Control method for securing the movement of a person on a roadway, associated device and motor vehicle.

Abstract

A control method characterized in that it comprises the following steps: Receiving images from a camera attached to a person (200) moving on a roadway (400) in a direction of travel (dir1) and a sense of travel (sens1), the camera being oriented so that the images include motor vehicles following the person (200); Detecting, from the images, that a motor vehicle (500) is following the person (200) and approaching the person (200); and, upon detection of the motor vehicle (500), sending an instruction to a vibrator worn by the person (200) to vibrate. Figure for the abbreviation: Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: Control method for securing the movement of a person on a roadway, associated device and vehicle.

[0001] The invention relates to the movement of a person on a roadway frequented by motor vehicles, for example on foot, in particular while running when practicing running.

[0002] There is a need to secure such movement.

[0003] For this purpose, the invention relates to a method of controlling (a vibrator) comprising the following steps: • Reception of images, from a camera attached to a person (in other words: worn by the person) (, the person) moving (in other words: located, and for example running, walking or cycling) on ​​a roadway, in a direction of circulation and a direction of circulation (and the method may comprise a step of moving the person on the roadway, in the direction of circulation and the direction of circulation), the camera being oriented (in other words; positioned, or positioned on the person or fixed to the person) so that the images comprise motor vehicles (circulating on the roadway, in the direction of circulation and in the direction of circulation,) following the person (and for example, approaching the person,) (and the method may comprise sending the images by the camera to the electronic device implementing the invention): • Detection, from the images, that a motor vehicle is following the person, approaching the person, (and, for example but not necessarily, that the vehicle is traveling on the road) and, • Upon detection of the motor vehicle, sending, to a vibrator worn by the person (in other words: attached to the person), an instruction commanding the vibrator to vibrate (and the method may include a step of vibrating the vibrator upon receipt of the vibration command).

[0004] Thanks to the invention, the person is warned of the danger posed by a motor vehicle approaching him, even if the person is listening to music with headphones or is concentrating on an activity.

[0005] It is understood that a motor vehicle follows the person by the fact that the person passes through points of the roadway or areas of the roadway before the motor vehicle, when the vehicle is traveling in the direction of traffic and in the direction of traffic.

[0006] The images may be, for example, in the visible spectrum (to the naked eye), if, for example, the method is carried out during the day and / or, for example, in the infrared, if, for example, the method is carried out at night.

[0007] Sending the instruction can be implemented via radio frequency communication, for example, of the so-called “Bluetooth” or “WiFi” type (, alternatively, via wired communication).

[0008] According to one embodiment, the camera is oriented in the direction of circulation.

[0009] The camera comprises a field. For example, an axis of symmetry of the field is parallel to the direction of travel, when the person moves in the direction of travel and the direction of travel (i.e., during the image reception step).

[0010] The field opens, for example, in a direction opposite to the direction of traffic, when the person moves in the direction of traffic and the direction of traffic (i.e., during the image reception step).

[0011] According to one embodiment, the camera is attached to the person by an elastic front band (during the image reception step).

[0012] In this case, the camera may be positioned (during the image reception step) at the back of the person's head, in other words: opposite the person's face (or forehead) relative to the person's head. In particular, the back of the head comprises, for example, the parietal bone of the skull of the person's head. Alternatively, for example, the camera may be positioned on one side of the person's head.

[0013] For example, the detection step can be implemented by methods known to those skilled in the art for determining the speed and / or distance of a vehicle from images. Examples include the methods published in the following articles: • “Estimation of Speed ​​and Distance of Surrounding Vehicles from a Single Camera", Mirko Zaffaroni, Marco Grangetto, Alessandro Farasin, Computer Science, ICIAP, 2019, • “Vision-based Vehicle Detection and Distance Estimation” Donghao Qiao, Farhana H. Zulkernine, Conference: 2020 IEEE Symposium Series on Computational Intelligence (SSCI), • “Image-Based Vehicle Speed ​​Estimation”, Md. Golam Moazzam, Mohammad Reduanul Haque, Mohammad Shorif Uddin, Journal of Computer and Communications, 07(06):1-5, 2019

[0014] For example, the motor vehicle follows the person, approaching the person, if the relative speed with the camera is negative, or if the distance with the camera reduces over time.

