Intelligent traffic cone with anti-collision function

Abstract

This application provides an intelligent traffic cone with anti-collision function, belonging to the field of traffic control technology. The intelligent traffic cone with anti-collision function includes a chassis and a cone barrel installed on the chassis. The chassis includes a shell and a base, with the base mounted on the shell. A collision sensing module is configured on the shell. The collision sensing module is installed directly on the outer wall of the shell or inside the shell and close to the inner wall of the shell. The collision sensing module can sense the collision information received by the traffic cone, enabling the collision sensing module to receive the mechanical signals (such as vibration and displacement) generated by the collision on the shell more directly, thereby obtaining the collision information received by the intelligent traffic cone more accurately. This avoids signal delay or distortion caused by the installation position being far from the point of impact, reduces the possibility of the traffic cone tipping over or stopping work due to collisions during operation, and improves the working efficiency of the traffic cone.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of traffic control technology, and in particular to an intelligent traffic cone with anti-collision function. Background Technology

[0002] Traffic cones, as core auxiliary equipment for road construction, accident scene warning, and traffic control, are widely used in highways, urban roads, and parking lots. Their core function is to define dangerous areas through their conspicuous appearance (such as an orange-red casing and reflective strips), guiding vehicles and pedestrians to avoid them and ensuring the safety of workers and road traffic. Currently, most mainstream traffic cones on the market are traditional static structures, typically made of plastic or rubber with a fixed base for stability. However, in practical applications, these traditional traffic cones have the following significant technical defects, making it difficult to meet the safety requirements of complex traffic scenarios:

[0003] 1. Weak collision resistance and functional failure after damage: Traditional traffic cone bases are mostly fixed structures without active protection or buffer design. When hit by vehicles (especially high-speed motor vehicles), they are prone to tipping over, breaking, or shifting, rendering them unable to continue to serve their function of area demarcation and warning. According to statistics from road maintenance departments, the incidence of secondary accidents caused by traffic cone failure due to collisions is more than 30% higher at night or in severe weather conditions (rain, fog, snow) than under normal working conditions; moreover, damaged traffic cones require manual on-site replacement, which not only increases maintenance costs but may also lead to the work area remaining unwarranted for extended periods, increasing safety hazards.

[0004] 2. Lacking active perception and early warning capabilities, relying solely on passive warnings, traditional traffic cones only provide passive warnings by reflecting light through reflective strips, unable to actively detect surrounding moving objects (such as approaching vehicles or pedestrians). When drivers fail to notice traffic cones in time due to fatigue or obstructed vision (such as glare or blind spots around curves), the risk of collision increases significantly. Especially in road construction scenarios, traffic cones around the construction area need to be placed upstream of the work site in advance, but traditional traffic cones cannot actively warn drivers of the presence of a work area ahead, relying only on the driver's observation, thus limiting the warning effect.

[0005] 3. Lack of status feedback after collision hinders timely response: Traditional traffic cones, after being struck, cannot report their status (such as whether they have tipped over or shifted) to remote monitoring centers or on-site personnel. Personnel must conduct regular patrols to identify malfunctioning cones, leading to delays in response. For example, in long-distance highway construction scenarios, a single patrol can take 1-2 hours; if a traffic cone malfunctions during this time, a "warning vacuum" can easily form, posing a serious threat to passing vehicles.

[0006] 4. Lacking autonomous mobility, traditional traffic cones suffer from low deployment and retrieval efficiency. They require manual transport to designated locations for deployment. In large-scale road construction or temporary traffic control scenarios (such as marathon events or emergency road repairs), deployment and retrieval are time-consuming and labor-intensive, and operators must work while the road is open, raising concerns about their safety. Furthermore, when the construction area needs to be adjusted according to the work progress (such as moving road maintenance from the first lane to the second lane), traditional traffic cones must be manually rearranged, resulting in low efficiency and hindering the speed of road reopening.

[0007] In summary, existing traditional traffic cones have significant shortcomings in terms of collision resistance, proactive warning, status feedback, and deployment flexibility, making it difficult to meet the demands of modern road traffic safety for "proactive protection, intelligent early warning, and efficient operation and maintenance." Therefore, developing an intelligent traffic cone with anti-collision capabilities, proactive sensing and early warning capabilities, and autonomous movement capabilities has become a key direction for solving the above-mentioned technical problems, and has important practical significance for improving road operation safety and reducing the accident rate.

