Personal warning system

Abstract

A personal warning system for railway workers is designed to warn them of approaching trains, railway equipment and other hazards during work in a work area. The system includes a portable unit for each track worker, equipped with a location determination module for determining the location, a communication module for sending and receiving data, and warning means that provide visual, auditory and / or haptic signals. The controller controls the location determination module, communication module and warning means. In addition, the system includes a central processing unit with a communication module for communication with the portable units. This processing unit is configured to define a working area for the railway workers, to receive location data of approaching hazards, and to define a personal dynamic warning zone for each railway worker, which differs from the working area. The central unit defines a signaling threshold as a critical distance to the edge of the personal alert zone and receives location data from the portable units. The unit shall determine the hazards exceeding the signalling threshold and shall transmit warning signals to the portable units when this threshold is exceeded or when the warning zone is left.

Description

[0001] The Invention relates to a personal warning system for railway workers, designed to ensure their safety during work on or near the track. Traditionally, warning systems are used that are based on a fixed working zone around a railway machine. These systems warn track workers of approaching trains, but have limitations in accuracy and efficiency. Often, the specific location of each rail worker and the dynamic nature of their working environment are not taken into account.

[0002] The Dutch railway network, as well as railway networks in other countries, usually consists of multi-track sections and yards. Regular maintenance of this extensive rail network is necessary, but can lead to unwanted disruptions to the busy timetable. In the past, a large part of the track or yard was taken out of service to ensure the safety of the railway workers, which is very drastic and should therefore be kept to a minimum.

[0003] Performing maintenance while the track is in Use is a growing practice. Railway workers carry out their work between the moments when trains pass. Various warning systems have been developed to warn them of approaching trains. These systems usually consist of a detection unit and one or more warning units, wherein the detection takes place by technical means such as radar or ultrasonic detection, or by an interface with the train protection system.

[0004] However, well-known train warning systems have several disadvantages. They often cover a relatively large part of the track, in which track workers are not always present everywhere. This can lead to unnecessary interruptions and inefficient Use of Swaying Places. In addition, long-term and unnecessary warnings can cause inconvenience to both railway workers and local residents. On the other hand, there are major risks in covering too small an area because it can lead to dangerous situations for the railway workers in and around the work area.

[0005] There is therefore a need for an improved warning system that ensures the safety of rail workers in a more efficient and accurate way.

[0006] The Invention therefore aims to provide an alert system that is personal and achieves a higher degree of efficiency and accuracy.

[0007] In a first aspect according to the present Invention, a personal warning system for railway workers is provided, designed to warn railway workers of approaching trains, railway equipment and other potential hazards during work in a work area.

[0008] In a second aspect according to the present Invention, a portable unit, also to be referred to as a personal wearable, is provided for which can be worn by any railway worker within the system according to the first aspect of the present Invention.

[0009] In a Third Party aspect according to the present Invention, a central processing unit, also referred to as a cloud-based server or similar implementation, is provided for a central processing unit, which can also be present as a locally present server on the site, which communicates with the wearables within the system according to the first aspect of this Invention.

[0010] One aspect of the present Invention relates to a personal warning system for railway workers, designed to warn railway workers of approaching trains, railway equipment and other potential hazards during work in a work area. A personal alert system can be understood as one that is personalized and thus specifically designed to protect individuals from external dangers by providing them with personalized alerts, wherein these alerts are tailored to the individual's specific location and situation. In this case, the railway workers are the persons who are protected from approaching hazards within their working environment on and around the track. The warning system thus implements a personalised and individually targeted system of warnings so that warnings are provided that take into account a personal risk profile and the personal location of the railway worker.

[0011] The system includes a portable unit for each of the track workers, equipped with a location determination module for determining the location of the track worker. A portable unit can be considered a mobile apparatus or device that is worn directly on a person's body, and that provides functionalities such as location tracking, communication and signaling. The location tracking module is intended to continuously record the position of the track worker, allowing the system to receive real-time information about the location of each track worker in the work area. One effect of this is that the system can continuously monitor the specific positions of all track workers, which is necessary to provide accurate and personalized alerts.

[0012] The portable unit also includes a communication module for sending and receiving data. A communication module is an electronic component that is responsible for sending and receiving data over wireless communication channels. This module allows the portable unit to constantly communicate with a central processing unit, allowing the system to always be aware of the position of the track worker and also to send alerts to the portable unit. One effect of this is that communication between the track workers and the warning system is seamless, even in dynamic environments, such as a trackside work area.