[0015] Alternatively, the motor vehicle follows the person, approaching the person, if the motor vehicle grows over time in the images. The detection step can therefore detect the motor vehicle by detecting that it grows in the images.

[0016] The detection step can also detect and verify that the vehicle is traveling on the roadway (or not).

[0017] According to one embodiment, the method further comprises the following steps: • Determination of a distance between the motor vehicle and the camera, from the images (for example, by a method cited above), • Comparison of the distance with a threshold (predetermined. The threshold is for example between 10 and 100 meters), sending the instruction being conditional on the distance being less than the threshold.

[0018] Alternatively, the method comprises the following steps: • Determination of the time it will take for the motor vehicle to reach the height of the camera, from the images, • Comparison of the time with a (predetermined) threshold, sending the instruction being conditional on the time being less than the threshold.

[0019] Alternatively, the step of sending the instruction does not depend on the position of the motor vehicle but only on the fact that the vehicle is following and approaching the person.

[0020] According to one embodiment, the vibrator is included in a wristwatch worn on a wrist (of the person) by the person.

[0021] Alternatively, the vibrator may be included in the elastic forehead band or in another element, for example an earpiece, glasses, a necklace, an item of clothing, a shoe or a helmet.

[0022] The invention also relates to a computer program comprising instructions executable by a microprocessor or a microcontroller or a computer, for implementing the steps of the method according to the invention, when it is executed by the microprocessor or the microcontroller or the computer.

[0023] The method according to the invention can be implemented by an electronic device. The invention therefore also relates to an electronic device configured to implement the steps of the method according to the invention, as well as a system comprising the electronic device and the camera, for example included in a housing.

[0024] The characteristics and advantages of the computer program, the electronic device, and the system are identical to those of the method according to the invention (without it being necessary to repeat them here).

[0025] When the electronic device, the housing, (or another element) is “configured to” (or “capable of”) performing or implementing a step or an operation, this implies, for example, that the element comprises means for performing the step or the operation. The means preferably comprise electronic means, for example a computer program, data in memory, specialized electronic circuits, wired or wireless connections, a microprocessor and / or a microcontroller.

[0026] For example, the electronic device comprises a computer program, a microprocessor and / or a microcontroller.

[0027] Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will appear more clearly on reading the detailed description which follows, comprising embodiments of the invention given as non-limiting examples and illustrated by the appended drawings, in which: • [Fig.l] represents a box comprising the electronic device, according to one embodiment of the invention, • [Fig.2] represents the case of [Fig.l] as well as the electronic device that he understands, in detail, • [Fig.3] represents the positioning on a person of the box and therefore of the camera, in side view, in the embodiment of [Fig.l], • [Fig.4] represents an implementation of the method according to the invention, according to a example of realization, by the electronic device of [Fig.2], • [Fig.5] represents a variant of [Fig.l].

[0028] In Figures 1 and 5, certain elements are, of course, seen through transparency.

[0029] Detailed description of an exemplary embodiment of the invention, with reference to Figures 1 to 5.

[0030] [Fig.2] represents a box 100 comprising a microcontroller 110.

[0031] Furthermore, the microprocessor 110 is connected to a camera 120 and to a radiofrequency communication module 130, for example conforming to the so-called “Bluetooth” standard.

[0032] As shown in Figures 1 and 3, a runner 200 runs on a roadway 400, in the direction of traffic sensl and in the direction of traffic dirl.

[0033] The housing 100, and therefore the camera 120, is fixed to the runner 200 by a front elastic band 300.

[0034] The housing 100, and therefore the camera, is positioned at the rear 212 of the head 210 of the runner 200, that is to say, opposite the face 211 of the runner 200 relative to the head 210. [Fig.2] shows a position of the housing 100 that is quite high. It could be positioned lower, at the level of the occiput of the head 210, for example.