[0008] The embodiments in this application are improvements made to solve the above problems. Utility Model Content

[0009] The purpose of this application is to provide an intelligent traffic cone with anti-collision function. Implementing this application can reduce the occurrence of traffic cones tipping over or stopping work due to collisions or other accidents during operation, thereby improving the working efficiency of traffic cones.

[0010] To achieve the aforementioned objective, in a first aspect, embodiments of this application provide an intelligent traffic cone with anti-collision function, the technical solution of which is:

[0011] An intelligent traffic cone with anti-collision function includes a chassis and a cone barrel set on the chassis. The chassis includes an outer shell and a base. The base is mounted on the outer shell. A collision sensing module is configured on the outer shell. The collision sensing module is set directly on the outer side wall of the outer shell so as to sense the collision information received by the traffic cone.

[0012] Alternatively, the collision sensing module can be located inside the housing and close to the inner wall of the housing, which facilitates accurate acquisition of collision information of the traffic cone. This arrangement allows the collision sensing module to receive the mechanical signals (such as vibration and displacement) generated by the collision of the housing more directly, thereby more accurately acquiring the collision information of the smart traffic cone and avoiding signal delay or distortion caused by the installation position being far from the point of impact.

[0013] The sensing module includes, but is not limited to, accelerometers, gyroscopes, vibration sensors, angle sensors, etc. The collision sensing module detects whether traffic cones have collided or tipped over. If a collision or tipping occurs, the signal can be transmitted in a timely manner to realize the collision alarm function.

[0014] A warning module is installed at the top of the cone. The warning module is located at or near the top of the cone, specifically on the outer or inner wall of the cone. This location expands the detection range of the warning module and reduces the impact of obstacles on detection accuracy. The warning module can detect information about moving objects approaching the cone. For example, when a vehicle approaches the cone, the warning module can use, but is not limited to, lidar, millimeter-wave radar, ultrasonic radar, etc., to detect the vehicle approaching the cone. When a certain threshold is reached, a warning is triggered—achieving the vehicle approach warning function.

[0015] The wheel set is mounted on the chassis, which can move along the ground via the wheel set. Specifically, the wheel set includes at least two drive wheels. Under the action of driving force, the drive wheels drive the chassis to move, enabling it to move and walk.

[0016] Based on the first aspect, in one possible implementation, the top of the traffic cone is equipped with a functional device. In a specific embodiment, the functional device is a warning device that can provide a warning when a collision or tipping occurs, or it can provide a warning as needed during normal operation, such as flashing lights. The functional device can also be a camera device, for example, a servo motor connected to the camera device can be set up to detect whether other objects are approaching in 360 degrees, so that the traffic cone can avoid them in time. Alternatively, the warning device and the camera device can coexist to achieve precise control of the traffic cone.

[0017] The above settings can reduce the likelihood of traffic cones tipping over or stopping due to collisions or other accidents during operation, thus improving the efficiency of traffic cones.

[0018] Furthermore, the summary of the utility model does not list all the features required for the embodiments of this application, and other combinations of these feature groups can also constitute embodiments of this application. Attached Figure Description

[0019] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments or background art of this application, the accompanying drawings used in the embodiments or background art of this application will be described below.

[0020] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an intelligent traffic cone with anti-collision function in one embodiment of the present utility model.

[0021] Figure 2This is a schematic diagram of the bottom structure of the intelligent traffic cone with anti-collision function in an embodiment of this utility model.

[0022] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the intelligent traffic cone free-walking system with anti-collision function provided in this embodiment of the utility model.

[0023] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an intelligent traffic cone with anti-collision function in an embodiment of the present invention, without containing any functional devices. Detailed Implementation

[0024] To make the technical means, creative features, objectives and effects of the embodiments of this application easier to understand, the embodiments of this application are further described below in conjunction with the figures and specific embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are only used to explain the embodiments of this application and are not intended to limit the embodiments of this application.

[0025] In the description of the embodiments of this application, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installed," "connected," "joined," and "assembled in" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, an indirect connection through an intermediate medium, or the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in the embodiments of this application according to the specific circumstances.

