System and method of controlling a ropeway and a ropeway transportation system

Abstract

A control system for a ropeway transport system comprising: an optical acquisition unit (13); a processing group (15) comprising a first processing block (16) and a second processing block (17); wherein the first processing block (16) is connected in communication with the optical acquisition group (13) to receive images from the optical acquisition group (13), process said images and define at least one value of at least one parameter related to the system and / or users of the system based on the processing of said images; in which the second processing block (17) is configured to receive the at least one parameter value from the first processing block (16) and compare it with at least one threshold value of the respective parameter; wherein the second processing block (17) being configured to control and / or monitor the operation of the ropeway transport system (1) based on the data received from the first processing block (16).

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This patent application claims priority from Italian patent application no. 102024000008350 filed on April 12, 2024, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.TECHNICAL SECTOR

[0002] This invention relates to a system and method of controlling a ropeway transport system. In addition, this invention relates to a ropeway transportation system, preferably aerial, comprising said control system.STATE OF THE ART

[0003] As is well known, aerial ropeway transport systems are used in ski / mountain resort areas, where aerial ropeway transport systems are referred to as ski lifts. In any case, the aerial ropeway transport systems also find advantageous application in urban contexts where the ground transport is congested.

[0004] In known aerial ropeway transport systems, the passengers and / or sports equipment are transported along a predefined path by means of one or more transport units, one after another, between two terminal stations, also known as upstream and downstream stations, located at the ends of the transport system and wherein the passengers safely board and disembark on / from the transport units.

[0005] In addition, ropeway transport systems can also transport goods and / or construction materials.

[0006] In particular, the term "aerial" means ropeway systems wherein the transport units are moved and supported by at least one rope in a raised position above the underlying ground or in relation to any other underlying structures.

[0007] By way of example, the transport systems may be chairlifts, in which each transport unit comprises a seat for accommodating one or more passengers, or gondolas, in which each transport unit comprises a cabin for accommodating one or more passengers.

[0008] The aerial ropeway transport systems currently known may be of the "single-cable" type, wherein the supporting rope also performs the function of hauling rope. Otherwise, they may be of the "dual-cable" or "tri-cable" type, wherein there are, respectively, one or two supporting ropes in addition to the hauling rope.

[0009] As known, the hauling rope is sent in a loop and moved between the two terminal stations and, in the case of single-cable transport systems, the transport units comprise special devices (for example, clamps) for staying coupled

[0010] (clamped) to the rope at least in the section beyond the stations. Typically, in fact, in the terminal stations, the transport units are unhooked (unclamped) from the hauling rope to proceed at a lower speed along another predefined path so as to enable the safe disembarking and boarding of passengers, without slowing the transport units moving along the predefined path beyond the stations.

[0011] The terminal stations (upstream or downstream) are permanently overseen by an operator during the operation of the ropeway transport system. Each station operator must supervise the correct operation of the system and weather conditions in order to act on the system by slowing down the advancement speed of the transport units and / or stopping the advancement of the transport units according to the operating conditions of the system and / or the events they detect.

[0012] By way of example: each operator monitors that passengers board or disembark correctly from transport units and / or that passengers do not enter areas not authorised for passenger access. By way of example, when a passenger falls in the boarding or disembarking zone of the transport system, the operator activates an emergency command, stopping the movement of the hauling rope, or if they see that people are having difficulty boarding or disembarking, they slow down the advancement speed of the transport units within the station, or if the operator notices that some people have entered a no-entry zone, they can stop the system to prevent harm to those people.

[0013] One of the drawbacks of the prior art is that the operator may not notice or notice late an event requiring their intervention and, consequently, may not act on the system in an appropriate or timely manner depending on the event not correctly recognised or recognised late.

[0014] Another drawback is that the presence of an operator at each station entails a high system operating cost due to the hourly cost of each operator at each station of the system. Moreover, these operators are difficult to recruit.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0015] One purpose of this invention is to provide a control system of a ropeway transport system that reduces or solves at least one of the above-mentioned drawbacks.

[0016] In accordance with this invention, a control system of a ropeway transport system is provided according to one of the claims from 1 to 17.

[0017] By means of this invention, the control system is able to detect events, in particular critical events, and to act by adjusting the advancement of the transport units, in particular by increasing or reducing the advancement speed and / or by stopping the advancement, according to the detected events independently or together with the intervention of a station operator. Alternatively or in addition, the control system, once it has detected the event, particularly a critical one, can alert the operator and preferably indicate an action to be taken.

[0018] By means of this invention, a control system is provided that can detect one or more critical events and act to stop or slow down the system and / or alert the operator to this event by means of an audible and / or visual warning and / or by means of a message on a user interface, for example on a screen.

[0019] An additional purpose of this invention is to provide a ropeway transport system that mitigates or overcomes at least one of the drawbacks highlighted above.

[0020] In accordance with this invention, a ropeway transport system is provided according to claim 18.

[0021] An additional purpose of this invention is to provide a method of controlling a ropeway transport system that mitigates at least one of the drawbacks of the prior art highlighted here.

[0022] In accordance with this invention, a method for controlling a ropeway transport system is provided according to claim 19.

[0023] With this method, it is possible to assist the operator in controlling a ropeway transport system or to make the operation of a ropeway transport system autonomous without the use of an operator or by reducing the number of operators required.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] Additional features and advantages of this invention are defined in the dependent claims and will be apparent from the following description of a non-limiting embodiment thereof, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a schematic view with parts removed for clarity of a ropeway transport system produced according to this invention; and Figure 2 is a schematic view with parts removed for clarity of a portion of a station, in particular the disembarkation station, of the ropeway transport system in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a block diagram of a system for controlling the ropeway transport system in Figure 1; Figure 4 is a schematic view with parts removed for clarity of a portion of a station, in particular the boarding station, of the ropeway transport system in Figure 1; Figure 5 is a schematic view from above with parts removed for clarity of a portion of a station, in particular the disembarkation station, of the ropeway transport system in Figure 1; Figure 6 is a schematic, side view, with parts shown in cross section and parts removed for clarity, of the system in Figure 5. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0025] With reference to Figure 1, reference number 1 shows a ropeway transport system. Figure 1 shows an aerial ropeway transport system; however, the invention also applies to land-based ropeway transport systems, such as, without imposing limits, funicular railways.

[0026] In the case described and illustrated here, which does not limit this invention, the transport system 1 is a single-rope one and comprises a single rope 2 that performs the two-fold function of supporting rope and hauling rope.

[0027] In accordance with additional embodiments, not shown in the attached figures, the transport system 1 may be of the "dual-cable" and "tri-cable" type, wherein the transport system 1 also comprises one or two supporting ropes in addition to the hauling rope.

[0028] The transport system 1 comprises a first terminal station or downstream station 3 and a second terminal station or upstream station 4. In particular, the downstream station 3 and the upstream station 4 are equipped with respective pulleys, at least one of which is motorised.

[0029] With reference to Figure 1, it is possible to see a portion of the upstream station 4, in which the rope 2 is looped by means of the two pulleys, at least one of which is driven by a drive, so as to identify a predefined path 5 comprising an ascending branch 6 and a descending branch 7. The arrows A and B shown in Figure 1 indicate the forward directions of the ascending 6 and descending 7 branches.

[0030] The transport system 1 comprises at least one transport unit 8 that is configured to transport passengers along the predefined external path 5a outside the stations and a predefined internal path 5b inside (Figure 2) the stations.

[0031] In a preferred but non-limiting embodiment of this invention, the transport units 8 are clamped to the hauling rope 2 along the external path 5a to the stations and are unclamped from the hauling rope 2 along the internal path 5b inside the stations 3, 4.

[0032] In particular, when the transport units 8 enter one of the stations 3, 4, they are unclamped from the hauling rope 3 and are moved forward by an auxiliary advancement system along the predefined path 5b to move the transport units 8 at a lower speed than the predefined path 5a and facilitate the boarding or disembarking of passengers. Similarly, when the transport units 8 are in the vicinity of the station exit, and after the passengers have disembarked, in the case of a disembarkation station, or boarded, in the case of a boarding station, the transport units 8 are clamped to the hauling rope 2 and leave the station 3, 4 to be advanced by the hauling rope 2 along the predefined path 5a.

[0033] In accordance with a variant of this invention, not shown in the attached figures, the transport unit 8 is configured to transport objects and / or sports equipment.

[0034] In particular, the transport system 1 comprises multiple transport units 8, arranged one after the other along both the ascent 6 and descent 7 branches of the predefined path 5a.

[0035] In the case described and illustrated here, which does not limit this invention, each transport unit 8 comprises a seat 9 for passengers and an anti-fall device 10a (Figure 6), typically a safety bar that can be raised, to prevent the fall of passengers during their transport along the predefined path 5. In this configuration, the transport system 1 is called a chair lift.

[0036] In accordance with additional embodiments, not shown in the figures attached, each transport unit 8 can assume a wide range of different configurations. By way of example, each transport unit 8 may comprise a cabin for transporting passengers along the predefined path 5. In this configuration, the transport system 1 is called a cable car. In this case, there are doors in place of the anti-fall device 10a.

[0037] With reference to Figure 3, the transport system 1 comprises a control system 12 of the ropeway transport system 1.

[0038] With reference to Figure 3, the control system 12 comprises an optical acquisition unit 13 for acquiring images and / or video of at least one portion of the transport system 1, in particular a portion of a boarding and / or disembarking station of the ropeway transport system 1; a processing group 15 comprising a first processing block 16 and a second processing block 17.

[0039] In particular, the control system 12 may comprise a single processing unit with only one software program that performs the functions of the first processing block 16 and the second processing block 17, or two processing units with two separate software programs in which each of the two performs the functions of the first processing block 16 or the second processing block 17, respectively, or one or more processing units with one or more software programs in which a group of these performs the functions of the first processing block 16 and another group of these performs the functions of the second processing block 17.

[0040] In a preferred but non-limiting embodiment of this invention, the control system 12 is configured to subdivide one or more areas to be monitored into multiple areas to be monitored.

[0041] For example, one area to be monitored is the boarding area of a boarding station 3. Another area to be monitored is the disembarkation area of a disembarkation station 4.

[0042] In some cases, the station may be both for boarding and disembarking and, consequently, may have a boarding area and a disembarking area to monitor.

[0043] In a preferred, non-limiting embodiment of this invention, one area to be monitored is the disembarkation station 4 and preferably the at least one area to be monitored is selected from the group of areas to be monitored comprising: vehicle entrance area into the station and / or adjacent station; one or more areas forbidden to users; approach area; disembarkation area; passenger exit ramp from the station; operator area.

[0044] In a preferred, non-limiting embodiment of this invention, one area to be monitored is the boarding station 3 and, preferably, the at least one area to be monitored is selected from the group of areas to be monitored comprising: approach area; boarding area; passenger entrance area into the station; vehicle exit area from the station / adjacent station; one or more areas forbidden to users; operator area.

[0045] The boarding area is preferably located at the boarding station 3, which is usually downstream, to allow passengers to board each transport unit 8.

[0046] The disembarkation area is preferably located at the disembarkation station, which is usually upstream, to allow passengers to disembark from each transport unit 8.

[0047] It is understood that, in accordance with this invention, the boarding area may be arranged at the upstream station 4 and the disembarkation area may be arranged at the downstream station 3 or the boarding area and the disembarkation area may both be arranged at the downstream station 3 and / or at the upstream station 4.

[0048] In accordance with an additional embodiment of this invention, which is not shown in the attached figures, the transport system 1 comprises at least one intermediate station arranged between the downstream station 3 and the upstream station 4. In this configuration, the transport system 1 may comprise an additional boarding area and / or an additional disembarkation area, arranged at said intermediate station.

[0049] In a preferred, non-limiting embodiment of this invention, one area to be monitored is the boarding and disembarkation station and, preferably, the at least one area to be monitored is selected from the group of areas to be monitored comprising: vehicle exit area from the station and / or adjacent station; vehicle entrance area into the station and / or adjacent station; one or more areas forbidden to users; boarding approach area and / or disembarkation approach area; boarding area; entry area; disembarkation area; exit ramp; operator area.