[0013] The portable unit is also equipped with warning means, i.e. warning devices, for giving visual, auditory and / or haptic signals to the railway worker. Warning means are the physical components of the system that convey warnings in various forms, such as light signals, sound signals, or vibration. These different types of signals offer multiple modes of communication, depending on the preference or situation of the track worker. One effect of this is that the railway worker can be warned of imminent danger in good time, even if he is working in a noisy environment or as a visual distraction. This increases the likelihood that the alert will be detected in time and ensures a better response time.

[0014] The portable unit also includes a controller for controlling the location control module, communication module and warning means. A controller is an electronic component responsible for coordinating and performing all functions of the portable unit, such as collecting location data, processing communications, and triggering warning signals. One effect of the controller is that the operation of the different modules is synchronized, which ensures efficient Use of the available resources and energy in the portable unit.

[0015] The system also includes a central processing unit, Comprising a communication module for communication with the wearables. A central processing unit (CPU, Microcontroller or similar) is the core component responsible for processing all incoming data and making decisions based on it. The communication module in this unit ensures constant data flows between the CPU and the portable units, ensuring that the processing unit always has up-to-date location information. One effect of this is that the system can respond quickly and adequately to changes in the situation, such as the approach of a train, by sending appropriate warning signals to the portable units.

[0016] The central processing unit also includes a processing unit, configured to determine a working area for the railway workers and to receive location data of approaching hazards such as trains, railway equipment and other potential hazards. The work area can be considered as the predefined area in which the track workers carry out their work. The processing unit uses this information to determine the boundaries of the working area and compares it with the data of approaching hazards received via the communication module. One effect of this is that the system can accurately assess when a hazard is approaching within the work area, allowing the system to intervene in time.

[0017] The processing unit is further configured to determine a personal dynamic alert zone for each of the track workers, which is different from the work area. A personalised dynamic warning zone is an area around the track worker that is constantly, i.e. continuously, adjusted based on the position and movement of the track worker. This ensures that the warnings are not based on a fixed point in the work area, but on the specific conditions in which the railway worker finds himself. One effect of this is that the system can provide individually targeted alerts, reducing unnecessary alerts and taxing the track worker's attention only with alerts that are relevant or to his or her personal risk profile and location.

[0018] The processing unit is further configured to define a signalling threshold which is defined as a predetermined critical distance to the edge of the personal dynamic warning zone. A signalling threshold can be understood as the minimum distance between an approaching hazard and the trackworker, wherein the system decides to trigger a warning signal. This threshold is predefined and can be adjusted depending on the specific working conditions. One effect of this is that the system can respond more accurately and quickly when an approaching danger reaches a risky distance.

[0019] The processing unit is further configured to receive location data from the portable unit and to determine which of the approaching hazards exceed and leave the signalling threshold by the portable unit of the personal dynamic alert zone. This control ensures that the system constantly compares the positions of both the track workers and the hazards to determine when a hazard gets too close to a track worker. One effect of this is that the system can accurately determine when a hazard is approaching a rail worker, and send a warning if necessary.

[0020] Finally, the processing unit is configured to transmit a warning signal to the portable unit when the signaling threshold is exceeded and / or when it leaves the personal dynamic warning zone. This regulation ensures that the track worker is immediately informed as soon as the position of an approaching hazard reaches a critical limit. This provides the railway worker with sufficient time to take measures, such as moving them to a safe location. One effect of this is that the risk of accidents is significantly reduced by actively protecting the rail worker through real-time alerts based on real-time location data.

[0021] The aspects of the invention provide for the introduction of an individual, personalized and dynamic warning system that monitors the specific location and movements of each track worker and warns them in a timely manner of various hazards, including approaching trains, track equipment and other objects in their working environment as well as leaving an individual dynamic safe zone.

[0022] The invention is thus a personal warning system that meets the predetermined wishes and with which railway workers significantly improve their safety by warning them in good time of approaching trains, railway equipment and other potential hazards in their working environment. This system provides an individual, dynamic alert mechanism that takes into account the specific location, movements and risk profile of each rail worker, reducing unnecessary interruptions and increasing the efficiency of operations.

[0023] The invention distinguishes itself from the state of the art by various characteristics, including: 1. The determination of a dynamic warning zone that is personalised for each individual track worker, which is continuously updated and preferably even in real time based on the current position and / or movement of that specific track worker. 2. The individual determination of the alert activation when an approaching hazard such as a train exceeds the signalling threshold by crossing the boundary of that personalised dynamic alert zone. 3. The explicit consequence is that different rail workers may receive different and personalised warning signals simultaneously or differently over time based on their individual current risk profile and location.

