red, blue or yellow warning signals according to the level of the accident.
[0030] Based on the above configuration, this embodiment creates a waterproof and dustproof enclosure for key electrical components within the sealed cavity 215, protecting them from moisture. When a traffic cone detaches from the charging compartment 1, the autonomous navigation module plans its trajectory, the Beidou / GPS module provides positioning, and the 4G communication module utilizes dual-SIM card aggregation technology to ensure rapid response to remote commands. The annular LED warning light strip 221 (L) draws power from a power bus extending from within the sealed cavity 215. It houses 24 independently addressable RGBW LEDs, supporting multiple modes such as strobe, breathing, and marquee. The 4G communication module connects to a cloud-based traffic management platform, automatically switching between red, blue, or yellow warning signals based on the severity of the incident.
[0031] In this embodiment, the smart road cones 2 continuously upload location data to an IoT management platform via a 4G communication module while in motion. The platform combines data from multiple road cones to adjust the warning area boundaries in real time and simultaneously updates the warning range via a public transportation service app. The IoT management platform can upload the processed data to a public transportation service app with high user penetration and provide voice prompts to drivers and passengers of vehicles within 2 km of the area where the smart road cones 2 are deployed. The IoT management platform can also transmit the data to internal management platforms such as the maintenance project management platform to record and manage sensitive information such as the coordinates and time of events such as parking, construction, and road closures, thereby managing and compiling all real-time and historical operation information, project information, and hardware equipment information.
[0032] In this embodiment, the charging module 12 includes a wireless charging module, which includes a wireless receiving coil arranged on a side of the sealed cavity 215 away from the side moving wheel group 212, and a transmitting coil fixed on a side of the shell 11 away from the opening and corresponding to the wireless receiving coil. The wireless receiving coil and the transmitting coil can realize contactless charging of the smart road cone 2 in a stacked state.
[0033] Based on the above setup, this embodiment utilizes spatial wireless charging technology to efficiently recharge the Smart Cone 2. When the cones are stacked vertically, the multiple layers of receiving coils maintain strict axial alignment with the transmitting coils, enabling power transmission through a magnetic field focusing effect. This design not only avoids the wear and oxidation issues associated with traditional plug-in ports, but also ensures stable power supply in harsh environments such as rain, snow, and dust through a fully enclosed energy transmission path.
[0034] In this embodiment, an energy storage box 4 is provided on one side of the charging compartment 1. An energy storage module is provided in the energy storage box 4. The energy storage module integrates a mains interface and a solar photovoltaic panel interface, supports both mains charging and solar charging modes, and provides power for the charging module 12 and the smart road cone 2. The energy storage box 4 of this embodiment adopts a double-layer insulation structure design, with an internal integrated lithium iron phosphate energy storage battery pack and an intelligent energy management unit, and a photovoltaic panel embedded on the top. The side wall of the box is equipped with a mains interface, and a built-in bidirectional inverter supports 380V three-phase power access. Photovoltaic power is used first when there is sufficient sunshine, and the mains power supply is automatically switched at night or in rainy weather. At the same time, the battery pack status is continuously monitored, and the hybrid charging mode is activated when the energy storage is less than 20%.
[0035] like Figure 2 As shown, in this embodiment, the shell 11 is composed of an internal frame 111 and an outer shell 112. A horizontal guide shaft 5 is installed on the top of the internal frame 111 by rotating on the bearing seat. Two guide wheels 51 are fixedly installed at both ends of the guide shaft 5. A winch 52 is also installed on the internal frame 111 below the two guide wheels 51. The winch 52 has two winding drums 53 corresponding to the guide wheels 51. A steel wire rope 54 is wound on the winding drum 53, and the free end of the steel wire rope 54 passes around the corresponding guide wheel 51 and is fixedly connected to the end of the stacking trough 13 away from the rotating shaft 14. A torsion spring is provided on the rotating shaft 14. When the torsion spring is in normal state, the stacking trough 13 is in the second state.
[0036] This embodiment is based on the above-mentioned arrangement. The guide shaft 5 and the double guide wheels 51 arranged on the top of the internal frame 111 of the shell 11 constitute a wire rope 54 guide system. When the winch 52 drives the winding drum 53 to rotate, the wire rope 54 wound thereon changes the direction of force through the guide wheel 51, thereby forming traction control on the stacking trough body 13. Under normal circumstances, the elastic potential energy accumulated by the torsion spring enables the stacking trough body 13 to stably maintain the second state of horizontal expansion; when it is necessary to switch to the vertical energy storage state, the winch 52 is powered on and started, tightening the wire rope 54 to overcome the restoring torque of the torsion spring and lift the stacking trough body 13 to a vertical position along the rotating shaft 14.