[0050] In accordance with an alternative embodiment, not shown in the attached figures, the transport system 1 comprises an object loading / unloading area configured to allow the loading / unloading of objects on each transport unit 8 or only on some transport units 8 of the plurality of transport units 8 and preferably but without imposing limits said area may be one of the areas to be monitored.

[0051] In one or more preferred embodiments of this invention, one or more or all but one of the areas illustrated above may be omitted. Accordingly, the invention also concerns the monitoring of only one of the above-mentioned areas or a group of them.

[0052] In one preferred embodiment, the optical acquisition unit 13 comprises at least one camera 14 and / or video camera (Figure 5) pointing to at least one portion of a boarding and / or disembarking station of the transport system and is configured to acquire images and / or video of the at least said one portion of the transport system. In an optional and non-limiting embodiment of this invention, the camera is a 3D camera. In a preferred but non-limiting embodiment, the optical acquisition unit 13 comprises multiple cameras 14 (Fig. 5), in particular one or more cameras framing the at least one area to be monitored as defined above, preferably more than one area from among the areas indicated above.

[0053] In a preferred but non-limiting embodiment of this invention, the optical unit 13 is configured to capture several images for one or more of the monitored areas or portions thereof through at least two cameras 14 pointing at the same area or portion thereof.

[0054] By way of non-limiting example only, the optical acquisition unit 13 may comprise one or more cameras framing a boarding area and / or a disembarkation area B1; and / or one or more cameras framing an approach area B2; and / or one or more cameras framing an area after the boarding area; and / or one or more cameras framing an area after the disembarkation area; and / or one or more cameras framing an area near the entrance to the entry station B3 and / or an area near the exit to the exit station; and / or one or more cameras framing the exit ramp B4; and / or one or more cameras framing the user entry area; and / or one or more cameras framing the area after the disembarkation area; and / or one or more cameras framing a user-free area B5; and / or one or more cameras framing the operator area; and / or one or more cameras framing one or more user-free areas. In particular, the areas described above define examples of areas to be monitored, and each of the areas indicated above may also consist of multiple non-adjacent portions of an area. In addition, one or more of the areas to be monitored described above may be omitted according to embodiments of this invention.

[0055] More specifically, the first processing block 16 is configured to receive images from the optical acquisition unit 13, process said images and define at least one value of at least one parameter related to the system and / or users of the system based on the processing of said images.

[0056] For example, but without imposing limits, the first processing block 16 is connected in communication with the optical acquisition unit 13, receives images from the optical acquisition unit 13 and determines from the images at least one value of at least one parameter selected from the group of parameters comprising: presence of transport units 8 preferably in an area to be monitored or in a portion of the area to be monitored; number of transport units 8 present; user and / or operator presence preferably in an area to be monitored or in a portion of the area to be monitored; number of users and / or operators in the area to be monitored; transport unit travel speed 8; transport unit position 8; user and / or operator position; movement speed of user and / or operator; degree to which a user is sitting, preferably in an area to be monitored or in a portion of the area to be monitored; degree to which a user is standing, preferably in an area to be monitored or in a portion of the area to be monitored; degree of standing inclination of the user's lower body, preferably to describe the degree to which a user is standing, preferably in an area to be monitored or in a portion of the area to be monitored; degree of upright inclination of the user's upper body (preferably to describe the degree to which a user is standing) preferably in an area to be monitored or in a portion of the area to be monitored; height of the user's ankles above the ground preferably in an area to be monitored or in a portion of the area to be monitored; height of the user's hip from the ground preferably in an area to be monitored or in a portion of the area to be monitored; distance between user or user group and the transport unit preferably closest to the user and / or user group and / or the one from which the user or user group has disembarked or is boarding; direction of user and / or operator movement; direction and / or speed of user and / or operator movement; user and / or operator orientation; user classification, in particular as adult or child preferably according to height; number of users taller than a height threshold, preferably 120 cm preferably in an area to be monitored or in a portion of the area to be monitored, preferably in the boarding or disembarkation area; number of users lower than a height threshold, preferably 120 cm preferably in an area to be monitored or in a portion of the area to be monitored, preferably in the boarding or disembarkation area.

[0057] In one or more preferred embodiments of this invention, one or more or all of the parameters minus one may be omitted from the group of parameters illustrated above. Accordingly, the invention also concerns the definition of only one of the parameters indicated above or a group of them.

[0058] In a preferred but non-limiting embodiment of this invention, the first processing block 16 is configured to detect at least one of the parameters selected from the group of parameters indicated above in at least one of the areas of the group of areas indicated above and / or in at least one of the areas (or portions thereof) of the group of areas indicated above.

[0059] The first processing block 16 preferably detects the at least one parameter selected from the group of parameters indicated above in one or more of the areas indicated above and / or in the at least one area selected from the group of areas indicated above (or portions thereof) separately and independently for each area and sends the parameter detected and the zone and / or area and / or portion of the area in which it was detected to the second processing block 17.

[0060] In a preferred embodiment, the first processing block 16 defines from the images for the at least one parameter selected in the above-mentioned group of parameters at least one value representing a group of users present in a given area or portion of an area and not per individual user, preferably up to a number of users equal to the seats in each transport unit 8. In particular, the value representing the user group is a function of the value of each individual user in that user group.

[0061] In one embodiment, the first processing block 16 defines two representative (aggregate) values of a group of users present in a given area or a portion of an area and not per individual user, preferably up to a number of users equal to the seats of each transport unit 8, in particular a first value and a second value indicative respectively of the minimum value of said parameter detected among the users of said group of users at a given instant of time and the maximum value of said parameter detected among the users of said group of users at a given instant of time. In this embodiment, the first processing block 16 sends the at least one value (and / or the minimum value and / or the maximum value) of the user group, together with the values for each user or alternatively the values for each user, to the second processing block 17 for the at least one parameter selected from the group of parameters indicated above.

[0062] By way of non-limiting embodiment, for the user seating position parameter, the first processing block 16 defines from the images a representative value for a group of users in an area or portion thereof, preferably the disembarkation area and / or exit ramp. In particular, the value representing the user group is a function of the value of each individual user in that user group. The first processing block 16 preferably defines the minimum value and the maximum value of the overall seating position detected among the users at a given instant of time of said user group and sends them to the second processing block 17.

[0063] By way of non-limiting embodiment, for the standing position parameter, the first processing block 16 defines from the images a representative value for a group of users in an area or portion thereof, preferably the disembarkation area and / or exit ramp. In particular, the value representing the user group is a function of the value of each individual user in that user group. The first processing block 16 preferably defines the minimum value and the maximum value of the overall standing position detected among the users at a given instant of time of said user group and sends them to the second processing block 17.

[0064] In a preferred but non-limiting embodiment of this invention, the first processing block 16 is configured to process said images, preferably using a neural network with an artificial intelligence algorithm to define the at least one parameter value. In this embodiment, the first block comprises a processing unit, in particular a GPU or CPU, or a portion thereof, on which an object detection algorithm runs that recognises certain parameters in the images, preferably delimits them with a polygonal shape, and defines and assigns to each detected parameter a probability of correspondence with respect to the defined given parameter. For example, the first processing block detects a transport unit from the images and assigns a probability to said detection. As another example, the first processing block detects a user and assigns a probability to said detection. Examples can be defined for all the parameters identified above. In a preferred but non-limiting embodiment of this invention, the first block comprises a convolutional neural network (CNN) to define parameters and match probabilities.

[0065] In accordance with one, non-limiting embodiment of this invention, the first processing block 16 comprises neural networks configured to be trained to recognise the different types of parameters as a function of images and / or videos. More specifically, the training and / or verification of the artificial intelligence algorithm involves providing as input a plurality of images and / or videos of parameters to be detected in one or more areas of a boarding and / or disembarking station of the transport system 1 and manually assigning, or by means of other sensors or groups of sensors, the parameter and its indicative value to be detected in each image and / or each video. Examples might include some of the devices described below with reference numbers 50, 60, 70, 80 and 90, and / or other sensors or groups of sensors installed only for training and / or verification of the artificial intelligence algorithm and subsequently removed.

[0066] In an alternative embodiment, the first processing block 16 uses computer vision programs to detect at least one value of the at least one parameter mentioned above instead of artificial intelligence.

[0067] In a preferred but non-limiting embodiment of this invention, which can be combined with the preceding embodiments, in order to define the parameters identified above, the first processing block 16, by means of said algorithm, may detect and classify differently left and / or right and / or upper and / or lower portions of an object detected, assign a matching probability relative to the classification of the object detected and / or the portions of the object detected.

[0068] In a preferred but non-limiting embodiment of this invention, which can be combined with the preceding embodiments, in order to define the parameters identified above the first processing block 16, by means of said algorithm, may detect and classify people within the images, detect and classify parts of the human body, preferably detect and separately classify left and / or right and / or upper and / or lower parts and / or arms and / or shoulders and / or legs and / or the pelvis and / or also and / or ankles of the human body, assign a matching probability relative to the classification of the person detected and / or the portions of the human body detected.

[0069] In a preferred but non-limiting embodiment of this invention that can be combined with the previous embodiments, the first processing block 16 uses a pose estimation or 3D pose estimation algorithm.

[0070] In a preferred but non-limiting embodiment of this invention and with reference to Figures 3 to 6, the control system 12 comprises a group of sensors 50 for detecting the position of the transport units 8 within at least one portion of the boarding and / or disembarkation station 3, 4 of the transport system 1. The sensor group 50 preferably comprising at least one sensor 51 included in the sensor group: position sensors, proximity sensors.

[0071] In a preferred but non-limiting embodiment of this invention, the control system 12 comprises a sensing device (not illustrated in the figures) coupled to one of the two pulleys to calculate the position and / or speed of the transport units 8 along the external path 5a at the stations and / or the speed and metres of the ropeway 2, in particular the sensing device sends some or all of said information to the second processing block 17. The detection device preferably detects the speed of the hauling rope 2 and its position relative to a reference position.

[0072] By way of non-limiting example of this invention, the sensor group 50 comprises multiple sensor units 51, for example position or proximity sensors, arranged along the auxiliary handling mechanism arranged along the internal path 5b to the boarding and / or disembarkation station(s) 3, 4 to detect the position and / or speed of each transport unit 8 and send it to the second processing block 17. In a preferred but non-limiting embodiment of this invention, the sensor units 51 are arranged non-uniformly along the path 5b and the distance between the sensor units 51 is preferably reduced from the station entrance area to the boarding / disembarkation area and increased from the boarding / disembarkation area to the exit area. It should be noted that the sensor group 50 is preferred but not essential to this invention, so it may be omitted.

[0073] In a preferred but non-limiting embodiment of this invention and with reference to Figure 4, the control system 12 comprises a user entry gate group 60 comprising one or more entry gates 61 for detecting the number of users entering the boarding station and preferably distinguishing between adults and children, preferably on the basis of height. It should be noted that the gate group 60 is preferred but not essential to this invention, so it may be omitted.

[0074] In a preferred but non-limiting embodiment of this invention, the control system 12 comprises a LIDAR group 70 comprising one or more LIDARs 71 at one or more of the boarding and / or disembarkation stations to detect each user and preferably their position and preferably their movement at one or more of the stations.

[0075] In a preferred but non-limiting embodiment of this invention, and with reference to Figures 5 and 6, the LIDAR group 70 comprises a LIDAR 71 for detecting a user's falling from the transport unit 8, in particular from a chair, prior to the disembarkation area, then one or more areas extending from the station entrance of the transport unit 8 to the disembarkation area, in which the disembarkation area is not included.

[0076] In a preferred but non-limiting embodiment not illustrated in the accompanying figures, the LIDAR group 70 comprises a LIDAR 71 for detecting when a user falls from the transport unit 8, in particular from a chair, into an area comprising the boarding area and thereafter.

[0077] In a preferred but non-limiting embodiment not illustrated in the accompanying figures, the LIDAR group 70 comprises a LIDAR 71 for detecting when a user falls from the transport unit 8, in particular from a chair, into any area with a greater fall risk.

