Contact prevention system

Abstract

To prevent a contact of a vehicle with a structure.SOLUTION: A contact prevention system 1 comprises a detection section 4, a reception section 51, a transmission section 52, and a control section 6. The detection section 4 is a sensor for detecting that a vehicle 3, which moves toward a structure 2, exceeds a predetermined height at a detection point P1 before the structure 2. The reception section 51 reads an on-vehicle unit ID of an on-vehicle ETC device 31 of the vehicle 3. The transmission section 52 transmits the on-vehicle unit ID and information so as to notify the on-vehicle ETC device 31 having the on-vehicle unit ID of the information. The control section 6 is connected to the detection section 4, the reception section 51 and the transmission section 52. When the vehicle 3 exceeding a predetermined height H is detected by the detection section 4, the control section 6 causes the transmission section 52 to transmit the on-vehicle ID of the on-vehicle ETC device 31 of the vehicle 3, which is read by the reception section 51, and attention arousing information.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a contact prevention system for preventing a vehicle from contacting a structure. [Background technology]

[0002] Railway bridges that cross roads have height restrictions under the girders, and a considerable number of automobile collision accidents occur due to cargo exceeding the height restrictions. As a ground-side measure, there is a protective work installed in front of the railway bridge (see, for example, Patent Document 1). As shown in FIG. 4, the protective work 22 has been painted in a different color and has a larger height restriction sign 23 to improve visibility, but vehicles (automobiles) can still collide with it. If a heavy vehicle collides with the protective work 22 at high speed, not only will the protective work 22 be destroyed, but the bridge girder 21 of the railway bridge may also be damaged. Similar problems also occur with structures other than railway bridges that have headroom restrictions, such as overpasses and overhead electric line facilities.

[0003] As a vehicle-side measure, a vehicle width / height detection warning device has been proposed (see Patent Document 2). This device uses an imaging means installed in the vehicle to detect the zebra pattern that indicates the height limit, and issues a warning if it determines that passage is impossible. However, this device is costly to install in the vehicle, so it is not easy to spread the use of it. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2020-147971 A [Patent Document 2] JP 2004-114907 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The present invention is intended to solve the above problem, and has an object to prevent a vehicle from coming into contact with a structure. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The contact prevention system of the present invention is a system for preventing a vehicle from contacting a structure, and comprises a detection unit that detects that a vehicle approaching a structure exceeds a predetermined height at a detection point before the structure, a receiving unit that reads the on-board unit ID of the vehicle's ETC on-board unit, a transmitting unit that transmits the on-board unit ID and information to the ETC on-board unit having the on-board unit ID, and a control unit connected to the detection unit, receiving unit, and transmitting unit, and is characterized in that when a vehicle exceeding the predetermined height is detected by the detection unit, the control unit causes the on-board unit ID of the ETC on-board unit of the vehicle and warning information read by the receiving unit to be transmitted to the transmitting unit.

[0007] This contact prevention system further includes a second receiving unit that reads the onboard unit ID of the ETC onboard unit of a vehicle proceeding toward the structure at a second point closer to the structure than the detection point, and a second transmitting unit that transmits the onboard unit ID and information to cause the ETC onboard unit having the onboard unit ID to notify the information, and it is preferable that the second receiving unit and the second transmitting unit are connected to the control unit, and when the second receiving unit receives an onboard unit ID that is the same as the onboard unit ID transmitted by the transmitting unit together with the warning information, the control unit transmits the onboard unit ID and warning information to the second transmitting unit.