[0024] Well-known systems work with a fixed work zone (wherein the rules are location-dependent) and those systems apply dynamic triggers (such as speed and distance to the train) in a group-oriented way. Although these triggers are dynamic, the underlying safety perimeter for the employees as a group remains fixed. This means that if two workers are in different positions within the work zone, they will generally receive the same alarm if a group-wide condition is met, even if their individual risk levels differ. This approach leads to unnecessary alerts for workers who are not in immediate danger, which causes "alarm fatigue" and potentially reduces trust in the system, as well as inefficient Use of the work area.

[0025] The system's distinctive features according to the Invention solve the technical problem of providing highly relevant, context-aware and accurate warnings to individual railway workers, significantly reducing alarm fatigue and improving both the safety and operational efficiency of work within a shared work area, even when workers within that area would otherwise are positioned.

[0026] In an example, the personal dynamic warning zone can take on a non-circular form, e.g. oval or elliptical, wherein the shape is adapted to the current direction of movement of the railway worker. This creates a safety zone that extends further in the walking direction of the railway worker and less far in the opposite direction, so that the zone more realistically corresponds to the area that the railway worker can actually enter or in which hazards are most relevant.

[0027] In another example, the personal dynamic warning zone can be determined on the basis of a time parameter, in such a way that the zone includes an area that the railway worker can reach within a predetermined time span. This time-dependent approach makes it possible to take into account differences in walking speed or reaction time, and thus increases the predictive value of the dynamic zone.

[0028] In an example, the signalling threshold can be determined depending on a personal safety profile of the railway worker. This profile can include characteristics such as physical mobility, experience, assigned task or medical limitations, so that the alert system is able to maintain a personalised and appropriate level of safety for each individual rail worker.

[0029] In another example, the portable unit may be designed to generate a warning signal with step-by-step intensification. In addition, the intensity of the visual, auditory and / or haptic signals increases as the severity of the danger increases or the distance to the danger decreases. This prevents track workers from being overburdened with constant signals and ensures that the urgency of the danger becomes intuitively clear.

[0030] In a further example, the central processing unit can cooperate with the portable unit in calculating the personal dynamic alert zone, wherein part of the calculations is carried out locally on the portable unit. This distributed architecture reduces the load on the central processing unit, shortens response time, and increases system robustness in situations with limited network capacity.

[0031] In yet another example, the system can be set up to automatically issue a warning to the track worker in a fail-safe mode if the communication between the portable unit and the central processing unit is interrupted. This prevents a track worker from being left unprotected in the event of connection problems and ensures that the system continues to offer a minimum degree of safety even under fault conditions.

[0032] In an example, the portable unit of any railway worker can also be equipped with an accelerometer. This accelerometer makes it possible not only to determine the position of the track worker, but also to detect changes in his speed. This feature can be useful in situations where a track worker needs to accelerate or slow down suddenly, for example when avoiding approaching hazards or when carrying out urgent operations in the work area. Thus, the addition of an accelerometer provides more detailed information about the trackworker's activity.

[0033] In an example, the central processing unit can be further configured to determine the direction of movement of approaching trains and track equipment. This characteristic ensures that not only the location of approaching hazards is known, but also their direction in relation to the work area. This allows the system to more accurately identify the hazards that are likely to enter a rail worker's personal dynamic warning zone. This is particularly relevant in multi-track tracks where trains can approach from different directions.

[0034] In an example, the portable unit can also be equipped with a gyroscope module, which detects the orientation of the track worker. This feature makes it possible to determine the direction in which the track worker is orienting, which can be crucial for situations where the track worker is unable to visually perceive approaching hazards, for example when standing with his back to the track. This allows the system to tailor warnings to the actual situation of the track worker.

[0035] In an example, the central processing unit can be further configured to calculate the speed of approaching trains and railway equipment and to send warnings based on this. By taking into account the speed of the approaching hazards, the system can anticipate when a hazard will enter a personal dynamic warning zone. This prevents redundant alerts and ensures that the alerts are sent at a relevant time.

[0036] In an example, the portable unit can also be equipped with a proximity sensor for detecting obstacles in the immediate vicinity of the track worker. This sensor detects objects that are in the immediate vicinity of the track worker, such as machines or vehicles. This characteristic can be especially important in situations where physical obstacles restrict the movement of the track worker or obstruct his view of approaching hazards.