[0078] In a preferred but non-limiting embodiment of this invention, the control system 12 comprises a LIDAR for detecting when a user falls into a ditch during boarding a transport unit 8, in particular a gondola; therefore, the LIDAR monitors one or more zones extending into the ditch located below the path 5b within the boarding station.

[0079] It should be noted that the LIDAR group 70 and one or more of the LIDARs 71 mentioned above are preferred but not essential to this invention; therefore, one or more or all of the LIDARs 71 mentioned above may be omitted.

[0080] In a preferred but non-limiting embodiment of this invention, the control system 12 comprises a detection device 80 for detecting the opening and / or closing of the fall arrest device 10a, in particular for detecting the position of the bar for chairs or the closing or opening of one or more doors for the cabins. It should be noted that the sensing device 80 is preferred but not essential to this invention, so it may be omitted.

[0081] In a preferred but non-limiting embodiment of this invention, the control system 12 comprises a detection device 90 for detecting the presence of passengers on the transport unit 8 in an area subsequent to the disembarkation area and / or in the boarding area.

[0082] In an embodiment that is preferred where the transport unit is a chair, the sensing device 90 verifies that there are no users on the transport unit 8 in a zone subsequent to the disembarkation zone according to the direction of movement of the transport unit. For this purpose, the detection device 90 preferably comprises a photocell and / or a rope switch preferably positioned in said area subsequent to the disembarkation area and at an above-ground height such as to detect the lower part (feet and / or legs) of a user sitting on the chair and / or the footrest of the chair when it is in the lowered position; in fact, in at least one of the two cases, the beam of the photocell is interrupted or the normally taut rope is loosened or tugged and, consequently, the sensing device 90 detects this passage. This function is preferably activated only when a transport unit 8 enters said detection area and preferably when one or more of the sensors of the sensor group 50 detects that a transport unit is in said detection area. This detection is preferably only activated when the fall sensing device 80 is detected in the raised position.

[0083] In an embodiment that is preferred where the transport unit is a cabin, the sensing device 90 verifies that there are no users in the area, especially in the ditch, which is located beneath the transport units in the boarding area. For this purpose, the sensing device 90 comprises a detector, preferably a photocell and / or a LIDAR and / or a cable switch, located within the ditch, preferably at a height from the ground relative to the base of the ditch but preferably below the floor level of the boarding and / or disembarkation area, to detect a user's falling into the ditch during boarding and / or disembarkation into / from the cabin. This function is preferably activated only when a transport unit 8 enters said detection area and preferably when one or more of the sensors of the sensor group 50 detects that a transport unit is in said detection area.

[0084] It should be noted that one or more of the sensing devices 90 illustrated above are preferred but not essential to this invention; therefore, one or more sensing devices 90 may be omitted.

[0085] In a preferred but non-limiting embodiment of this invention, the control system 12 comprises one or more emergency posts 100 (Fig. 5) comprising one or more of the following devices: one or more cameras, an intercom for talking to an operator, and a stop button for stopping the movement of the transport units 8. The control system 12 preferably comprises fences 101 delimiting the boarding and / or disembarkation area of the boarding and / or disembarkation station in such a way as to define an obligatory path for boarding and / or disembarking users. One or more of the emergency posts 100 are preferably located on the disembarkation ramp B4, preferably at the end of the disembarkation ramp B4 and / or in the boarding area.

[0086] It should be noted that one or more of the emergency posts 100 and / or fences 101 delimiting the boarding and / or disembarkation area illustrated above are preferred but not essential to this invention, and may therefore be omitted.

[0087] The second processing block 17 is preferably a safety PLC.

[0088] The second processing block 17 is coupled in communication with the first processing block 16 and preferably with at least one device of the group of devices comprising: the sensor group 50, the gate group 60, the LIDAR group 70, the sensing device 80, the sensing device 90 for receiving the respective data.

[0089] The second processing block 17 is configured for receiving the at least one value of the at least one parameter from the first processing group 16 and preferably receiving the area or portion in which it was detected, preferably a degree of validity of said value, and comparing it with at least one threshold of the respective parameter and preferably of the respective area.

[0090] In a preferred but non-limiting embodiment of this invention, one or more of the threshold values is a function of the detected advancement speed of the transport units 8 along the internal path 5b and / or along the external path 5a.

[0091] In a preferred but non-limiting embodiment of this invention, one or more of the threshold values is a function of the detected position of advancement of the transport units 8 along the internal path 5b.

[0092] In a preferred but non-limiting embodiment of this invention, one or more of the threshold values are a function of time.

[0093] Accordingly, one or more of said threshold values are not constant but vary as time and / or the advancement speed and / or position of the transport units, preferably detected by the first processing block 16 and / or the sensor group 50, vary.

[0094] By way of non-limiting example, the second processing block 17 is configured to receive the at least one parameter from the group of parameters defined above and relating to individual users or groups of users.

[0095] The second processing block 17 preferably receives the at least one parameter of the group of parameters indicated above for a user or groups of users, preferably individually, for at least one of the areas of the group of areas indicated above of the subsequent boarding and / or disembarkation station areas identified above.

[0096] In a preferred embodiment, for at least one of the parameters indicated above the second processing block 17 receives from the first processing block 16 at least one representative value, preferably a minimum value and maximum value, of the group of users present in a given area or in a portion of an area and not per individual user, preferably individually for the at least one area of the group of areas indicated above.

[0097] By way of non-limiting example, the second processing block 17 receives the minimum value and the maximum value of the seating position for a group of users in an area or a portion of an area, preferably individually for the at least one area of the group of areas identified above, from the first processing block 16.

[0098] By way of non-limiting example, the second processing block 17 receives the minimum value and the maximum value of the standing inclination for a group of users in an area or a portion of an area, preferably individually for the at least one area of the group of areas indicated above, from the first processing block 16.

[0099] More specifically, the second processing block 17 is configured to control and / or monitor the operation of the ropeway transport system 1, preferably by generating a control and / or monitoring signal, based on the data received from the first processing block 16 and preferably from at least one device of the group of devices comprising: sensor group 50; gate group 60; LIDAR group 70; sensing device 80; sensing device 90; emergency posts 100, especially an emergency post 100 stop button.

[0100] In a preferred embodiment of this invention, the second processing block 17 is configured to control and / or monitor the operation of the ropeway transport system 1, preferably by generating a control and / or monitoring signal, based on the data received from the first processing block 16 and from the position of the transport units 8 detected along the internal path 5b from the sensor group 50, and, preferably but not necessarily, from at least one device selected from the group of devices comprising: gate group 60; LIDAR group 70; sensing device 80; sensing device 90; emergency posts 100, especially an emergency post 100 stop button. In this embodiment, the second processing block 17 is configured to compare the at least one parameter value received from the first processing block 16 with the at least one threshold value and / or to emit the control and / or monitoring signal only when the sensor group 50 has detected that a transport unit 8 has entered one of the areas to be monitored, and preferably verifies that the area in which the transport unit 8 was detected by the first sensor group 50 coincides with the area indicated by the first processing block 16.

[0101] In a preferred embodiment, the sensor group 50 defines trigger signals for the second processing block 17, in particular for comparison and / or emission of the control and / or monitoring signal.

[0102] In a preferred embodiment of this invention, the second processing block 17 is configured to control and / or monitor the operation of the ropeway transport system 1, preferably to generate a control and / or monitoring signal of the ropeway transport system 1, based on the data received from the first processing block 16 and from the gate group 60 and, preferably but not necessarily, from at least one device selected from the group of devices comprising: sensor group 50, LIDAR group 70, sensing device 80; sensing device 90. In this embodiment, the second processing block 17 is configured to compare the at least one parameter value received from the first processing block 16 with the at least one threshold value and / or to issue the control and / or monitoring signal when the gate group 60 has detected that at least one user has entered the boarding area.

[0103] In a preferred but non-limiting embodiment of this invention, the gate group 60, preferably one or more gates 61, defines a trigger signal for the second processing block 17, in particular for comparison and / or emission of the control and / or monitoring signal.

[0104] More specifically, based on the data received, the second processing block 17 detects events, preferably critical events, and acts, in an autonomous manner, by adjusting and / or monitoring the advancement of the transport units 8 in and / or out of the station, preferably on drives 150 or on brakes 151 of the ropeway transport system 1 so as to increase or reduce the advancement speed and / or stop the advancement of the transport units 8 based on said detected events.

[0105] In an alternative embodiment, the second processing block 17, based on the data received, detects events, preferably critical ones, and indicates to an operator that a critical event has occurred and preferably indicates which critical event has occurred via the monitoring signal. The second block 17 preferably sends the monitoring signal to a user interface 200 or to an audible alarm 201, for example a siren, and / or visual alarm, for example a flashing signal, preferably a coloured one.

[0106] In particular, the second processing block 17 is configured to receive at least one value of at least one of the parameters mentioned above, preferably the area in which said parameters were detected, and compare it with at least one threshold of the respective parameter of the respective area to detect at least one event selected from the group of events comprising: user entering a restricted area and / or free areas and / or security areas; user not in the correct position or orientation in the boarding area and / or disembarkation area; user falling from a seat before, during or after boarding; user falling from a seat before, during or after disembarkation; number of users in excess of the transport unit capacity in a particular area, in particular in a boarding area; user falling from a transport unit before the disembarkation area; user falling from a transport unit after the boarding area; user remaining on the transport unit after the disembarkation area; incorrect position of the fall arrest device 10a; incorrect door position (open or closed) depending on the area; user entering the disembarkation area from outside the station, especially users other than those disembarked from the transport unit; user incorrectly seated on the transport unit 8 especially on the chair; user on the ground in the disembarkation and / or boarding area; child boarding system not activated despite a user being classified as a child (preferably less than the height threshold); prediction of collision between one or more users and transport unit 8; number of users boarded in the boarding station different to the number of users disembarked in the disembarkation station.

[0107] In one or more embodiments, one or more or all of the events minus one may be omitted from the group of events illustrated above. Accordingly, the invention also concerns the detection of one of the events mentioned above or a group of them.

[0108] Furthermore, in an optional and non-limiting embodiment of this invention the second processing block 17 receives the data from the LIDAR 71 (Figure 5) detecting the fall of a user or something else from a transport unit 8, preferably a chair prior to the disembarkation area or detecting the fall into a ditch during boarding and / or disembarkation in a transport unit 8, preferably a cabin, and in the event that the LIDAR 71 detects one of these events, the second processing block 17 stops the movement of the transport units 8 independently of the data received from the other devices 50, 60, 80, 90 and / or the first processing group 16. In an optional embodiment, the second processing block 17 stops the movement of the transport units 8 when both the LIDAR 71 and the first processing block 16 detect that a user has fallen from a chair before the disembarkation area and / or into the common ditch during and / or after boarding and / or disembarkation into / from a cabin.

[0109] Furthermore, in an optional and non-limiting embodiment of this invention, the second processing block 17 receives the data from the sensing device 90 and if the sensing device 90 detects something, for example that a user is on a chair, the second processing block 17 stops the movement of the transport units 8 irrespective of the data received from the devices 60, 70, 80 and / or the first processing group 16. In an optional embodiment, the second processing block 17 stops the movement of the transport units 8 when both the sensor group 90 and the first processing block 16 detect that a user is on a chair after the disembarkation area.

[0110] In a preferred embodiment, the control system 12 implements diagnostic functions to verify the proper functioning of the control system 12 itself and to ensure a safety level that is at least SIL1.

[0111] In particular, the first sensor group 50 is configured to detect the position and / or speed of the transport units 8 along the internal path 5b of the at least one station 3, 4 and send the position and / or speed of the transport units 8 to the second processing block 17. The first processing block 16 is configured to determine the position and / or speed of the transport units 8 along the internal path 5b and send this data to the second processing block 17. The second processing block 17 compares the position and / or speed data of the transport units 8 received from the sensor group 50 and from the first processing block 16, preferably cyclically, to check whether they are consistent with each other, in particular whether the position and / or speed detected by the sensor group 50 and / or the rope speed detection device (coupled with at least one of the pulleys) and the first processing block 16 coincide with each other or differ in absolute value by less than a certain threshold, and if not, detect a malfunction.