[0026] In the description of the embodiments of this application, it should be noted that the directional terms such as "center", "lateral", "longitudinal", "length", "width", "thickness", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", "clockwise", and "counterclockwise" indicate the orientation and positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing the embodiments of this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. They should not be construed as limiting the specific protection scope of the embodiments of this application.

[0027] It should be understood that in this application, "at least one (item)" means one or more, and "more than" means two or more. "And / or" is used to describe the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, "A and / or B" can represent three cases: only A exists, only B exists, and both A and B exist simultaneously, where A and B can be singular or plural. The character " / " generally indicates that the preceding and following related objects are in an "or" relationship. "At least one (item) of the following" or similar expressions refer to any combination of these items, including any combination of single or plural items. For example, at least one (item) of a, b, or c can represent: a, b, c, "a and b", "a and c", "b and c", or "a and b and c", where a, b, and c can be single or multiple.

[0028] To better understand the embodiments of this application, please refer to Figures 1 to 4 As shown, the intelligent traffic cone with anti-collision function includes a chassis 1 and a cone 2 set on the chassis 1. The chassis 1 includes a shell 11 and a base 12. The base 12 is mounted on the shell 11. A collision sensing module is configured on the shell 11. The collision sensing module is set directly on the outer side wall of the shell 11 so as to sense the collision information of the traffic cone.

[0029] The collision sensing module can also be located inside the housing 11 and close to the inner wall of the housing 11, so as to accurately obtain the collision information of the traffic cone;

[0030] This configuration allows the collision sensing module to receive the mechanical signals (such as vibration and displacement) generated by the collision on the outer shell 11 more directly, thereby obtaining the collision information of the intelligent traffic cone more accurately and avoiding signal delay or distortion caused by the installation position being far from the point of impact.

[0031] Specifically, the sensing module includes, but is not limited to, accelerometers, gyroscopes, vibration sensors, and angle sensors. The collision sensing module detects whether the traffic cone has collided or tipped over. If a collision or tipping occurs, it promptly transmits a signal to achieve a collision alarm function. For example, the accelerometer and vibration sensor can detect changes in acceleration or vibration frequency when the outer shell 11 is impacted to determine if the intelligent traffic cone has been subjected to an external force. The gyroscope and angle sensor can detect changes in the overall attitude angle of the traffic cone (such as whether the tilt angle exceeds a preset threshold) to determine if the intelligent traffic cone has tipped over due to a collision. When the collision sensing module detects a collision or tipping of the intelligent traffic cone, it promptly transmits the corresponding collision or tipping signal to the control module (or an external signal transmission module) of the intelligent traffic cone. The control module (or signal transmission module) then sends the alarm signal outward (e.g., to a remote monitoring terminal, a surrounding vehicle warning system, etc.), ultimately achieving a collision alarm function for the intelligent traffic cone. This ensures that relevant personnel are promptly aware of the damage or displacement of the traffic cone, guaranteeing road safety.

[0032] In one feasible implementation, a warning module is provided at the upper end of the cone 2. The warning module is located at or near the top of the cone 2, specifically on the outer or inner side wall of the cone 2. This location expands the detection range of the warning module and reduces the impact of obstacles on detection accuracy. The warning module detects information about moving objects approaching the cone 2. For example, when a vehicle approaches the cone 2, the warning module uses sensors including, but not limited to, lidar, millimeter-wave radar, and ultrasonic radar to detect the vehicle's approach. Once a certain threshold is reached, a warning is triggered—achieving a vehicle approach warning function. Its core function is to detect information about moving objects (such as vehicles, pedestrians, etc.) approaching the cone 2. For instance, when a moving object (taking a vehicle as an example) approaches the cone 2, the warning module uses the aforementioned sensors to collect data such as the distance and relative speed between the object and the cone 2 in real time. When the detected distance between the object and the cone 2 is less than a preset threshold (e.g., 5 meters, which can be adjusted according to the actual scenario), the warning module triggers a warning signal, thereby achieving the vehicle approach warning function.