[0037] In an example, the warning means may be further configured to emit signals of different intensity depending on the distance from the approaching danger. This ensures that the railway worker receives fewer urgent signals in the event of dangers that are further away and that the more intense the signals become as the danger approaches. This prevents the track worker from constantly receiving the same warning, regardless of the severity of the hazard.

[0038] In an example, the portable unit can also be equipped with a temperature module for detecting the environmental conditions in which the track worker is located. This feature makes it possible to detect environmental factors such as extreme heat or cold, which can affect the safety of the track worker or the effectiveness of the warning system itself.

[0039] In an example, the central processing unit can be further configured to log all sent alerts for later use and analysis. This feature provides the ability to evaluate the performance of the system and investigate security incidents by maintaining a detailed log of alerts and their timing. This allows patterns to be identified that help improve future warning systems.

[0040] In an example, the portable unit may also be equipped with a rechargeable power source with an energy monitoring module. This module monitors energy consumption and ensures that the portable unit continues to function efficiently over long periods of operation. Keeping an eye on the energy capacity and consumption can help prevent the portable unit from shutting down unexpectedly.

[0041] In an example, the central processing unit can be further configured to synchronize alerts with the operational status of nearby track equipment. This characteristic ensures that the alerts sent to the track worker take into account not only the physical location of approaching hazards, but also the operational condition of machinery being used nearby. This allows the system to send more effective alerts depending on the current status of the track equipment.

[0042] In an example, the personal dynamic warning zone can be continuously updated based on the speed and direction of the track worker. This characteristic makes it possible for the warning zone not to remain static, but to be dynamically adapted to the moving track worker. This allows the system to more accurately predict when a hazard is getting too close, even if the track worker is moving quickly or changing direction. This increases the flexibility and accuracy of the safety warnings.

[0043] In an example, the personal dynamic warning zone can be continuously updated based on the speed and direction of approaching hazards. This feature ensures that the system takes into account the behaviour of approaching hazards, such as the speed of a train or the direction of a moving railway machine. The alerts can be transmitted more accurately, which is important in situations where hazards are moving at varying speeds and directions.

[0044] In an example, the portable unit can be attached to a track tool, such as an excavator or other heavy equipment operating in or on the track. This feature expands the application possibilities of the warning system, protecting not only individual track workers, but also drivers and operators of heavy equipment involved in work in the danger zone. This allows the system to be an integral part of the safety of the entire workshop.

[0045] In an example, the central processing unit can use historical data to optimize the personal dynamic alert zones. This feature ensures that the system learns from previous operations and data, such as known danger points or high-risk situations, to more accurately match the safety zones to the working conditions. This prevents recurring problems and increases the predictability of risky situations.

[0046] In an example, geofencing technology can be used to establish and monitor the work area or personal dynamic alert zones. Geofencing Uses virtual boundaries within physical work areas, and this attribute can be applied to automatically generate alerts when track workers approach or cross these boundaries. This helps to clearly delineate zones with specific risks, without the need for manual checks.

[0047] In an example, redundancy in the communication modules can be applied to ensure continuous data transfer. This feature increases the reliability of the system, by providing alternative communication routes in the event of failures. Especially in complex environments such as railway sites, where signal loss can occur, redundancy ensures that critical alerts are always relayed.

[0048] In an example, the central processing unit can define additional unsafe zones, wherein the portable unit emits warning signals when track workers approach or are in these zones. This characteristic makes it possible to classify specific parts of the work area as unsafe, for example in the case of temporary hazards such as work on heavy machinery or chemical hazards. This increases the versatility of the warning system and protects rail workers from different types of hazards.

[0049] In an example, the signaling threshold can be configurable, allowing it to be adjusted based on specific working conditions or safety needs. This feature makes the system flexible enough to respond to changing situations, such as weather conditions or the type of work being performed. This allows the intensity or frequency of warnings to be adjusted to suit the needs of the rail worker.

[0050] In an example, the signalling threshold can also be determined on the basis of the time until approaching the personal dynamic warning zone, taking into account the speed and direction of the approaching danger. This characteristic makes it possible to base warnings not only on the distance of the hazard, but also on the speed at which the hazard approaches the alert zone. This helps reduce false or late alerts, allowing the track worker to respond in a timely and adequate manner.