[0112] In an optional but non-limiting embodiment of this invention, the second processing block 17 receives data from the gate group 60 indicating the number of users entering the boarding station 3 and, preferably, whether they are adults or children and, preferably, whether they are taller or shorter than a certain height. It then compares said data with the data detected by the first processing block 16 in particular the parameter detected by the first processing block 16 relating to the number of users present in the boarding area, in order to verify whether the two data are consistent, preferably to verify whether the number of users detected in the boarding area by the first processing block 16 coincides with the number of users detected by the sensor group 60, and preferably whether the number of adults and children detected coincides, i.e. the number of users who have passed through the gates 61 in a given period of time. In the event that this comparison is unsuccessful, the second processing block 17 signals an error message relating to the first processing block 16 and / or the sensor group 60. In one embodiment, the second processing block 17 compares the number of users detected by one or more gates 61 with the number of passengers detected by the first processing block 16 and defines an error signal if the difference is greater than at least one threshold value.

[0113] In an optional but non-limiting embodiment of this invention, the second processing block 17 receives data from the LIDAR group 70 and the processing group 16 and verifies that the parameters relating to the users detected and the areas in which those users are detected by the LIDAR group 70 and the processing group 16 coincide with each other and, if not, defines an error signal relating to the first processing group 16 and / or the sensor group 70. In particular, the second processing block 17 receives data regarding the presence of users of the at least one area of the group of areas indicated above both from the first processing group 16 that extracts them from the images of the cameras 14 and from the LIDAR group 70 that obtains them from one or more LIDARs 71 arranged as in Figures 4 and / or 5 and verifies that the number of users detected by the first processing group 16 in one or more areas coincides with the number of users detected by the LIDARs 71 in the same areas and in a given time period.

[0114] In an optional but non-limiting embodiment of this invention, the first processing group 16 is configured to detect the position of the fall arrest device 10a in the approach area from the images detected by the camera(s) 14 framing the approach area. The second processing block 17 receives data from the sensing device 80 relating to the position of the fall arrest device 10a, preferably a fall arrest bar of the chair or a door in the cabin, and from the processing group 16 and verifies that the data received from the two sensing systems (first processing block 16 and sensing device 80) are consistent with each other, preferably that they coincide. If not, the second processing block 17 defines an error signal for the first processing group 16 and / or the sensing device 80.

[0115] In an optional but non-limiting embodiment of this invention, the first processing group 16 is configured to detect the presence of a user on a chair in the area subsequent to the disembarkation area from the images detected by the video camera(s) 14 framing the area subsequent to the disembarkation area. The second processing block 17 receives data from the sensing device 90 relating to the presence of a user on a chair and from the processing group 16 and checks whether the data received from the various devices are consistent with each other, preferably that they coincide. If not, the second processing block 18 defines an error signal for the first processing group 16 and / or the sensing device 80.

[0116] The control system 12 comprises a watchdog for the first processing block 16 and / or the second processing block 17 and / or one of the two acts as a watchdog for the other and sends an error message in the event that one of the two devices does not respond correctly.

[0117] The first processing block 16 is configured to analyse the images it receives from the optical acquisition unit 13 and detect if one or more cameras 14 are not functioning properly, for example they have a dirty optical unit and / or they are not sending images and / or they are blocked and always send the same image without updating it and / or they are not sending images and / or they are sending low-quality images and / or they are sending blurred images and / or they are sending low-resolution images.

[0118] In addition, the first processing block 16 sends information concerning the operating status of the first processing block 16, for example normal execution, initialisation, one or more errors, to the second processing block 17.

[0119] It is, finally, apparent that variations can be made to this invention without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

Examples

Embodiment Construction

[0025]With reference to Figure 1, reference number 1 shows a ropeway transport system. Figure 1 shows an aerial ropeway transport system; however, the invention also applies to land-based ropeway transport systems, such as, without imposing limits, funicular railways.

[0026]In the case described and illustrated here, which does not limit this invention, the transport system 1 is a single-rope one and comprises a single rope 2 that performs the two-fold function of supporting rope and hauling rope.

[0027]In accordance with additional embodiments, not shown in the attached figures, the transport system 1 may be of the "dual-cable" and "tri-cable" type, wherein the transport system 1 also comprises one or two supporting ropes in addition to the hauling rope.

[0028]The transport system 1 comprises a first terminal station or downstream station 3 and a second terminal station or upstream station 4. In particular, the downstream station 3 and the upstream station 4 are equipped with respecti...

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This patent application claims priority from Italian patent application no. 102024000008350 filed on April 12, 2024, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.TECHNICAL SECTOR

[0002] This invention relates to a system and method of controlling a ropeway transport system. In addition, this invention relates to a ropeway transportation system, preferably aerial, comprising said control system.STATE OF THE ART

[0003] As is well known, aerial ropeway transport systems are used in ski / mountain resort areas, where aerial ropeway transport systems are referred to as ski lifts. In any case, the aerial ropeway transport systems also find advantageous application in urban contexts where the ground transport is congested.

[0004] In known aerial ropeway transport systems, the passengers and / or sports equipment are transported along a predefined path by means of one or more transport units, one after another, between two terminal stations, also known as upstream and downstream stations, located at the ends of the transport system and wherein the passengers safely board and disembark on / from the transport units.

[0005] In addition, ropeway transport systems can also transport goods and / or construction materials.

[0006] In particular, the term "aerial" means ropeway systems wherein the transport units are moved and supported by at least one rope in a raised position above the underlying ground or in relation to any other underlying structures.

[0007] By way of example, the transport systems may be chairlifts, in which each transport unit comprises a seat for accommodating one or more passengers, or gondolas, in which each transport unit comprises a cabin for accommodating one or more passengers.

[0008] The aerial ropeway transport systems currently known may be of the "single-cable" type, wherein the supporting rope also performs the function of hauling rope. Otherwise, they may be of the "dual-cable" or "tri-cable" type, wherein there are, respectively, one or two supporting ropes in addition to the hauling rope.

[0009] As known, the hauling rope is sent in a loop and moved between the two terminal stations and, in the case of single-cable transport systems, the transport units comprise special devices (for example, clamps) for staying coupled

[0010] (clamped) to the rope at least in the section beyond the stations. Typically, in fact, in the terminal stations, the transport units are unhooked (unclamped) from the hauling rope to proceed at a lower speed along another predefined path so as to enable the safe disembarking and boarding of passengers, without slowing the transport units moving along the predefined path beyond the stations.

[0011] The terminal stations (upstream or downstream) are permanently overseen by an operator during the operation of the ropeway transport system. Each station operator must supervise the correct operation of the system and weather conditions in order to act on the system by slowing down the advancement speed of the transport units and / or stopping the advancement of the transport units according to the operating conditions of the system and / or the events they detect.

[0012] By way of example: each operator monitors that passengers board or disembark correctly from transport units and / or that passengers do not enter areas not authorised for passenger access. By way of example, when a passenger falls in the boarding or disembarking zone of the transport system, the operator activates an emergency command, stopping the movement of the hauling rope, or if they see that people are having difficulty boarding or disembarking, they slow down the advancement speed of the transport units within the station, or if the operator notices that some people have entered a no-entry zone, they can stop the system to prevent harm to those people.

[0013] One of the drawbacks of the prior art is that the operator may not notice or notice late an event requiring their intervention and, consequently, may not act on the system in an appropriate or timely manner depending on the event not correctly recognised or recognised late.

[0014] Another drawback is that the presence of an operator at each station entails a high system operating cost due to the hourly cost of each operator at each station of the system. Moreover, these operators are difficult to recruit.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0015] One purpose of this invention is to provide a control system of a ropeway transport system that reduces or solves at least one of the above-mentioned drawbacks.

[0016] In accordance with this invention, a control system of a ropeway transport system is provided according to one of the claims from 1 to 17.

[0017] By means of this invention, the control system is able to detect events, in particular critical events, and to act by adjusting the advancement of the transport units, in particular by increasing or reducing the advancement speed and / or by stopping the advancement, according to the detected events independently or together with the intervention of a station operator. Alternatively or in addition, the control system, once it has detected the event, particularly a critical one, can alert the operator and preferably indicate an action to be taken.

[0018] By means of this invention, a control system is provided that can detect one or more critical events and act to stop or slow down the system and / or alert the operator to this event by means of an audible and / or visual warning and / or by means of a message on a user interface, for example on a screen.

[0019] An additional purpose of this invention is to provide a ropeway transport system that mitigates or overcomes at least one of the drawbacks highlighted above.

[0020] In accordance with this invention, a ropeway transport system is provided according to claim 18.

[0021] An additional purpose of this invention is to provide a method of controlling a ropeway transport system that mitigates at least one of the drawbacks of the prior art highlighted here.

[0022] In accordance with this invention, a method for controlling a ropeway transport system is provided according to claim 19.

[0023] With this method, it is possible to assist the operator in controlling a ropeway transport system or to make the operation of a ropeway transport system autonomous without the use of an operator or by reducing the number of operators required.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] Additional features and advantages of this invention are defined in the dependent claims and will be apparent from the following description of a non-limiting embodiment thereof, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a schematic view with parts removed for clarity of a ropeway transport system produced according to this invention; and Figure 2 is a schematic view with parts removed for clarity of a portion of a station, in particular the disembarkation station, of the ropeway transport system in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a block diagram of a system for controlling the ropeway transport system in Figure 1; Figure 4 is a schematic view with parts removed for clarity of a portion of a station, in particular the boarding station, of the ropeway transport system in Figure 1; Figure 5 is a schematic view from above with parts removed for clarity of a portion of a station, in particular the disembarkation station, of the ropeway transport system in Figure 1; Figure 6 is a schematic, side view, with parts shown in cross section and parts removed for clarity, of the system in Figure 5. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0025] With reference to Figure 1, reference number 1 shows a ropeway transport system. Figure 1 shows an aerial ropeway transport system; however, the invention also applies to land-based ropeway transport systems, such as, without imposing limits, funicular railways.

[0026] In the case described and illustrated here, which does not limit this invention, the transport system 1 is a single-rope one and comprises a single rope 2 that performs the two-fold function of supporting rope and hauling rope.

[0027] In accordance with additional embodiments, not shown in the attached figures, the transport system 1 may be of the "dual-cable" and "tri-cable" type, wherein the transport system 1 also comprises one or two supporting ropes in addition to the hauling rope.

[0028] The transport system 1 comprises a first terminal station or downstream station 3 and a second terminal station or upstream station 4. In particular, the downstream station 3 and the upstream station 4 are equipped with respective pulleys, at least one of which is motorised.

[0029] With reference to Figure 1, it is possible to see a portion of the upstream station 4, in which the rope 2 is looped by means of the two pulleys, at least one of which is driven by a drive, so as to identify a predefined path 5 comprising an ascending branch 6 and a descending branch 7. The arrows A and B shown in Figure 1 indicate the forward directions of the ascending 6 and descending 7 branches.

[0030] The transport system 1 comprises at least one transport unit 8 that is configured to transport passengers along the predefined external path 5a outside the stations and a predefined internal path 5b inside (Figure 2) the stations.

[0031] In a preferred but non-limiting embodiment of this invention, the transport units 8 are clamped to the hauling rope 2 along the external path 5a to the stations and are unclamped from the hauling rope 2 along the internal path 5b inside the stations 3, 4.

[0032] In particular, when the transport units 8 enter one of the stations 3, 4, they are unclamped from the hauling rope 3 and are moved forward by an auxiliary advancement system along the predefined path 5b to move the transport units 8 at a lower speed than the predefined path 5a and facilitate the boarding or disembarking of passengers. Similarly, when the transport units 8 are in the vicinity of the station exit, and after the passengers have disembarked, in the case of a disembarkation station, or boarded, in the case of a boarding station, the transport units 8 are clamped to the hauling rope 2 and leave the station 3, 4 to be advanced by the hauling rope 2 along the predefined path 5a.