[0008] In this contact prevention system, it is preferable that the system further includes a second detection unit that detects that a vehicle proceeding toward the structure at the second point exceeds a predetermined height, the second detection unit being connected to the control unit, and when a vehicle exceeding the predetermined height is detected by the second detection unit, the control unit transmits to the second transmission unit the onboard unit ID of the ETC onboard unit of the vehicle and warning information read by the second receiving unit. Effect of the Invention

[0009] According to the contact prevention system of the present invention, when a vehicle exceeding a predetermined height is detected at a detection point before a structure, the vehicle's ETC on-board unit ID and warning information are transmitted, so that the ETC on-board unit of the vehicle exceeding the predetermined height is made to report the warning information, thereby preventing the vehicle from contacting the structure. Since the information is reported using an ETC on-board unit for using toll roads, no additional cost burden is imposed on the vehicle, and the system can be easily spread. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a contact prevention system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a side view showing the arrangement of the detection units in the system. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a front view showing the detection range of the detection unit in the system. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a front view of the protective structure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] A contact prevention system according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figs. 1 to 4. As shown in Fig. 2, the contact prevention system 1 is a system that prevents a vehicle 3 from contacting a structure 2. There is a road under the structure 2, and there is a height limit for traffic on the road. The structure 2 is, for example, a bridge girder 21 of a railway bridge spanning the road (see Fig. 4). If a protective work 22 is provided on the railway bridge, the structure 2 may be the protective work 22. The structure 2 is not limited to the bridge girder 21 or the protective work 22.

[0012] As shown in Fig. 1, the contact prevention system 1 includes a detection unit 4, a receiving unit 51, a transmitting unit 52, and a control unit 6. The detection unit 4 is a sensor that detects that the vehicle 3 proceeding toward the structure 2 exceeds a predetermined height at a detection point P1 before the structure 2. The receiving unit 51 reads the on-board unit ID of the ETC on-board unit 31 of the vehicle 3. The transmitting unit 52 transmits the on-board unit ID and information to the ETC on-board unit 31 having the on-board unit ID to notify the information. The control unit 6 is connected to the detection unit 4, the receiving unit 51, and the transmitting unit 52.

[0013] As shown in FIG. 3, the detection range 41 of the detection unit 4 is set above the road, for example, in a certain range above a predetermined height H in the vertical direction and in the range of the lane leading to the structure 2 in the width direction when viewed from the front. The predetermined height H is the same value as the height limit of the structure 2, or a value obtained by subtracting a small margin from the height limit. In this embodiment, the detection unit 4 is a two-dimensional sensor that scans the detection range 41 with laser light. The detection unit 4 may be a three-dimensional sensor having a depth of the detection range 41 in the vehicle travel direction. The detection unit 4 may also be a photoelectric sensor that detects an object that blocks light in the detection range 41.

[0014] In this embodiment, the receiving unit 51 and the transmitting unit 52 are functional parts (parts having a receiving function and a transmitting function) of the roadside unit 5 (see FIG. 1). The roadside unit 5 is a device that performs data communication with the ETC vehicle-mounted unit 31 by Dedicated Short Range Communication (DSRC). The ETC vehicle-mounted unit 31 is mounted on a vehicle in order to use the ETC of a toll road. In other words, the contact prevention system 1 uses the ETC vehicle-mounted unit 31. The vehicle-mounted unit ID of the ETC vehicle-mounted unit 31 is a WCN (Wireless Call Number). The WCN is a unique number assigned to each ETC vehicle-mounted unit 31. The receiving unit 51 and the transmitting unit 52 may be a DSRC receiver and a DSRC transmitter, respectively.

[0015] The control unit 6 includes a CPU, a memory, etc., and functions by executing a program. The control unit 6 is, for example, a programmable controller.

[0016] The detection unit 4, the receiving unit 51, and the transmitting unit 52 (roadside unit 5) are provided near a detection point P1 (see FIG. 2). In this embodiment, the detection point P1 is a point where the vehicle 3 can change course to avoid the height restriction point of the structure 2.

[0017] In the contact prevention system 1 configured as described above, when a vehicle 3 exceeding a predetermined height H is detected by the detection unit 4, the control unit 6 causes the transmission unit 52 to transmit the on-board unit ID of the ETC on-board unit 31 of the vehicle 3 and warning information read by the receiving unit 51 (see Figure 1).

[0018] By providing the detector 4 and the receiver 51 at the same location, the vehicle 3 that is the object of detection by the detector 4 becomes the same as the vehicle 3 equipped with the ETC vehicle-mounted device 31 that is the object of reception by the receiver 41 .