[0051] In an example, the central processing unit can be implemented by several devices that together provide the required processing power. The various functions of the central processing unit, such as receiving location data, determining warning zones and sending alerts, can be distributed across multiple systems that are connected to each other via a network. These systems can be located on-site, for example in the immediate vicinity of the railway work area, or they can be located remotely in a data center. The distribution of these functions can be optimized in such a way that the processing load is distributed across the different devices, leading to more efficient Use of processing power and faster response times. Use of such distributed systems also increases reliability, as failure of a single Apparatus does not necessarily disable the entire warning system.

[0052] In this example, each of the devices can be responsible for a specific task, for example calculating dynamic warning zones or processing the data of impending dangers. The devices can exchange data with each other over a communication network, such as a local area network (LAN) or a broadband network (WAN). This network connects the individual devices and ensures coordinated processing of data, allowing the operations that would normally be performed by a central processing unit to be distributed across multiple physical locations. In situations where larger amounts of data need to be processed, such as in busy rail environments, these systems can be scaled further by adding more devices or by Use cloud computing resources in a data center.

[0053] In another example, the central processing unit can run as a server or a group of servers that are on-premises or housed in a remote data center. When the servers are on-site, they can respond more quickly to the input from the portable units, as communication delays are reduced. This is especially useful in critical situations where real-time alerts are essential. The servers may be equipped with redundant processing modules to ensure that alerts are sent in a timely manner, even in the event of a failure in Any of the processing modules.

[0054] When the servers are in a data center, they can leverage the processing power and scalability of large server farms to process the data from multiple locations. This offers advantages in terms of scalability, as the data center can allocate additional processing power when needed, for example during peak rail traffic hours. This architecture also allows for advanced analytics to be performed on the historical data collected by the system, which can lead to improvements in the dynamic alert zones and better prediction of hazards based on previous incidents.

[0055] It shall be clear to the skilled person that all the described versions and characteristics of the portable unit, the central processing unit, and other components of the warning system can be applied separately or in combination to any aspect of the Invention, as described. Any property specifically attributed to one aspect of the Invention may also be Application (of invention) to other aspects, unless otherwise specified. The combinations of different versions, modules and functions mentioned in the Description, as well as the adaptations thereto, should therefore not be construed as restrictive, but are an integral part of the Invention as claimed.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0056] Figure 1 shows an illustrative situation of an example of the present invention; Figure 2 shows a schematic representation of a work area and several personal dynamic warning zones according to an example of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0057] Figure 1 shows a personal warning system 100 to warn track workers 112, 115 of approaching trains, track equipment 107 and other potential hazards during work in a work area, by signaling them 114, 116, 117, 118, 101 for these various hazards. These hazards can be caused by various things such as an approaching train 107, or a track machine 107, but also other potential hazards such as a present tool such as a crane, or if the track workers 112, 115 leave a defined safe zone.

[0058] In view of the present disclosure, a railway machine means a railway vehicle that moves on the track and carries out maintenance on that part of the track that is considered to be a working area. This means that this train can be equipped to grind the rails, carry out compaction work or only serve as support for the track workers 112, 115 or also called track workers or maintenance workers.

[0059] In various situations, track equipment or other resources are used to support the work on the track. However, this does not necessarily have to be the case, because there may also be cases in which the work only concerns the use of railway workers, with or without the use of certain material that is used during the work.

[0060] For all types of maintenance, track workers 112, 115 have to carry out work directly in track 112 or near track 115. For this purpose, part of the track or some of the lanes can be taken out of service. This means that the track is no longer live and there should no longer be trains in it, or trains that are allowed to run into track sections. Because the decommissioning is at the expense of the availability of the track, as no trains can run at that time, this must be kept to a minimum for the efficient Use of the track. On the one hand, the complete decommissioning therefore provides a high degree of safety. However, this is never 100% because in trains and routes where no automatic train influence is active, a driver can still make a mistake by driving through a red light and thus entering a decommissioned part of the track. On the other hand, a shutdown can also be limited to a small area, defined as the work area, in order to keep other life of the track live and open to trains. However, this creates a safety risk because the railway workers must remain in this work zone that is considered safe. However, this work area is not protected by a fence, so there is a risk that a railway worker will leave the zone by mistake. It may also be possible that a hazard, such as an approaching train, approaches the safe but small zone in such a way that it can pose a danger, for example because it drives close to the safe zone at high speed. Another hazard can also arise because a machine such as a railway machine or a crane enters the area, of which the railway worker is under the assumption that he is safe here.

[0061] In order to meet the desire to deal efficiently with decommissioning by keeping as many parts of the track open as long as possible, and to create the safest possible working environment, the system of the present Invention provides for a personal warning system.