[0033] In this embodiment, the intelligent traffic cone further includes a control unit and a drive unit. The drive unit includes at least one set of drive wheels 3, which are mounted on the bottom of the chassis 1 to drive the entire traffic cone to move. When the warning module detects a moving object approaching and triggers a warning signal, or when the collision perception module detects that the traffic cone has been collided with / tilted, the aforementioned signals are transmitted to the control unit in real time. After receiving the signal, the control unit sends a command to the drive unit according to preset logic (such as judging the speed of the approaching object, the force of the collision, etc.). The drive unit responds to the command and controls the drive wheels 3 to start, driving the traffic cone to move away from the moving object, thereby realizing the obstacle avoidance function of "escaping the approaching object".

[0034] In addition, this obstacle avoidance logic also applies to the active movement of traffic cones: when the warning module detects that the traffic cone is about to approach a fixed object (such as a guardrail or other traffic facilities), the control unit can control the drive unit in advance to adjust the steering or speed of the power wheel 3 to avoid the traffic cone from colliding with the fixed object.

[0035] In one possible application scenario, see Figure 2 The wheel set is mounted on the chassis 1, which can move along the ground via the wheel set. Specifically, the wheel set includes at least two drive wheels 3. Under the action of driving force, the drive wheels 3 drive the chassis 1 to move, enabling it to move and walk. In a specific embodiment, the wheel set also includes at least one non-drive wheel 4. The projections of the at least two drive wheels 3 and the at least one non-drive wheel 4 on the bottom end of the chassis 1 form a triangular support structure. For example, the non-drive wheel 4 can be a swivel wheel. The at least two drive wheels 3 are arranged on the same side of the bottom end of the chassis 1, and the at least one non-drive wheel 4 is arranged on the opposite side of the bottom end of the chassis 1, thereby jointly forming a triangular force-bearing structure supporting the chassis 1 to improve the placement stability of the chassis 1. At the same time, the chassis 1 moves forward under the driving action of the drive wheels 3, and the front swivel wheel can easily turn according to the driving action of the rear drive wheels 3.

[0036] In this embodiment, at least one side of the non-powered wheel 4 is provided with an anti-tipping wheel 14. For example, the anti-tipping wheel 14 can be provided on one side of the non-powered wheel 4, or it can be provided on both sides of the non-powered wheel 4. The non-powered wheel 4 and the powered wheel 3 are at the same height so that the chassis 1 remains horizontal when it moves in contact with the ground. The height of the anti-tipping wheel 14 is lower than the height of the non-powered wheel 13 and the powered wheel 6. When the chassis 1 is in a horizontal state, there is a gap between the anti-tipping wheel 14 and the ground, that is, the anti-tipping wheel is in a suspended state. When the chassis 1 tilts, the anti-tipping wheel 14 can contact the ground to prevent tilting.

[0037] In this embodiment, a base plate 15 is provided at the bottom end of the chassis 1, and the aforementioned non-powered wheels 4 are mounted on the base plate 15.

[0038] In this embodiment, see Figure 3 As shown, at least one support rod 13 is provided inside the outer shell 11 of the chassis 1. One end of the support rod 13 is fixedly connected to the base plate 15, and the other end is fixedly connected to the mounting plate 5, so that the mounting plate 5 is mounted on the base plate 15 through the support rod 13. The support rod 13 provides support for the mounting plate 5 and the outer shell 11 to enhance the overall structural strength of the chassis 1.

[0039] In one possible implementation, see Figure 1 As shown, the top of the traffic cone 2 is equipped with a functional device 21, and the aforementioned warning module is located at the lower end of the functional device 21. In a specific embodiment, the aforementioned functional device is a warning device that can provide a warning function when a collision or tipping occurs, and can also provide a warning as needed during normal operation, such as flashing lights. The functional device can also be a camera device, for example, a servo motor can be connected to the camera device to achieve 360-degree detection of whether other objects are approaching, so that the traffic cone can avoid them in time. Alternatively, the warning device and the camera device can coexist to achieve precise control of the traffic cone.