[0033] In accordance with a variant of this invention, not shown in the attached figures, the transport unit 8 is configured to transport objects and / or sports equipment.

[0034] In particular, the transport system 1 comprises multiple transport units 8, arranged one after the other along both the ascent 6 and descent 7 branches of the predefined path 5a.

[0035] In the case described and illustrated here, which does not limit this invention, each transport unit 8 comprises a seat 9 for passengers and an anti-fall device 10a (Figure 6), typically a safety bar that can be raised, to prevent the fall of passengers during their transport along the predefined path 5. In this configuration, the transport system 1 is called a chair lift.

[0036] In accordance with additional embodiments, not shown in the figures attached, each transport unit 8 can assume a wide range of different configurations. By way of example, each transport unit 8 may comprise a cabin for transporting passengers along the predefined path 5. In this configuration, the transport system 1 is called a cable car. In this case, there are doors in place of the anti-fall device 10a.

[0037] With reference to Figure 3, the transport system 1 comprises a control system 12 of the ropeway transport system 1.

[0038] With reference to Figure 3, the control system 12 comprises an optical acquisition unit 13 for acquiring images and / or video of at least one portion of the transport system 1, in particular a portion of a boarding and / or disembarking station of the ropeway transport system 1; a processing group 15 comprising a first processing block 16 and a second processing block 17.

[0039] In particular, the control system 12 may comprise a single processing unit with only one software program that performs the functions of the first processing block 16 and the second processing block 17, or two processing units with two separate software programs in which each of the two performs the functions of the first processing block 16 or the second processing block 17, respectively, or one or more processing units with one or more software programs in which a group of these performs the functions of the first processing block 16 and another group of these performs the functions of the second processing block 17.

[0040] In a preferred but non-limiting embodiment of this invention, the control system 12 is configured to subdivide one or more areas to be monitored into multiple areas to be monitored.

[0041] For example, one area to be monitored is the boarding area of a boarding station 3. Another area to be monitored is the disembarkation area of a disembarkation station 4.

[0042] In some cases, the station may be both for boarding and disembarking and, consequently, may have a boarding area and a disembarking area to monitor.

[0043] In a preferred, non-limiting embodiment of this invention, one area to be monitored is the disembarkation station 4 and preferably the at least one area to be monitored is selected from the group of areas to be monitored comprising: vehicle entrance area into the station and / or adjacent station; one or more areas forbidden to users; approach area; disembarkation area; passenger exit ramp from the station; operator area.

[0044] In a preferred, non-limiting embodiment of this invention, one area to be monitored is the boarding station 3 and, preferably, the at least one area to be monitored is selected from the group of areas to be monitored comprising: approach area; boarding area; passenger entrance area into the station; vehicle exit area from the station / adjacent station; one or more areas forbidden to users; operator area.

[0045] The boarding area is preferably located at the boarding station 3, which is usually downstream, to allow passengers to board each transport unit 8.

[0046] The disembarkation area is preferably located at the disembarkation station, which is usually upstream, to allow passengers to disembark from each transport unit 8.

[0047] It is understood that, in accordance with this invention, the boarding area may be arranged at the upstream station 4 and the disembarkation area may be arranged at the downstream station 3 or the boarding area and the disembarkation area may both be arranged at the downstream station 3 and / or at the upstream station 4.

[0048] In accordance with an additional embodiment of this invention, which is not shown in the attached figures, the transport system 1 comprises at least one intermediate station arranged between the downstream station 3 and the upstream station 4. In this configuration, the transport system 1 may comprise an additional boarding area and / or an additional disembarkation area, arranged at said intermediate station.

[0049] In a preferred, non-limiting embodiment of this invention, one area to be monitored is the boarding and disembarkation station and, preferably, the at least one area to be monitored is selected from the group of areas to be monitored comprising: vehicle exit area from the station and / or adjacent station; vehicle entrance area into the station and / or adjacent station; one or more areas forbidden to users; boarding approach area and / or disembarkation approach area; boarding area; entry area; disembarkation area; exit ramp; operator area.

[0050] In accordance with an alternative embodiment, not shown in the attached figures, the transport system 1 comprises an object loading / unloading area configured to allow the loading / unloading of objects on each transport unit 8 or only on some transport units 8 of the plurality of transport units 8 and preferably but without imposing limits said area may be one of the areas to be monitored.

[0051] In one or more preferred embodiments of this invention, one or more or all but one of the areas illustrated above may be omitted. Accordingly, the invention also concerns the monitoring of only one of the above-mentioned areas or a group of them.

[0052] In one preferred embodiment, the optical acquisition unit 13 comprises at least one camera 14 and / or video camera (Figure 5) pointing to at least one portion of a boarding and / or disembarking station of the transport system and is configured to acquire images and / or video of the at least said one portion of the transport system. In an optional and non-limiting embodiment of this invention, the camera is a 3D camera. In a preferred but non-limiting embodiment, the optical acquisition unit 13 comprises multiple cameras 14 (Fig. 5), in particular one or more cameras framing the at least one area to be monitored as defined above, preferably more than one area from among the areas indicated above.

[0053] In a preferred but non-limiting embodiment of this invention, the optical unit 13 is configured to capture several images for one or more of the monitored areas or portions thereof through at least two cameras 14 pointing at the same area or portion thereof.

[0054] By way of non-limiting example only, the optical acquisition unit 13 may comprise one or more cameras framing a boarding area and / or a disembarkation area B1; and / or one or more cameras framing an approach area B2; and / or one or more cameras framing an area after the boarding area; and / or one or more cameras framing an area after the disembarkation area; and / or one or more cameras framing an area near the entrance to the entry station B3 and / or an area near the exit to the exit station; and / or one or more cameras framing the exit ramp B4; and / or one or more cameras framing the user entry area; and / or one or more cameras framing the area after the disembarkation area; and / or one or more cameras framing a user-free area B5; and / or one or more cameras framing the operator area; and / or one or more cameras framing one or more user-free areas. In particular, the areas described above define examples of areas to be monitored, and each of the areas indicated above may also consist of multiple non-adjacent portions of an area. In addition, one or more of the areas to be monitored described above may be omitted according to embodiments of this invention.

[0055] More specifically, the first processing block 16 is configured to receive images from the optical acquisition unit 13, process said images and define at least one value of at least one parameter related to the system and / or users of the system based on the processing of said images.

[0056] For example, but without imposing limits, the first processing block 16 is connected in communication with the optical acquisition unit 13, receives images from the optical acquisition unit 13 and determines from the images at least one value of at least one parameter selected from the group of parameters comprising: presence of transport units 8 preferably in an area to be monitored or in a portion of the area to be monitored; number of transport units 8 present; user and / or operator presence preferably in an area to be monitored or in a portion of the area to be monitored; number of users and / or operators in the area to be monitored; transport unit travel speed 8; transport unit position 8; user and / or operator position; movement speed of user and / or operator; degree to which a user is sitting, preferably in an area to be monitored or in a portion of the area to be monitored; degree to which a user is standing, preferably in an area to be monitored or in a portion of the area to be monitored; degree of standing inclination of the user's lower body, preferably to describe the degree to which a user is standing, preferably in an area to be monitored or in a portion of the area to be monitored; degree of upright inclination of the user's upper body (preferably to describe the degree to which a user is standing) preferably in an area to be monitored or in a portion of the area to be monitored; height of the user's ankles above the ground preferably in an area to be monitored or in a portion of the area to be monitored; height of the user's hip from the ground preferably in an area to be monitored or in a portion of the area to be monitored; distance between user or user group and the transport unit preferably closest to the user and / or user group and / or the one from which the user or user group has disembarked or is boarding; direction of user and / or operator movement; direction and / or speed of user and / or operator movement; user and / or operator orientation; user classification, in particular as adult or child preferably according to height; number of users taller than a height threshold, preferably 120 cm preferably in an area to be monitored or in a portion of the area to be monitored, preferably in the boarding or disembarkation area; number of users lower than a height threshold, preferably 120 cm preferably in an area to be monitored or in a portion of the area to be monitored, preferably in the boarding or disembarkation area.

[0057] In one or more preferred embodiments of this invention, one or more or all of the parameters minus one may be omitted from the group of parameters illustrated above. Accordingly, the invention also concerns the definition of only one of the parameters indicated above or a group of them.

[0058] In a preferred but non-limiting embodiment of this invention, the first processing block 16 is configured to detect at least one of the parameters selected from the group of parameters indicated above in at least one of the areas of the group of areas indicated above and / or in at least one of the areas (or portions thereof) of the group of areas indicated above.

[0059] The first processing block 16 preferably detects the at least one parameter selected from the group of parameters indicated above in one or more of the areas indicated above and / or in the at least one area selected from the group of areas indicated above (or portions thereof) separately and independently for each area and sends the parameter detected and the zone and / or area and / or portion of the area in which it was detected to the second processing block 17.

[0060] In a preferred embodiment, the first processing block 16 defines from the images for the at least one parameter selected in the above-mentioned group of parameters at least one value representing a group of users present in a given area or portion of an area and not per individual user, preferably up to a number of users equal to the seats in each transport unit 8. In particular, the value representing the user group is a function of the value of each individual user in that user group.

[0061] In one embodiment, the first processing block 16 defines two representative (aggregate) values of a group of users present in a given area or a portion of an area and not per individual user, preferably up to a number of users equal to the seats of each transport unit 8, in particular a first value and a second value indicative respectively of the minimum value of said parameter detected among the users of said group of users at a given instant of time and the maximum value of said parameter detected among the users of said group of users at a given instant of time. In this embodiment, the first processing block 16 sends the at least one value (and / or the minimum value and / or the maximum value) of the user group, together with the values for each user or alternatively the values for each user, to the second processing block 17 for the at least one parameter selected from the group of parameters indicated above.

[0062] By way of non-limiting embodiment, for the user seating position parameter, the first processing block 16 defines from the images a representative value for a group of users in an area or portion thereof, preferably the disembarkation area and / or exit ramp. In particular, the value representing the user group is a function of the value of each individual user in that user group. The first processing block 16 preferably defines the minimum value and the maximum value of the overall seating position detected among the users at a given instant of time of said user group and sends them to the second processing block 17.

[0063] By way of non-limiting embodiment, for the standing position parameter, the first processing block 16 defines from the images a representative value for a group of users in an area or portion thereof, preferably the disembarkation area and / or exit ramp. In particular, the value representing the user group is a function of the value of each individual user in that user group. The first processing block 16 preferably defines the minimum value and the maximum value of the overall standing position detected among the users at a given instant of time of said user group and sends them to the second processing block 17.

[0064] In a preferred but non-limiting embodiment of this invention, the first processing block 16 is configured to process said images, preferably using a neural network with an artificial intelligence algorithm to define the at least one parameter value. In this embodiment, the first block comprises a processing unit, in particular a GPU or CPU, or a portion thereof, on which an object detection algorithm runs that recognises certain parameters in the images, preferably delimits them with a polygonal shape, and defines and assigns to each detected parameter a probability of correspondence with respect to the defined given parameter. For example, the first processing block detects a transport unit from the images and assigns a probability to said detection. As another example, the first processing block detects a user and assigns a probability to said detection. Examples can be defined for all the parameters identified above. In a preferred but non-limiting embodiment of this invention, the first block comprises a convolutional neural network (CNN) to define parameters and match probabilities.

[0065] In accordance with one, non-limiting embodiment of this invention, the first processing block 16 comprises neural networks configured to be trained to recognise the different types of parameters as a function of images and / or videos. More specifically, the training and / or verification of the artificial intelligence algorithm involves providing as input a plurality of images and / or videos of parameters to be detected in one or more areas of a boarding and / or disembarking station of the transport system 1 and manually assigning, or by means of other sensors or groups of sensors, the parameter and its indicative value to be detected in each image and / or each video. Examples might include some of the devices described below with reference numbers 50, 60, 70, 80 and 90, and / or other sensors or groups of sensors installed only for training and / or verification of the artificial intelligence algorithm and subsequently removed.