[0062] This personalized warning system is designed to warn track workers of approaching trains, track equipment and other potential hazards while working in a work area. The system consists mainly of two or more elements. First of all, a portable unit that can be carried on each of the track workers present or by each track worker. This wearable unit is also referred to as a wearable and is a personal warning system. The system includes means to determine the location of the wearable unit or wearables, and as such also the location of the rail worker in question. It includes communication module to communicate with a central processing unit. It also includes warning means to send signals to the railway workers and thus warn them. These signals can be visual warnings, but also auditory warnings or haptic signals such as vibrations or the like. Preferably, the system is designed to be able to combine several forms of this warning.

[0063] The other central element of the system is a central processing unit or also referred to as a server. This server can be locally present on or near the work area, but can also be located in a cloud environment such as in a data center. This central processing unit is hereinafter referred to as a server and is connected to each wearable. That connection is either directly through a public or closed communication network, but can also be through a local router or the like, in which case the router maintains a connection to the wearables and a connection to the server.

[0064] The server consists of a central processing unit or computing unit that determines the working area of the railway workers. The work area concerns the general work area within which the work is carried out and which is the same for all railway workers. The system is also designed to receive or determine location data of the approaching hazards, such as the prices, railway equipment and other hazards produced, for example by an interface with other parts of the track.

[0065] The server is further configured to be able to define or determine a personal dynamic warning zone for each of the track workers. This personal alert zone is different from the work area and is personal and dynamic. This means that each railway worker has his own zone that is only applicable for him or her. There may be a grouping of railway workers so that they all have their own, personal but equal warning zone. The difference between a work area and the personal zone is that the work area concerns the total area where work is carried out. Within this area, the track may be completely taken out of service, but inside and outside it a different safety Application (of invention) may apply to railway workers. For example, it may be that one railway worker has permission to be present on a certain part in or next to the track, and another does not, it may also be the case that one railway worker is more in the vicinity of a live track where passing trains still approach the work area. This railway worker can then be warned to a different extent of this approaching danger. For this reason, a personal signalling threshold can be determined or defined for each railway worker, as a predetermined critical distance to the edge of the personal dynamic warning zone. In a practical implementation, these standards will be set the same for most railway workers, and for example set to a certain safe distance or duration before the hazard approaches the railway worker in question or the perimeter of the personal area. However, it may also be the case that different signalling thresholds are set for certain railway workers for certain reasons. For example, a crane operator on a mobile crane in or near the track, which has more or less time to move to a safe area. The system can be used to provide a corresponding warning of the approaching danger earlier or later.

[0066] There are various situations in which the railway worker is warned of his or her personal situation and wherein his or her wearable receives a signal to activate the warning means. At least, in Any of these situations, the system is designed to activate these warning means, i.e. the crossing of the approaching danger of the signalling threshold, i.e. when a dangerous object such as an approaching or passing train or railway equipment comes too close to the railway worker in question, or when the railway worker leaves or seems to be about to leave. The latter can be determined based on the speed and direction of the wearable.

[0067] Figure 1 shows that part of the track can be taken out of service so that the work can be carried out safely. At the time of the work, a railway machine 107 may be present in or near the work area, but it cannot be ruled out that there are several or no railway machines present within the work area and therefore also several groups of railway workers belonging to it.

[0068] The railway workers must be warned in time with a warning system 100 for various dangers, including a passing train on an adjacent track, because this can pose a danger to the railway workers working there. This warning system may include audible and / or visual and / or haptic warning or signalling devices consisting of (flashing) lamps 116, and loudspeakers 117 or horns 117 that are placed next to the track, but a characteristic of the present system is that these warning means are part of a wearable of a railway worker and therefore each railway worker has its own wearable, also known as a portable unit, Wears. This allows the signaling to be general and for each of Application (of invention) by means of the lamps 116 that emit a visual signal 114 and the loudspeakers 117 that of course emit an auditory 118 signal, but other personal signaling by means of the wearable. The general signalling by means of the lamps and / or loudspeakers is often set up along the track or in the vicinity of it so that they are clearly visible and audible to the railway workers 112, 115. In addition, there may also be 107 signalling devices 108 on the railway machine, which are often designed as flashing lights but especially as loudspeakers that emit a loud warning signal.

[0069] With the warning system 100 according to the present disclosure, it is possible to create personal zones so that a personal, personal safe zone can be defined for everyone. This zone is dynamic, which means that it is possible that its size, shape or location changes, for example with the movement of the railway worker, the current work, the approaching dangers or other matters.