[0037] The linkage mechanism can adopt constant tension closed-loop control, monitor the displacement of the wire rope 54 in real time through the Hall sensor, and dynamically adjust the winding force with the PID algorithm to ensure that the posture switching process of the stacking trough 13 is smooth and impact-free.
[0038] like Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, in this embodiment, the flipping mechanism 3 includes an intercepting rod 31 horizontally fixed to the top of the stacking trough 13, and a friction structure fixed to the ground of the stacking trough 13. Intercepting blocks 32 are fixed to the two side walls of the stacking trough 13 between the intercepting rod 31 and the open end of the stacking trough 13. The friction structure includes a friction strip 33 embedded in the bottom surface of the stacking trough 13 and corresponding to the steering gear wheel set 213. When the mobile road cone enters the stacking trough 13, the intercepting rod 31 can intercept the cone 22. Under the drive of the steering gear wheel set 213, the smart road cone 2 is flipped around the rotation axis 14 of the rolling wheel of the steering gear wheel set 213 to the second state. When the mobile road cone moves out of the stacking trough 13, the mobile chassis 21 can pass through the intercepting rod 31 and be intercepted by the intercepting block 32. Under the drive of the steering gear wheel set 213, the smart road cone 2 is flipped around the rotation axis 14 of the rolling wheel of the steering gear wheel set 213 to the first state.
[0039] Based on the above-mentioned configuration, this embodiment uses the following configuration: when the mobile traffic cone enters the stacking trough 13, the top intercepting rod 31 contacts the outer wall of the cone 22, forming a physical barrier. At this point, the steering wheel assembly 213 is activated. The steering wheel assembly 213 cooperates with the friction strip 33 to drive the smart traffic cone 2 to rotate 90° counterclockwise about the steering wheel axis of the steering wheel assembly 213, causing the second rolling plane S2 of the mobile chassis 21 (the steering wheel assembly 213 and the side moving wheel assembly 212) to contact the trough bottom. Subsequently, the second rolling plane S2 (the steering wheel assembly 213 and the side moving wheel assembly 212) drives the smart traffic cone 2 to move sequentially, completing the horizontal stacking. During reverse movement, the mobile chassis 21 passes through the intercepting rod 31 and is intercepted by the intercepting block 32. Driven by the steering wheel assembly 213, the steering wheel assembly 213 cooperates with the friction strip 33 to drive the smart road cone 2 clockwise around the same axis until the first rolling plane S1 of the mobile chassis 21 (the steering wheel assembly 213 and the bottom moving wheel assembly 214) contacts the bottom of the groove. The present invention utilizes the steering wheel assembly 213 as a dynamic fulcrum, combined with the bidirectional interception limit, to form a tilting mechanism 3 that requires no additional power input.
[0040] like Figure 6 As shown, in this embodiment, bull's eye balls 34 are symmetrically provided on the left and right sides of the mobile chassis 21. When the smart traffic cone 2 enters the stacking trough 13, the bull's eye balls 34 on the left and right sides of the mobile chassis 21 respectively abut against the two side walls of the stacking trough 13.
[0041] Based on the above arrangement, when the traffic cone enters the stacking trough 13 , the bull's eye balls 34 on both sides of the movable chassis 21 engage with the sidewalls of the stacking trough 13 in a three-point contact manner, preventing radial displacement of the smart traffic cone 2 in the stacking trough 13 .