[0066] In an alternative embodiment, the first processing block 16 uses computer vision programs to detect at least one value of the at least one parameter mentioned above instead of artificial intelligence.

[0067] In a preferred but non-limiting embodiment of this invention, which can be combined with the preceding embodiments, in order to define the parameters identified above, the first processing block 16, by means of said algorithm, may detect and classify differently left and / or right and / or upper and / or lower portions of an object detected, assign a matching probability relative to the classification of the object detected and / or the portions of the object detected.

[0068] In a preferred but non-limiting embodiment of this invention, which can be combined with the preceding embodiments, in order to define the parameters identified above the first processing block 16, by means of said algorithm, may detect and classify people within the images, detect and classify parts of the human body, preferably detect and separately classify left and / or right and / or upper and / or lower parts and / or arms and / or shoulders and / or legs and / or the pelvis and / or also and / or ankles of the human body, assign a matching probability relative to the classification of the person detected and / or the portions of the human body detected.

[0069] In a preferred but non-limiting embodiment of this invention that can be combined with the previous embodiments, the first processing block 16 uses a pose estimation or 3D pose estimation algorithm.

[0070] In a preferred but non-limiting embodiment of this invention and with reference to Figures 3 to 6, the control system 12 comprises a group of sensors 50 for detecting the position of the transport units 8 within at least one portion of the boarding and / or disembarkation station 3, 4 of the transport system 1. The sensor group 50 preferably comprising at least one sensor 51 included in the sensor group: position sensors, proximity sensors.

[0071] In a preferred but non-limiting embodiment of this invention, the control system 12 comprises a sensing device (not illustrated in the figures) coupled to one of the two pulleys to calculate the position and / or speed of the transport units 8 along the external path 5a at the stations and / or the speed and metres of the ropeway 2, in particular the sensing device sends some or all of said information to the second processing block 17. The detection device preferably detects the speed of the hauling rope 2 and its position relative to a reference position.

[0072] By way of non-limiting example of this invention, the sensor group 50 comprises multiple sensor units 51, for example position or proximity sensors, arranged along the auxiliary handling mechanism arranged along the internal path 5b to the boarding and / or disembarkation station(s) 3, 4 to detect the position and / or speed of each transport unit 8 and send it to the second processing block 17. In a preferred but non-limiting embodiment of this invention, the sensor units 51 are arranged non-uniformly along the path 5b and the distance between the sensor units 51 is preferably reduced from the station entrance area to the boarding / disembarkation area and increased from the boarding / disembarkation area to the exit area. It should be noted that the sensor group 50 is preferred but not essential to this invention, so it may be omitted.

[0073] In a preferred but non-limiting embodiment of this invention and with reference to Figure 4, the control system 12 comprises a user entry gate group 60 comprising one or more entry gates 61 for detecting the number of users entering the boarding station and preferably distinguishing between adults and children, preferably on the basis of height. It should be noted that the gate group 60 is preferred but not essential to this invention, so it may be omitted.

[0074] In a preferred but non-limiting embodiment of this invention, the control system 12 comprises a LIDAR group 70 comprising one or more LIDARs 71 at one or more of the boarding and / or disembarkation stations to detect each user and preferably their position and preferably their movement at one or more of the stations.

[0075] In a preferred but non-limiting embodiment of this invention, and with reference to Figures 5 and 6, the LIDAR group 70 comprises a LIDAR 71 for detecting a user's falling from the transport unit 8, in particular from a chair, prior to the disembarkation area, then one or more areas extending from the station entrance of the transport unit 8 to the disembarkation area, in which the disembarkation area is not included.

[0076] In a preferred but non-limiting embodiment not illustrated in the accompanying figures, the LIDAR group 70 comprises a LIDAR 71 for detecting when a user falls from the transport unit 8, in particular from a chair, into an area comprising the boarding area and thereafter.

[0077] In a preferred but non-limiting embodiment not illustrated in the accompanying figures, the LIDAR group 70 comprises a LIDAR 71 for detecting when a user falls from the transport unit 8, in particular from a chair, into any area with a greater fall risk.

[0078] In a preferred but non-limiting embodiment of this invention, the control system 12 comprises a LIDAR for detecting when a user falls into a ditch during boarding a transport unit 8, in particular a gondola; therefore, the LIDAR monitors one or more zones extending into the ditch located below the path 5b within the boarding station.

[0079] It should be noted that the LIDAR group 70 and one or more of the LIDARs 71 mentioned above are preferred but not essential to this invention; therefore, one or more or all of the LIDARs 71 mentioned above may be omitted.

[0080] In a preferred but non-limiting embodiment of this invention, the control system 12 comprises a detection device 80 for detecting the opening and / or closing of the fall arrest device 10a, in particular for detecting the position of the bar for chairs or the closing or opening of one or more doors for the cabins. It should be noted that the sensing device 80 is preferred but not essential to this invention, so it may be omitted.

[0081] In a preferred but non-limiting embodiment of this invention, the control system 12 comprises a detection device 90 for detecting the presence of passengers on the transport unit 8 in an area subsequent to the disembarkation area and / or in the boarding area.

[0082] In an embodiment that is preferred where the transport unit is a chair, the sensing device 90 verifies that there are no users on the transport unit 8 in a zone subsequent to the disembarkation zone according to the direction of movement of the transport unit. For this purpose, the detection device 90 preferably comprises a photocell and / or a rope switch preferably positioned in said area subsequent to the disembarkation area and at an above-ground height such as to detect the lower part (feet and / or legs) of a user sitting on the chair and / or the footrest of the chair when it is in the lowered position; in fact, in at least one of the two cases, the beam of the photocell is interrupted or the normally taut rope is loosened or tugged and, consequently, the sensing device 90 detects this passage. This function is preferably activated only when a transport unit 8 enters said detection area and preferably when one or more of the sensors of the sensor group 50 detects that a transport unit is in said detection area. This detection is preferably only activated when the fall sensing device 80 is detected in the raised position.

[0083] In an embodiment that is preferred where the transport unit is a cabin, the sensing device 90 verifies that there are no users in the area, especially in the ditch, which is located beneath the transport units in the boarding area. For this purpose, the sensing device 90 comprises a detector, preferably a photocell and / or a LIDAR and / or a cable switch, located within the ditch, preferably at a height from the ground relative to the base of the ditch but preferably below the floor level of the boarding and / or disembarkation area, to detect a user's falling into the ditch during boarding and / or disembarkation into / from the cabin. This function is preferably activated only when a transport unit 8 enters said detection area and preferably when one or more of the sensors of the sensor group 50 detects that a transport unit is in said detection area.

[0084] It should be noted that one or more of the sensing devices 90 illustrated above are preferred but not essential to this invention; therefore, one or more sensing devices 90 may be omitted.

[0085] In a preferred but non-limiting embodiment of this invention, the control system 12 comprises one or more emergency posts 100 (Fig. 5) comprising one or more of the following devices: one or more cameras, an intercom for talking to an operator, and a stop button for stopping the movement of the transport units 8. The control system 12 preferably comprises fences 101 delimiting the boarding and / or disembarkation area of the boarding and / or disembarkation station in such a way as to define an obligatory path for boarding and / or disembarking users. One or more of the emergency posts 100 are preferably located on the disembarkation ramp B4, preferably at the end of the disembarkation ramp B4 and / or in the boarding area.

[0086] It should be noted that one or more of the emergency posts 100 and / or fences 101 delimiting the boarding and / or disembarkation area illustrated above are preferred but not essential to this invention, and may therefore be omitted.

[0087] The second processing block 17 is preferably a safety PLC.

[0088] The second processing block 17 is coupled in communication with the first processing block 16 and preferably with at least one device of the group of devices comprising: the sensor group 50, the gate group 60, the LIDAR group 70, the sensing device 80, the sensing device 90 for receiving the respective data.

[0089] The second processing block 17 is configured for receiving the at least one value of the at least one parameter from the first processing group 16 and preferably receiving the area or portion in which it was detected, preferably a degree of validity of said value, and comparing it with at least one threshold of the respective parameter and preferably of the respective area.

[0090] In a preferred but non-limiting embodiment of this invention, one or more of the threshold values is a function of the detected advancement speed of the transport units 8 along the internal path 5b and / or along the external path 5a.

[0091] In a preferred but non-limiting embodiment of this invention, one or more of the threshold values is a function of the detected position of advancement of the transport units 8 along the internal path 5b.

[0092] In a preferred but non-limiting embodiment of this invention, one or more of the threshold values are a function of time.

[0093] Accordingly, one or more of said threshold values are not constant but vary as time and / or the advancement speed and / or position of the transport units, preferably detected by the first processing block 16 and / or the sensor group 50, vary.

[0094] By way of non-limiting example, the second processing block 17 is configured to receive the at least one parameter from the group of parameters defined above and relating to individual users or groups of users.

[0095] The second processing block 17 preferably receives the at least one parameter of the group of parameters indicated above for a user or groups of users, preferably individually, for at least one of the areas of the group of areas indicated above of the subsequent boarding and / or disembarkation station areas identified above.

[0096] In a preferred embodiment, for at least one of the parameters indicated above the second processing block 17 receives from the first processing block 16 at least one representative value, preferably a minimum value and maximum value, of the group of users present in a given area or in a portion of an area and not per individual user, preferably individually for the at least one area of the group of areas indicated above.

[0097] By way of non-limiting example, the second processing block 17 receives the minimum value and the maximum value of the seating position for a group of users in an area or a portion of an area, preferably individually for the at least one area of the group of areas identified above, from the first processing block 16.

[0098] By way of non-limiting example, the second processing block 17 receives the minimum value and the maximum value of the standing inclination for a group of users in an area or a portion of an area, preferably individually for the at least one area of the group of areas indicated above, from the first processing block 16.

[0099] More specifically, the second processing block 17 is configured to control and / or monitor the operation of the ropeway transport system 1, preferably by generating a control and / or monitoring signal, based on the data received from the first processing block 16 and preferably from at least one device of the group of devices comprising: sensor group 50; gate group 60; LIDAR group 70; sensing device 80; sensing device 90; emergency posts 100, especially an emergency post 100 stop button.

[0100] In a preferred embodiment of this invention, the second processing block 17 is configured to control and / or monitor the operation of the ropeway transport system 1, preferably by generating a control and / or monitoring signal, based on the data received from the first processing block 16 and from the position of the transport units 8 detected along the internal path 5b from the sensor group 50, and, preferably but not necessarily, from at least one device selected from the group of devices comprising: gate group 60; LIDAR group 70; sensing device 80; sensing device 90; emergency posts 100, especially an emergency post 100 stop button. In this embodiment, the second processing block 17 is configured to compare the at least one parameter value received from the first processing block 16 with the at least one threshold value and / or to emit the control and / or monitoring signal only when the sensor group 50 has detected that a transport unit 8 has entered one of the areas to be monitored, and preferably verifies that the area in which the transport unit 8 was detected by the first sensor group 50 coincides with the area indicated by the first processing block 16.

[0101] In a preferred embodiment, the sensor group 50 defines trigger signals for the second processing block 17, in particular for comparison and / or emission of the control and / or monitoring signal.

[0102] In a preferred embodiment of this invention, the second processing block 17 is configured to control and / or monitor the operation of the ropeway transport system 1, preferably to generate a control and / or monitoring signal of the ropeway transport system 1, based on the data received from the first processing block 16 and from the gate group 60 and, preferably but not necessarily, from at least one device selected from the group of devices comprising: sensor group 50, LIDAR group 70, sensing device 80; sensing device 90. In this embodiment, the second processing block 17 is configured to compare the at least one parameter value received from the first processing block 16 with the at least one threshold value and / or to issue the control and / or monitoring signal when the gate group 60 has detected that at least one user has entered the boarding area.

[0103] In a preferred but non-limiting embodiment of this invention, the gate group 60, preferably one or more gates 61, defines a trigger signal for the second processing block 17, in particular for comparison and / or emission of the control and / or monitoring signal.