[0070] The system has a number of components, namely one or more general signalling devices 114, 116, 117, 118, 101, 108 and one or more wearables on the railway workers, which are the portable units of the system according to the Invention. As indicated, the general signalling means are either present in or next to the track 114, 116, 117, 118, and / or on the track equipment 108, and / or at a remote location 101 in a cloud or cloud-like environment.

[0071] There is also an interface from the wearable to the cloud environment, either the server or central processing unit. This connection can also be established by a local router that provides the local connection to the wearables on the one hand, and the connection to the server on the other.

[0072] The location data of the wearables can be read by the server. This location determination or location data is very accurate and by reading and processing this data in the central processing unit or remote server 102, it can be determined very precisely where the railway worker in question is currently inside or outside his own personal area, while compared to conventional systems only a general warning can be set.

[0073] In the context of the present description, exact location determination means at least within the accuracy of a few meters, more preferably within 1 meter, but even more preferably within a few tens of centimeters or a few centimeters.

[0074] The personal zone is dynamic according to a certain configuration by either being movable within the work area and moving with a track tool, for example, which is made possible by linking the location data of the track tool to the location of the wearable. This will find an optimum between the safety of the railway worker on the one hand and efficient and minimal decommissioning on the other.

[0075] The remote server 102 can be able to store and invoke several such configurations, either based on a preset trigger or by manual selection by a user.

[0076] Figure 2 shows in a schematic representation of the system 200 according to the present disclosure, wherein particular it is schematically shown how a railway machine 210, an approaching train 270 and the working area 250 and the two personal zones 260, 280 present in it. It should be clear to the professional that there can and will be more zones that are not shown in the figure for clarity. Each railway worker has his or her own personal zone that deviates from the working area 250. However, it may be the case that several railway workers have personal zones that are equal to each other.

[0077] It can be seen that part of the rail infrastructure is being maintained with the 210 railway tool. Which part that is carefully determined in advance, well in advance of the work, on the basis of a required maintenance need, available time, resources and efficiency of deployment of resources, time and the decommissioning of the 240 section of the track. The part 240 where the work is carried out consecutively or mainly contiguous can cover many kilometers and is indicated here in figure 2 with 250. The track machine 210 will therefore often move slowly from one side of that work area to the other during the period of work, as indicated by the arrow. The track workers 220 walk with the track equipment because they carry out the work around it. It is therefore known how far the track workers 220 will be from the track equipment 210.

[0078] During the work, the 220 railway workers must be warned of trains 270 that may approach and pass on adjacent tracks 230 that have not been taken out of service. A train 270 there can therefore pose a danger to the railway workers 220.

[0079] Whereas conventional warning systems consider the entire working area 250 to be a single decommissioned area, and all trains 270 approaching and passing through this area and as such are detected by train detection devices, the signalling devices (visual and / or audible alarm) on the track equipment will trigger 210 to warn track workers 220. However, according to the present Invention, warnings are not or not only issued on the basis of this entire working area 250, but on the basis of personal dynamic zones 260, 280 which concerns a part of the working area 250, so that in a personal way only relevant and real dangers are warned and an improved warning system is provided. Because the location of the wearable and therefore track worker and all potential hazards is determined continuously or on a short interval basis, the personal zones 260, 280 can be considered a dynamic zone that is accurate, up-to-date and safe but efficient with regard to decommissioning.

[0080] Although the present invention is explained by means of some examples, the invention is in no way limited to the said examples thereof. An skilled person can make adjustments and changes on the basis of the enclosed claims without inventive work, but all of which are deemed to be covered by these claims.

Claims

1. Personal warning system for railway workers designed to warn railway workers of approaching trains, railway equipment and other potential hazards during work in a work area, the warning system comprising: a portable unit for each of the railway workers, equipped with: a location determination module for determining the location of the railway worker; a communication module for sending and receiving data; warning means for providing visual, auditory and / or haptic signals to the railway worker; a controller for controlling the location determination module, communication module and warning means; a central processing unit, comprising: a communication module for communication with the portable units; a processing unit, configured to determine a working area for the railway workers, to receive location data of approaching hazards such as trains, railway machinery and other potential hazards, characterised by the processing unit being configured for each of the individual railway workers to be for: defining a dynamic warning zone personalised for each individual rail worker, which is continuously updated on the basis of the current position and / or movement of the track worker in question, and which personalised dynamic warning zone differs from the work area; defining a signalling threshold defined as a predetermined critical distance to the edge of the personalised dynamic warning zone; receiving location data from the portable unit; individually determining which of the approaching hazards exceed the alert threshold by crossing the boundary of the personalised dynamic alert zone, as well as when the portable unit leaves the personalised dynamic alert zone; the sending of a warning signal individually to the portable unit for activation of the warning means when the signalling threshold is exceeded and / or the left of the personalised dynamic warning zone, wherein, as a result of the personalised dynamic warning zone and the individual determination of the warning activation, different railway workers receive personalised and different warning signals based on their individual current risk profile and location.