[0042] The present invention also provides a method for deploying the above-mentioned smart road cone system for highways, comprising the following steps: S1. Traffic cones are removed from charging compartment 1: Stacking trough 13 of charging compartment 1 is unfolded to its second position, aligning stacking trough 13 and housing 11 at a 90-degree angle and parallel to the ground. Driven by steering gear assembly 213, stacked smart traffic cones 2 are sequentially moved along stacking trough 13 through flipping mechanism 3 and out of stacking trough 13. Mechanical constraints force mobile chassis 3 to rotate 90 degrees while passing through flipping mechanism 3, causing first rolling plane S1 of mobile chassis 3 to contact the bottom surface of stacking trough 13. After removal of the smart traffic cones 2, stacking trough 13 rotates around its rotation axis 14 to its first position. S2. Path Planning and Initiation: The target operation area is selected through the IoT management platform, a navigation path is generated using the Beidou / GPS dual-mode positioning module, and movement instructions are sent to Smart Cone 2. S3. Autonomous Movement and Collaborative Positioning: Multiple Smart Cones 2 autonomously move along a navigation path to the target area. During movement, they upload their coordinates to the platform in real time via a 4G communication module. The platform dynamically adjusts the distance between adjacent cones based on the position data of these Smart Cones 2, generating a continuous warning area boundary. S4. Status Switching and Warning Synchronization: When Smart Cone 2 reaches the preset coordinates, steering wheel assembly 213 locks the mobile chassis position, and the circular LED warning light on top of cone 22 begins flashing. The platform synchronizes the revised warning zone boundaries to the public transportation service app and sends a voice warning to vehicles within 2 km of the zone. S5. Exception handling and repositioning: If the Smart Cone 2 deviates beyond the preset coordinate threshold due to external forces, the platform triggers an alarm and replans the path, driving the Smart Cone 2 back to the target position and updating the app's warning range.
[0043] The above description is only a preferred specific embodiment of the present invention, but the scope of protection of the present invention is not limited thereto. Any technician familiar with the technical field, within the technical scope disclosed by the present invention, who makes equivalent replacements or changes based on the technical solution and inventive concept of the present invention, should be covered by the scope of protection of the present invention.
Claims
1. A smart traffic cone system for highways, characterized in that: The smart cone includes a charging compartment and at least two smart cones stacked in the charging compartment. The smart cone includes a mobile chassis that can move autonomously and a cone tube fixed on the top of the mobile chassis. A connecting hole is provided through the center of the mobile chassis and communicates with the cone tube for insertion and positioning of adjacent cone tubes. The charging compartment includes a shell with an open side, a charging module disposed in the shell, and a stacking trough body rotatably disposed at the open end of the shell, wherein one end of the stacking trough body is open and the other end of the stacking trough body is sealed, and the sealed end of the stacking trough body is hinged to the bottom end of the open end of the shell by a rotating shaft and can be switched between a first state and a second state around the rotating shaft; when the stacking trough body is in the first state, the stacking trough body is completely embedded in the shell and perpendicular to the ground; when the stacking trough body is in the second state, the stacking trough body is completely moved into the shell and closely attached to the ground, and the lower edge of the open end of the stacking trough body forms a ramp for the entry and exit of the smart road cone, and the sealed end is provided with a positioning cone matching the connecting hole; The mobile chassis is provided with three sets of moving wheels, which include a side moving wheel group, a steering gear wheel group and a bottom moving wheel group, wherein the steering gear wheel group and the bottom moving wheel group are symmetrically arranged on both sides of the bottom of the mobile chassis, and the side moving wheel group is installed on the side of the mobile chassis close to the steering gear wheel group through a mounting plate, and a plane tangent to the rolling wheels of the steering gear wheel group and the bottom moving wheel group forms a first rolling plane, and the steering gear wheel group and the side moving wheel group are staggered, and a plane tangent to the rolling wheels of the steering gear wheel group and the side moving wheel group forms a second rolling plane, and the first rolling plane is perpendicular to the second rolling plane; a flip mechanism is provided near the open end inside the stacking trough body, and the flip mechanism is used to force the mobile chassis to rotate 90 degrees through mechanical constraint when the smart road cone enters and exits the stacking trough body, so that the first rolling plane or the second rolling plane contacts the bottom surface of the stacking trough body.
2. The smart traffic cone system for highways according to claim 1, characterized in that: A sealed cavity is formed in the hollow interior of the mobile chassis, which integrates an autonomous navigation module, a Beidou / GPS dual-mode positioning module, a 4G communication module and a battery. A 360-degree circular LED warning light strip is embedded in the outer wall of the cone, which has 24 sets of independently addressable RGBW lamp beads built in. It supports multi-mode switching such as strobe, breathing, and marquee, and is linked to the cloud-based traffic management platform through the 4G communication module. It can automatically switch to red, blue or yellow warning signals according to the level of the accident.
3. The smart traffic cone system for highways according to claim 2, characterized in that: The smart traffic cone continuously uploads location data to the IoT management platform via the 4G communication module during movement. The platform combines the data from multiple traffic cones to adjust the warning area boundaries in real time and simultaneously updates the warning range through the public transportation service app. The IoT management platform can upload processed data to a public transportation service app with high user penetration, and use the app to provide voice prompts to drivers and passengers of vehicles within 2km of the smart traffic cone deployment area. The IoT management platform can transmit data to internal management platforms such as the maintenance project management platform, record and manage sensitive information such as the coordinates and time of events such as parking, construction, and road closures, and realize the management and statistics of all real-time and historical operation information, project information, and hardware equipment information.