[0104] More specifically, based on the data received, the second processing block 17 detects events, preferably critical events, and acts, in an autonomous manner, by adjusting and / or monitoring the advancement of the transport units 8 in and / or out of the station, preferably on drives 150 or on brakes 151 of the ropeway transport system 1 so as to increase or reduce the advancement speed and / or stop the advancement of the transport units 8 based on said detected events.

[0105] In an alternative embodiment, the second processing block 17, based on the data received, detects events, preferably critical ones, and indicates to an operator that a critical event has occurred and preferably indicates which critical event has occurred via the monitoring signal. The second block 17 preferably sends the monitoring signal to a user interface 200 or to an audible alarm 201, for example a siren, and / or visual alarm, for example a flashing signal, preferably a coloured one.

[0106] In particular, the second processing block 17 is configured to receive at least one value of at least one of the parameters mentioned above, preferably the area in which said parameters were detected, and compare it with at least one threshold of the respective parameter of the respective area to detect at least one event selected from the group of events comprising: user entering a restricted area and / or free areas and / or security areas; user not in the correct position or orientation in the boarding area and / or disembarkation area; user falling from a seat before, during or after boarding; user falling from a seat before, during or after disembarkation; number of users in excess of the transport unit capacity in a particular area, in particular in a boarding area; user falling from a transport unit before the disembarkation area; user falling from a transport unit after the boarding area; user remaining on the transport unit after the disembarkation area; incorrect position of the fall arrest device 10a; incorrect door position (open or closed) depending on the area; user entering the disembarkation area from outside the station, especially users other than those disembarked from the transport unit; user incorrectly seated on the transport unit 8 especially on the chair; user on the ground in the disembarkation and / or boarding area; child boarding system not activated despite a user being classified as a child (preferably less than the height threshold); prediction of collision between one or more users and transport unit 8; number of users boarded in the boarding station different to the number of users disembarked in the disembarkation station.

[0107] In one or more embodiments, one or more or all of the events minus one may be omitted from the group of events illustrated above. Accordingly, the invention also concerns the detection of one of the events mentioned above or a group of them.

[0108] Furthermore, in an optional and non-limiting embodiment of this invention the second processing block 17 receives the data from the LIDAR 71 (Figure 5) detecting the fall of a user or something else from a transport unit 8, preferably a chair prior to the disembarkation area or detecting the fall into a ditch during boarding and / or disembarkation in a transport unit 8, preferably a cabin, and in the event that the LIDAR 71 detects one of these events, the second processing block 17 stops the movement of the transport units 8 independently of the data received from the other devices 50, 60, 80, 90 and / or the first processing group 16. In an optional embodiment, the second processing block 17 stops the movement of the transport units 8 when both the LIDAR 71 and the first processing block 16 detect that a user has fallen from a chair before the disembarkation area and / or into the common ditch during and / or after boarding and / or disembarkation into / from a cabin.

[0109] Furthermore, in an optional and non-limiting embodiment of this invention, the second processing block 17 receives the data from the sensing device 90 and if the sensing device 90 detects something, for example that a user is on a chair, the second processing block 17 stops the movement of the transport units 8 irrespective of the data received from the devices 60, 70, 80 and / or the first processing group 16. In an optional embodiment, the second processing block 17 stops the movement of the transport units 8 when both the sensor group 90 and the first processing block 16 detect that a user is on a chair after the disembarkation area.

[0110] In a preferred embodiment, the control system 12 implements diagnostic functions to verify the proper functioning of the control system 12 itself and to ensure a safety level that is at least SIL1.

[0111] In particular, the first sensor group 50 is configured to detect the position and / or speed of the transport units 8 along the internal path 5b of the at least one station 3, 4 and send the position and / or speed of the transport units 8 to the second processing block 17. The first processing block 16 is configured to determine the position and / or speed of the transport units 8 along the internal path 5b and send this data to the second processing block 17. The second processing block 17 compares the position and / or speed data of the transport units 8 received from the sensor group 50 and from the first processing block 16, preferably cyclically, to check whether they are consistent with each other, in particular whether the position and / or speed detected by the sensor group 50 and / or the rope speed detection device (coupled with at least one of the pulleys) and the first processing block 16 coincide with each other or differ in absolute value by less than a certain threshold, and if not, detect a malfunction.

[0112] In an optional but non-limiting embodiment of this invention, the second processing block 17 receives data from the gate group 60 indicating the number of users entering the boarding station 3 and, preferably, whether they are adults or children and, preferably, whether they are taller or shorter than a certain height. It then compares said data with the data detected by the first processing block 16 in particular the parameter detected by the first processing block 16 relating to the number of users present in the boarding area, in order to verify whether the two data are consistent, preferably to verify whether the number of users detected in the boarding area by the first processing block 16 coincides with the number of users detected by the sensor group 60, and preferably whether the number of adults and children detected coincides, i.e. the number of users who have passed through the gates 61 in a given period of time. In the event that this comparison is unsuccessful, the second processing block 17 signals an error message relating to the first processing block 16 and / or the sensor group 60. In one embodiment, the second processing block 17 compares the number of users detected by one or more gates 61 with the number of passengers detected by the first processing block 16 and defines an error signal if the difference is greater than at least one threshold value.

[0113] In an optional but non-limiting embodiment of this invention, the second processing block 17 receives data from the LIDAR group 70 and the processing group 16 and verifies that the parameters relating to the users detected and the areas in which those users are detected by the LIDAR group 70 and the processing group 16 coincide with each other and, if not, defines an error signal relating to the first processing group 16 and / or the sensor group 70. In particular, the second processing block 17 receives data regarding the presence of users of the at least one area of the group of areas indicated above both from the first processing group 16 that extracts them from the images of the cameras 14 and from the LIDAR group 70 that obtains them from one or more LIDARs 71 arranged as in Figures 4 and / or 5 and verifies that the number of users detected by the first processing group 16 in one or more areas coincides with the number of users detected by the LIDARs 71 in the same areas and in a given time period.

[0114] In an optional but non-limiting embodiment of this invention, the first processing group 16 is configured to detect the position of the fall arrest device 10a in the approach area from the images detected by the camera(s) 14 framing the approach area. The second processing block 17 receives data from the sensing device 80 relating to the position of the fall arrest device 10a, preferably a fall arrest bar of the chair or a door in the cabin, and from the processing group 16 and verifies that the data received from the two sensing systems (first processing block 16 and sensing device 80) are consistent with each other, preferably that they coincide. If not, the second processing block 17 defines an error signal for the first processing group 16 and / or the sensing device 80.

[0115] In an optional but non-limiting embodiment of this invention, the first processing group 16 is configured to detect the presence of a user on a chair in the area subsequent to the disembarkation area from the images detected by the video camera(s) 14 framing the area subsequent to the disembarkation area. The second processing block 17 receives data from the sensing device 90 relating to the presence of a user on a chair and from the processing group 16 and checks whether the data received from the various devices are consistent with each other, preferably that they coincide. If not, the second processing block 18 defines an error signal for the first processing group 16 and / or the sensing device 80.

[0116] The control system 12 comprises a watchdog for the first processing block 16 and / or the second processing block 17 and / or one of the two acts as a watchdog for the other and sends an error message in the event that one of the two devices does not respond correctly.

[0117] The first processing block 16 is configured to analyse the images it receives from the optical acquisition unit 13 and detect if one or more cameras 14 are not functioning properly, for example they have a dirty optical unit and / or they are not sending images and / or they are blocked and always send the same image without updating it and / or they are not sending images and / or they are sending low-quality images and / or they are sending blurred images and / or they are sending low-resolution images.

[0118] In addition, the first processing block 16 sends information concerning the operating status of the first processing block 16, for example normal execution, initialisation, one or more errors, to the second processing block 17.

[0119] It is, finally, apparent that variations can be made to this invention without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

Examples

Embodiment Construction

[0025]With reference to Figure 1, reference number 1 shows a ropeway transport system. Figure 1 shows an aerial ropeway transport system; however, the invention also applies to land-based ropeway transport systems, such as, without imposing limits, funicular railways.

[0026]In the case described and illustrated here, which does not limit this invention, the transport system 1 is a single-rope one and comprises a single rope 2 that performs the two-fold function of supporting rope and hauling rope.

[0027]In accordance with additional embodiments, not shown in the attached figures, the transport system 1 may be of the "dual-cable" and "tri-cable" type, wherein the transport system 1 also comprises one or two supporting ropes in addition to the hauling rope.

[0028]The transport system 1 comprises a first terminal station or downstream station 3 and a second terminal station or upstream station 4. In particular, the downstream station 3 and the upstream station 4 are equipped with respecti...

Claims

1. A control system of a ropeway transport system, preferably an aerial transport system; wherein the ropeway transport system (1) comprising at least one hauling rope (2), at least one transport unit (8), at least one boarding and / or disembarking station (3, 4), wherein the at least one transport unit (8) is advanced along an external path (5a) to the at least one station (3, 4) and along an internal path (5b) to the at least one station (3, 4); the control system (12) comprising: - an optical acquisition unit (13), in particular comprising at least one camera and / or video camera (14), and configured to acquire images and / or videos of at least one portion of the at least one station (3, 4) of the ropeway system (1) and / or adjacent thereto; - preferably a first group of sensors (50) for detecting the position of the transport units (8) along an internal path (5b) to the at least one station of the transport system (1), in particular the group of sensors (50) comprising at least one sensor included in the group of sensors: position sensors, and proximity sensors; and - a processing group (15) comprising a first processing block (16) and a second processing block (17); wherein the first processing block (16) is connected in communication with the optical acquisition group (13) to receive images from the optical acquisition group (13), process said images, preferably by an artificial intelligence algorithm, and define a value of at least one parameter related to the system and / or users of the system based on the processing of said images; in which preferably the second processing block (17) is configured to receive data on the position of the transport unit (8) along the internal path (5b) to the at least station (3, 4) from the sensor group (50); in which the second processing block (17) is configured to receive the at least one parameter value from the first processing block (16) and compare it with at least one threshold value of the respective parameter; in which preferably the second processing block (17) is configured to receive at least one rope speed value from a speed detection device coupled to at least one of the pulleys of the ropeway; wherein the second processing block (17) being configured to control and / or monitor the operation of the ropeway transport unit (1), in particular by generating a control and / or monitoring signal, based on the comparison of the at least one value of the at least one parameter received from the first processing block (16) with at least one respective threshold value and preferably based on the data received from the sensor group (50), in particular so as to detect events, preferably critical events, and in particular to act by adjusting and / or monitoring the advancement of the transport units (8) in the station and / or out of the station, in particular by increasing or reducing the advancement speed and / or by stopping the advancement according to said detected events in an autonomous manner or by giving intervention indications to a station operator.

2. The control system of claim 1, in which the at least one parameter detected by the first processing block (16) from the images is selected from a parameter group comprising: presence of transport units (8) preferably in an area to be monitored or in a portion of the area to be monitored; number of transport units (8) in the area to be monitored; user and / or operator presence preferably in an area to be monitored or in a portion of the area to be monitored; number of users and / or operators in the area to be monitored; transport unit travel speed (8); transport unit position (8); user and / or operator position; movement speed of user and / or operator; degree to which a user is sitting, preferably in an area to be monitored or in a portion of the area to be monitored; degree to which a user is standing, preferably in an area to be monitored or in a portion of the area to be monitored; degree of standing inclination of the user's lower body, preferably to describe the degree to which a user is standing, preferably in an area to be monitored or in a portion of the area to be monitored; degree of upright inclination of the user's upper body, preferably to describe the degree to which a user is standing, preferably in an area to be monitored or in a portion of the area to be monitored; height of the user's ankles above the ground preferably in an area to be monitored or in a portion of the area to be monitored; height of the user's hip from the ground preferably in an area to be monitored or in a portion of the area to be monitored; distance between user or user group and the transport unit preferably closest to the user and / or user group and / or the one from which the user or user group has disembarked or is boarding; direction of user and / or operator movement; direction and / or speed of user and / or operator movement; user and / or operator orientation; user classification, in particular as adult or child preferably according to height; number of users taller than a height threshold, preferably 120 cm preferably in an area to be monitored or in a portion of the area to be monitored, preferably in the embarkation or disembarkation area; number of users lower than a height threshold, preferably 120 cm preferably in an area to be monitored or in a portion of the area to be monitored, preferably in the embarkation or disembarkation area.