2. Personal warning system for railway workers according to claim 1, wherein the portable unit is further equipped with an accelerometer for detecting the movement of the railway worker, and / or the central processing unit is further configured to determine the direction of movement of approaching trains and railway equipment.

3. Personal warning system for railway workers according to any of the foregoing claims, wherein the portable unit is further equipped with one or more of a gyroscope module for detecting the orientation of the railway worker, a proximity sensor for detecting obstacles in the immediate vicinity of the railway worker, a temperature module for detecting environmental conditions, a temperature module for detecting environmental conditions, a rechargeable power source with a built-in energy monitoring module.

4. Personal warning system for railway workers according to any of the foregoing claims, wherein the central processing unit is arranged for one or more of set up to transmit warning signals to the portable unit based on the speed of approaching trains, being further configured to log the warnings for later Use and analysis, being configured to synchronise alerts with the operational status of nearby railway equipment, the central processing unit to use historical data to optimise the personal dynamic warning zones.

5. Personal warning system for railway workers according to any of the foregoing claims, wherein which the warning means are configured to provide signals of different intensity depending on the distance of the approaching danger.

6. Personal warning system for railway workers according to any of the foregoing claims, wherein the Personal Dynamic Warning Zone is continuously updated according to the speed and direction of the railway worker.

7. Personal warning system for railway workers according to any of the foregoing claims, wherein the personal dynamic warning zone is continuously updated according to the speed and direction of approaching hazards.

8. Personal warning system for railway workers according to any of the foregoing claims, wherein the portable unit is attached to a railway equipment such as an excavator or any other railway equipment working in or on the track.

9. Personal warning system for railway workers according to any of the foregoing claims, wherein geofencing technology is used to establish and monitor the work area or personal dynamic warning zones.

10. Personal warning system for railway workers according to any of the foregoing claims, wherein redundant communication modules are provided to ensure continuous data transfer between the portable unit and the central processing unit.

11. Personal warning system for railway workers according to any of the foregoing claims, wherein the central processing unit defines additional unsafe zones, and the portable unit issues warning signals when approaching or present in these unsafe areas.

12. Personal warning system for railway workers according to any of the foregoing claims, wherein the signalling threshold is configurable and can be adjusted based on different environmental factors, and / or wherein the signalling threshold is also determined on the basis of the time to approach the personal dynamic warning zone, taking into account the direction and speed of approaching hazards.

13. A portable unit for use in a personal warning system for railway workers, configured to warn railway workers of approaching trains, railway machinery and other potential hazards, comprising: a location determination module for determining the location of the railway worker; a communication module for sending and receiving data; warning means for giving visual, auditory and / or haptic signals to the railway worker; a controller for controlling the location determination module, communication module and warning means wherein the portable unit is further configured to receive from a central processing unit an individualized warning signal based on a personalized dynamic warning zone of the railway worker, the personalized dynamic warning zone being continuously updated according to the actual position and / or movement of the railway worker.

14. The portable unit for use in a personal warning system for railway workers according to claim 13, wherein the portable unit is implemented as one or more of the group of comprising a wristwatch, glasses with built-in visual alerts, a helmet with integrated visual and audible alerts, a safety vest with haptic alerts, a vibrational bracelet for haptic alerts, a headset with integrated audible alerts, a belt with integrated haptic alerts, and an earmold with audible alerts.

15. A central processing unit for use in a personal warning system for railway workers, configured to warn railway workers of approaching trains, railway machinery and other potential hazards, comprising: a communication module for communication with portable units; and a processing unit configured for: receiving location data of approaching hazards such as trains, railway machinery and other potential hazards; determining a working area for the railway workers; determining, for each railway worker, a personalized dynamic warning zone that differs from the working area and is continuously updated based on the actual position and / or movement of the respective railway worker; and transmitting an individualized warning signal to the portable unit when the signal threshold associated with the personalized dynamic warning zone is exceeded by an approaching hazard and / or when the portable unit leaves the personalized dynamic warning zone, wherein different railway workers may receive different warning signals depending on their individual risk profile and location.

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