[0035] The camera 120 comprises a field 121. The field 121 opens, for example, in a direction opposite to the direction of circulation sensl. For example, an axis of symmetry a 121 of the field 121 is parallel to the direction of circulation dirl.

[0036] The camera 120 is thus oriented so as to film motor vehicles following the person 200.

[0037] [Fig.4], in step S00, the camera 120 transmits images to the microprocessor 110 which receives them.

[0038] In step S10, the microprocessor 110 detects, from the images, that a motor vehicle 500 is following the person 200 while approaching the person 200.

[0039] The motor vehicle 500 travels on the roadway 400 in the direction dirl and the direction of travel sensl.

[0040] For example, the detection step S10 can be carried out by one of the methods known to those skilled in the art cited above for determining the speed of the motor vehicle 500 relative to the camera 120.

[0041] For example, the microprocessor 110 detects that the motor vehicle 500 is following and approaching the person 200 if this speed is negative.

[0042] In step S20, the microprocessor determines the distance dl between the motor vehicle 500 and the camera 120, also using one of the methods cited above.

[0043] In step S30, the microprocessor 110 compares the distance dl, for example equal to 8 meters, with a (predetermined) threshold, for example equal to 10 meters (in this embodiment, the motor vehicles travel slowly on the roadway 400, which is why a low threshold is chosen).

[0044] In step S40, the distance d1 being less than the threshold, the microprocessor 110 consequently sends to a vibrator 221 worn by the person 220, an instruction commanding the vibrator to vibrate, via the module 130.

[0045] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the vibrator 221 is included in a wristwatch 220 worn on a wrist of the person 200 (the watch may also include a module capable of communicating with the module 130).

[0046] In step S50, the vibrator 221 vibrates. Thus, the person 200 is warned of the presence of the vehicle 500.

[0047] Alternatively, [Fig.5], the housing 100', comprising the camera, can be fixed by an elastic band around the upper part of the trunk of the person 200'.

[0048] The camera can be turned towards the roadway. For example, an axis of symmetry A121' of the field 121' of the camera forms an angle with the direction of circulation dirl'.

[0049] In this embodiment, for example, but also more generally, the sending of the instruction in step S40 may be carried out upon detection of a motor vehicle 500' in the field 121', without any condition of possible distance from the camera and / or relative speed with the camera.

Claims

Claims

1. Control method characterized in that it comprises the following steps: • Reception of images (S00), from a camera (120) attached to a person (200) moving on a roadway (400), in a direction of travel (dirl) and a direction of travel (sensl), the camera (120) being oriented so that the images include motor vehicles following the person (200), • Detection (S10), from the images, that a vehicle (500) is following the person (200), approaching the person (200), and, • Upon detection (S10) of the motor vehicle (500), sending (S40), to a vibrator (221), carried by the person (200), an instruction commanding the vibrator (221) to vibrate.

2. Control method according to the preceding claim in which the camera (120) is attached to the person (200) by an elastic front band (300), during the image reception step.

3. Control method according to the preceding claim wherein, the person (200) comprises a head (210) and a face (211), and the camera (120) is positioned, during the image receiving step, opposite the face (211) of the person (200) relative to the head (210) of the person (200).

4. Control method according to any one of the preceding claims in which the camera comprises a field (121), and during the image reception step: • An axis of symmetry (al21) of the field (121) is parallel to the direction of circulation (dirl), and • The field opens in a direction (ouvl) opposite to the direction of circulation (sensl).

5. Control method according to any one of the preceding claims further comprising the following steps: • Determining a distance (dl) between the vehicle (500) and the camera (120), from the images, • Comparison (S30) of the distance (dl) with a threshold, sending the instruction being conditional on the distance (dl) being less than the threshold.

6. A control method according to any preceding claim wherein the vibrator (221) is included in a wristwatch (220) worn on a wrist by the person (200).

7. Computer program comprising instructions, executable by a microprocessor or a microcontroller, for implementing the method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, when executed by the microprocessor or the microcontroller.

8. Electronic device (110) configured to implement the steps of the method according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

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