3. The control system of claim 1, wherein the second processing block (17) is configured to detect the at least one preferably critical event, based on comparison with the at least one value of the at least one parameter received from the first processing block (16) with at least one respective threshold value and preferably based on data received from the sensor group (50), and control and / or monitor operation of the ropeway transport system (1) based on the at least one detected event; wherein the at least one detected event is selected from the group of events comprising: user entering a prohibited area and / or free areas and / or safety areas; user not in correct position or orientation in the boarding area and / or disembarkation area; user falling from a chair before, during or after boarding; user falling from a chair before, during or after disembarkation; number of users in excess of the transport unit capacity in a certain area; user falling from a transport unit before the disembarkation area; user falling from a transport unit after the boarding area; user remaining on the transport unit after the disembarkation area; incorrect position of fall arrest device 10a; incorrect door position (open or closed) depending on the area; user entering the disembarkation area from outside the station, especially users other than those disembarked from the transport unit; user incorrectly seated on the transport unit 8 especially on the chair; user on the ground in the disembarkation and / or boarding area; child boarding system not activated despite a user being classified as a child (preferably less than the height threshold); prediction of collision between one or more users and transport unit 8; number of users embarked in the boarding station different to the number of users disembarked in the disembarkation station.

4. The control system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein preferably the first processing block (16) is configured to detect a position and / or a travel speed of the transport units (8) along the internal path (5b) and / or the external path (5a); wherein said threshold values of the respective parameters are a function of the time and / or the travel speed and / or the position of the transport units (8) detected in particular along the internal path (5b) preferably by the first processing block (16) and / or the sensor group (50) and / or the rope speed detection device.

5. The control system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first processing block (16) defines from the images, for the at least one parameter, at least one value, preferably a minimum value and a maximum value, representative of a group of users that are in a given area or a portion of an area.

6. The control system of any one of the preceding claims, the first processing block (16) defines from the images at least one value, preferably the minimum value and the maximum value at a given instant of time, of the degree of the sitting position of the group of users in an area or portion thereof, preferably the disembarkation area and / or the exit ramp, and sends them to the second processing block (17) .

7. The control system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first processing block (16) defines from the images at least one value, preferably the minimum value and the maximum value at a given time instant, of the degree of inclination of the upright position of the group of users in an area or a portion of an area, preferably an approach area and / or a disembarkation area and / or an exit ramp of the at least one station (4, 5), and sends them to the second processing block (17).

8. The control system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first processing block (16) is configured to process said images to define the at least one value of the at least one parameter, preferably using a neural network with an artificial intelligence algorithm that performs a recognition of certain parameters in the images, preferably delimits them with boxes, and assigns to each detected parameter a probability of correspondence with respect to the defined parameter, preferably the training and / or verification of the artificial intelligence algorithm comprises providing as input a plurality of images and / or videos of parameters to be recognised in at least one area of the boarding and / or disembarking station of the transport system (1) and / or adjacent thereto, and assigning manually or by means of other sensors or groups of sensors the parameter and the relative indicative value to be detected in each image and / or to each video, preferably some of the sensors or groups of sensors may be those already installed in the ropeway system (1) and / or other sensors or groups of sensors installed only for training and / or verification of the artificial intelligence algorithm and subsequently removed.

9. The control system of any one of the preceding claims, comprising a first group of sensors (50) for detecting the position and / or speed of the transport units (8) along an internal path (5b) of the at least one station (4, 5), wherein the sensor group (50) comprises a plurality of sensor units (51), preferably position or proximity sensors, arranged along an internal path (5b) of the at least one station (3, 4); wherein the first group of sensors (50) is coupled in communication with the second processing block (17) to send the position and / or speed of the transport units (8) to the processing unit (17); the first processing block (16) is configured to determine the position and / or speed of the transport units (8) along the internal path (5b) and / or along the external path (5a); wherein the second processing block (17) compares the position and / or speed data of the transport units (8) received from the sensor group (50) and from the first processing block (16), preferably cyclically, to check whether they are consistent with each other, in particular whether the position and / or speed detected by the sensor group (50) and the first processing block (16) coincide with each other or differ in absolute value by less than a certain threshold, and if not, detect a malfunction.

10. The control system of any one of the preceding claims, the control system (12) comprising a user entry gate group (60) comprising one or more user entry gates (61) for detecting the number of users entering the boarding station and preferably distinguishing between adults and children, preferably on the basis of height; wherein the gate group (60) is coupled in communication with the second processing block (17) for sending the user data detected by the gate group (60) to the second processing block (17); preferably, the second processing block (17) receives the data from the gate group (60) and compares said data with the data detected by the first processing block (16) in particular the parameter detected by the first processing block (16) relating to the number of users that are in the boarding area and preferably whether adults or children, in order to verify whether the two data are consistent and if not to detect a malfunction of the first processing block (16) and / or the gate group (60).

11. The control system of any one of the preceding claims, comprising a LIDAR group (70) comprising one or more LIDARs (71) at one or more of the boarding and / or disembarkation stations (3, 4) for detecting each user and preferably their position and preferably their movement in one or more areas of the one or more stations (3, 4); in which the LIDAR group (70) is coupled to the second processing block (17) to send the data detected by the LIDAR group (70) to the second processing block (17); preferably the second processing block (17) being configured to compare the data received from the LIDAR group (70) and the data received from the first processing block (16) to check whether they are consistent with each other and if not to detect a malfunction of the first processing block (16) and / or the LIDAR group (70).

12. The control system of claim 10, wherein the LIDAR group (70) is configured to detect a user falling out of the transport unit (8), in particular out of a chair, preferably before a disembarkation area, and / or before or after the boarding area, and / or a user falling into a pit during boarding and / or disembarkation into / from a transport unit (8), in particular into a gondola; in which the LIDAR group (70) is configured to send the data to the second processing block (17) and in the event that a fall is detected stop the movement of the transport units (8).

13. The control system of any one of the preceding claims, comprising a sensing device (90) for detecting the presence of passengers on the transport unit (8) in an area subsequent to a disembarkation area and / or a boarding area; wherein the sensing device (90) is coupled to the second processing block (17) for sending the data detected; preferably, the second processing block (17) being configured to compare the data received from the sensing device (90) and the data received from the first processing block (16) to check if they are consistent with each other and if not, detect a malfunction of the first processing block (16) and / or the sensing device (90); the sensing device (90) preferably comprises a photocell and / or a cable switch positioned in said area subsequent to a disembarkation and / or boarding area at a height above the ground such as to detect the underside of a user sitting on the chair and / or the footrest of the chair when it is in a lowered position, preferably the detection is activated only when a transport unit (8) enters said detection area, preferably detected by a sensor group (50).

14. The control system of any one of the preceding claims, comprising one or more emergency posts (100) comprising one or more of the following devices: one or more cameras, an intercom for talking to an operator and a stop button for stopping the movement of the transport units (8); the control system (12) preferably comprising fences (101) delimiting the boarding and / or disembarkation station area so as to define an obligatory path for boarding and / or disembarking users; preferably one or more emergency posts 100 are located at a disembarkation ramp (B4), preferably the end of the disembarkation ramp (B4) and / or in the boarding area.

15. The control system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second processing block (17) is coupled in communication with the first processing block (16) and preferably to at least one of the selected devices in the device group: the sensor group (50), the gate group (60), the LIDAR group (70), the sensing device (80), the sensing device (90) to receive respective data and detect events based on the respective received data; wherein the second processing block (17) is configured to receive the at least one value of the at least one parameter from the first processing group (16) and preferably the area in which it was detected and compare it with the at least one threshold of the respective parameter and preferably the respective area, the second processing block (17) is configured to control and / or monitor the operation of the ropeway transport system (1), preferably generating a control and / or monitoring signal, based on data received from the first processing block (16) and preferably from at least one device selected from the group of devices comprising: sensor group (50), gate group (60), LIDAR group (70), sensing device (80), sensing device (90).

16. The control system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second processing block (17) is configured to control and / or monitor the operation of the ropeway transport system (1), preferably generate a control and / or monitoring signal, based on data received from the first processing block (16) and the sensor group (50), and preferably from at least one device selected from the group of devices comprising: gate group (60), LIDAR group (70), sensing device (80), sensing device (90); the second processing block (17) is configured to compare the parameter received from the first processing block (16) with the at least one threshold of the respective parameter, preferably related to the monitored area, and / or to output the control and / or monitoring signal based on the monitoring performed only when the sensor group (50) has detected that a transport unit (8) has entered one of the areas to be monitored, and preferably verifies that the area in which the transport unit (8) was detected by the first sensor group (50) coincides with the area indicated by the first processing block (16).

17. The control system of any one of the preceding claims, the second processing block (17) is configured to receive from the first processing group (16) the at least one value of the at least one parameter, the area in which said parameters were detected and preferably the time in which said parameter was detected, and compare it with at least one threshold of the respective parameter of the respective area, and preferably the time, to detect at least one event selected from the group of events comprising: user entering a restricted area and / or free areas and / or security areas; user not in the correct position or orientation in the boarding area and / or disembarkation area; user falling from a seat before, during or after boarding; user falling from a seat before, during or after disembarkation; number of users in excess of the transport unit capacity in a particular area; user falling from a transport unit before the disembarkation area; user falling from a transport unit after the boarding area; user remaining on the transport unit after the disembarkation area; incorrect position of the fall arrest device 10a; incorrect door position (open or closed) depending on the area; user entering the disembarkation area from outside the station, especially users other than those disembarked from the transport unit; user incorrectly seated on the transport unit 8 especially on the chair; user on the ground in the disembarkation and / or boarding area; child boarding system not activated despite a user being classified as a child (preferably less than the height threshold); prediction of collision between one or more users and transport unit 8; number of users boarded in the boarding station different to the number of users disembarked in the disembarkation station.

18. A ropeway transport system (1) comprising at least one hauling rope (2), at least one transport unit (8), at least one embarking and / or disembarking station (3, 4), wherein the at least one transport unit (8) is advanced along an external path (5a) to the at least one station (3, 4) and along an internal path (5b) to the at least one station (3, 4) and a control system of any one of the preceding claims.

19. A method of controlling a ropeway transport system, preferably an aerial transport system; wherein the ropeway transport system (1) comprising at least one hauling rope (2), at least one transport unit (8), at least one boarding and / or disembarkation station (3, 4), wherein the at least one transport unit (8) is advanced along an external path (5a) to the at least one station (3, 4) and along an internal path (5b) to the at least one station (3, 4); the method of controlling comprising the steps of: - capturing by means of at least one camera and / or video camera (14) images and / or videos of at least one portion of the at least one station (3, 4) of the ropeway system (1) and / or adjacent thereto; - preferably detecting by means of a first group of sensors (50) the position of the transport units (8) along an internal path (5b) to the at least one station of the transport system (1), in particular the group of sensors (50) comprising at least one sensor included in the group of sensors: position sensors, and proximity sensors; - preferably measuring the speed of the hauling rope (2); - processing said images, preferably by means of an artificial intelligence algorithm, and defining at least one value of at least one parameter related to the system and / or users of the system based on the processing of said images preferably by means of a first processing block; - comparing the at least one parameter value from the first processing block (16) with at least one threshold value of the respective parameter, preferably of the respective monitored portion of the station, preferably by means of a second processing block; - controlling and / or monitoring the operation of the ropeway transport system (1), in particular by generating a control and / or monitoring signal, based on the comparison between the at least one value of the at least one parameter obtained from the images and the at least one respective threshold value of said parameter and preferably based on the detected position of the transport units (8), in particular so as to detect events, preferably critical events, and in particular to act by adjusting and / or monitoring the advancement of the transport units (8) in the station and / or out of the station, in particular by increasing or reducing the advancement speed and / or stopping the advancement according to said detected events in an autonomous manner or by giving intervention indications to a station operator.

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