[0040] In another possible implementation, see Figure 3 As shown, the traffic cone also includes a motor 7 and a bracket 8. The motor 7 is mounted on the bracket 8, and the drive wheel 3 is connected to the motor 7 via the bracket 8. Under the support of the bracket 8, the motor 7 can drive the drive wheel 3 to rotate. Specifically, the drive wheel 3 is provided with an axle, and the bracket 8 is provided with a hole through which the axle can pass. One end of the axle is connected to the drive motor 7, and the other end of the axle passes through the hole in the bracket 8 and is connected to the drive wheel 3. This not only transmits the driving force of the drive motor 7 to the drive wheel 3, but also fixes the bracket 8 and the drive wheel 3, so that the drive wheel 3 can rotate with the rotation of the bracket 8.

[0041] In this embodiment, a servo motor 9, a gear set 10, and a mounting plate 5 are provided inside the chassis 1. The servo motor 9 is installed at the end of the mounting plate 5. The servo motor 9 is connected to the bracket 8 through the gear set 10. Under the support of the mounting plate 5, the servo motor 9 can drive the bracket 8 to rotate through the gear set 10. All the above parts work together to form a free-moving system for the traffic cone. With this configuration, the traffic cone can move freely in all directions.

[0042] It should be understood that the terms "an embodiment," "a possible implementation," or "some implementations" used throughout the specification mean that a specific feature, structure, or characteristic related to an embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present application. Therefore, "an embodiment," "a possible implementation," or "some implementations" appearing throughout the specification do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. Furthermore, these specific features, structures, or characteristics can be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. Those skilled in the art should also understand that the embodiments described in the specification are all optional embodiments, and the actions and modules involved are not necessarily essential to the embodiments of the present application.

[0043] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of this application, and are not intended to limit them; although this application has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some or all of the technical features; and these modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application.

Claims

1. An intelligent traffic cone with anti-collision function, comprising a chassis (1) and a cone (2), wherein the cone (2) is disposed on the chassis (1), characterized in that: The chassis (1) includes an outer shell (11) and a base (12), the base (12) being mounted on the outer shell (11). A collision sensing module is disposed on the outer shell (11), and the collision sensing module is positioned as follows: It is directly installed on the outer side wall of the outer shell (11) or installed inside the outer shell (11) and close to the inner side wall of the outer shell (11) so as to sense the collision information of the traffic cone through the collision sensing module; The upper end of the cone (2) is provided with an early warning module, which is located at any of the following positions: the outer side wall or the inner side wall of the cone, so as to detect information that a moving object is approaching the cone (2) through the early warning module; A wheel assembly is mounted on a chassis (1), which is capable of moving along the ground via the wheel assembly; The wheelset contains at least two drive wheels (3).

2. The intelligent traffic cone with anti-collision function according to claim 1, characterized in that, The top of the cone (2) is equipped with a functional device (21).

3. The intelligent traffic cone with anti-collision function according to claim 2, characterized in that, The functional device (21) is a warning device and / or a camera device.

4. The intelligent traffic cone with anti-collision function according to claim 1, characterized in that, The wheel set also includes at least one non-powered wheel (4), and the projections of the at least two powered wheels (3) and the at least one non-powered wheel (4) on the bottom of the chassis (1) form a triangular support structure.

5. The intelligent traffic cone with anti-collision function according to claim 1 or 4, characterized in that, It also includes a motor (7) and a bracket (8). The motor (7) is mounted on the bracket (8). The drive wheel (3) is connected to the motor (7) through the bracket (8). Under the support of the bracket (8), the motor (7) can drive the drive wheel (3) to rotate.

6. The intelligent traffic cone with anti-collision function according to claim 5, characterized in that, The chassis (1) is equipped with a servo motor (9), a gear set (10) and a mounting plate (5). The servo motor (9) is mounted on the end of the mounting plate (5) and is connected to the bracket (8) through the gear set (10).

7. The intelligent traffic cone with anti-collision function according to claim 4, characterized in that, At least one side of the non-powered wheel (4) is provided with an anti-reverse wheel (14).

8. The intelligent traffic cone with anti-collision function according to claim 7, characterized in that, The bottom end of the chassis (1) is provided with a bottom plate (15).

9. The intelligent traffic cone with anti-collision function according to claim 8, characterized in that, The non-powered wheel (4) is mounted on the base plate (15).

10. The intelligent traffic cone with anti-collision function according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that, The chassis (1) has at least one support rod (13) inside its outer shell (11). One end of the support rod (13) is fixedly connected to the base plate (15), and the other end is fixedly connected to the mounting plate (5).

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