4. The smart traffic cone system for highways according to claim 2, characterized in that: The charging module includes a wireless charging module, which includes a wireless receiving coil arranged on a side of the sealed cavity away from the movable wheel assembly, and a transmitting coil fixed on a side of the shell away from the opening and corresponding to the wireless receiving coil. The wireless receiving coil and the transmitting coil can realize contactless charging of the smart road cone in a stacked state.
5. The smart traffic cone system for highways according to claim 1, characterized in that: An energy storage box is provided on one side of the charging compartment, and an energy storage module is provided in the energy storage box. The energy storage module integrates the mains interface and the solar photovoltaic panel interface, supports both mains charging and solar charging modes, and provides power for the charging module and the smart road cone.
6. The smart traffic cone system for highways according to claim 1, characterized in that: The shell consists of an internal frame and an outer shell. A horizontal guide shaft is installed on the top of the internal frame through rotation on the bearing seat. Two guide wheels are fixedly installed at both ends of the guide shaft. A winch is also installed on the internal frame below the two guide wheels. The winch has two winding drums corresponding to the guide wheels. A steel wire rope is wound on the winding drum, and the free end of the steel wire rope passes around the corresponding guide wheel and is fixedly connected to the end of the stacking trough body away from the rotating shaft. A torsion spring is provided on the rotating shaft. When the torsion spring is in normal state, the stacking trough body is in the second state.
7. The smart traffic cone system for highways according to claim 1, characterized in that: The flipping mechanism includes an intercepting rod horizontally fixed to the top of the stacking trough body, and a friction structure fixed to the bottom surface of the stacking trough body. Intercepting blocks are fixed to the two side walls of the stacking trough body between the intercepting rod and the open end of the stacking trough body. The friction structure includes a friction strip embedded in the bottom surface of the stacking trough body and corresponding to the steering gear wheel set. When the mobile road cone enters the stacking trough body, the intercepting rod can intercept the cone cylinder, and under the drive of the steering gear wheel set, the smart road cone is flipped to the second state around the rotation axis of the rolling wheel of the steering gear wheel set. When the mobile road cone moves out of the stacking trough body, the mobile chassis can pass through the intercepting rod and be intercepted by the intercepting block. Under the drive of the steering gear wheel set, the smart road cone is flipped to the first state around the rotation axis of the rolling wheel of the steering gear wheel set.
8. The smart traffic cone system for highways according to claim 8, characterized in that: The left and right sides of the mobile chassis are symmetrically provided with bull's eye balls. When the smart traffic cone enters the stacking slot, the bull's eye balls on the left and right sides of the mobile chassis respectively contact the two side walls of the stacking slot.
9. A method for deploying a highway smart traffic cone system according to claim 3, characterized in that: The following steps are involved: S1. Remove the cone from the charging compartment: Expand the stacking trough of the charging compartment to the second state, so that the stacking trough and the shell form a 90° angle parallel to the ground; Driven by the steering wheel assembly, the stacked smart traffic cones are sequentially moved out of the stacking trough through the flipping mechanism along the stacking trough. When passing through the flipping mechanism, the mobile chassis is forced to rotate 90 degrees by mechanical constraints, so that the first rolling plane of the mobile chassis contacts the bottom surface of the stacking trough. After the smart traffic cones are moved out, the stacking trough rotates around its rotation axis to the first state. S2. Path Planning and Initiation: The target operation area is selected through the IoT management platform, a navigation path is generated using the Beidou / GPS dual-mode positioning module, and movement instructions are sent to the smart traffic cones. S3. Autonomous Movement and Collaborative Positioning: Multiple smart cones autonomously move along a navigation path to the target area. During movement, they upload their coordinates to the platform in real time via a 4G communication module. The platform dynamically adjusts the distance between adjacent cones based on their position data, generating a continuous warning area boundary. S4. Status switching and warning synchronization: When the smart road cone reaches the preset coordinates, the steering wheel locks the mobile chassis position, and the LED warning light on the top of the cone starts flashing. The platform synchronizes the revised warning area boundaries to the public transportation service app and sends a voice warning to vehicles entering the area within 2km. S5. Exception handling and repositioning: If the smart road cone is offset beyond the preset coordinate threshold due to external forces, the platform triggers an alarm and replans the path, driving the road cone back to the target position and updating the app's warning range.