[0019] The control unit 6 stores the vehicle-mounted device ID transmitted by the transmission unit 52 together with the attention-calling information, that is, the vehicle-mounted device ID of the ETC vehicle-mounted device 31 of the vehicle 3 that is above the predetermined height H.

[0020] The ETC vehicle-mounted device 31 of the vehicle 3 receives the vehicle-mounted device ID and the attention information transmitted from the transmission unit 52. Then, the ETC vehicle-mounted device 31 having the vehicle-mounted device ID notifies the attention information. The attention information is an audio attention. An audio attention is, for example, "The height limit ahead is exceeded. Please take a detour." The audio attention does not prevent the driver from watching the road ahead. In addition to audio, the ETC vehicle-mounted device 31 may display the attention information by characters, pictograms, or the like on the screen of the car navigation system connected to the ETC vehicle-mounted device 31. In this way, the contact prevention system 1 makes the ETC vehicle-mounted device 31 notify the attention information, thereby making the driver of the vehicle 3 detour around the height-restricted part of the structure 2.

[0021] A response to the vehicle 3 proceeding toward the structure 2 without changing its course will be described. The contact prevention system 1 further includes a second receiving unit 71 and a second transmitting unit 72. The second receiving unit 71 reads the on-board unit ID of the ETC on-board unit 31 of the vehicle 3 proceeding toward the structure 2 at a second point P2 that is closer to the structure 2 than the detection point P1. The second transmitting unit 72 transmits the on-board unit ID and information, thereby causing the ETC on-board unit 31 having the on-board unit ID to report the information. The second receiving unit 71 and the second transmitting unit 72 are connected to the control unit 6.

[0022] In this embodiment, the second receiving unit 71 and the second transmitting unit 72 are functional parts of the roadside unit 7. The roadside unit 7, the second receiving unit 71, and the second transmitting unit have the same functions as the roadside unit 5, the receiving unit 51, and the transmitting unit 52, respectively. The second receiving unit 71 and the second transmitting unit 72 (roadside unit 7) are provided in the vicinity of a second point P2 (see FIG. 2). The second point P2 is, for example, a point where the vehicle 3 can brake and stop in front of the structure 2.

[0023] In the contact prevention system 1 having the above-mentioned configuration, when the second receiving unit 71 receives the same vehicle device ID as the vehicle device ID transmitted by the transmitting unit 52 together with the warning information, the control unit 6 causes the second transmitting unit 72 to transmit the vehicle device ID and warning information.

[0024] The ETC vehicle-mounted unit 31 of the vehicle 3 receives the vehicle-mounted unit ID and the warning information transmitted from the second transmission unit 72. Then, the ETC vehicle-mounted unit 31 having the vehicle-mounted unit ID notifies the warning information. The warning information is a voice warning. The voice warning is, for example, "Please stop. You are exceeding the height limit." In addition to the voice, the ETC vehicle-mounted unit 31 may display the warning information in the form of characters, pictograms, or the like on the screen of a car navigation system connected to the ETC vehicle-mounted unit 31. In this way, the contact prevention system 1 makes the ETC vehicle-mounted unit 31 notify the warning information, thereby making the driver of the vehicle 3 brake the vehicle 3.

[0025] The notification of the warning information will be further described. The contact prevention system 1 further includes a second detection unit 8. The second detection unit 8 is a sensor that detects that the vehicle 3 proceeding toward the structure 2 at the second point P2 exceeds a predetermined height. That is, the second detection unit 8 has the same function as the detection unit 4. The second detection unit 8 is connected to the control unit 6.

[0026] In this contact prevention system 1, when a vehicle 3 exceeding a predetermined height is detected by the second detection unit 8, the control unit 6 causes the on-board unit ID of the ETC on-board unit 31 of the vehicle 3 and warning information read by the second receiving unit 71 to be transmitted to the second transmitting unit 72.

[0027] Furthermore, by installing the second detection unit 8 and the second receiving unit 71 at the same location, the vehicle 3 detected by the second detection unit 8 will be the same as the vehicle 3 equipped with the ETC on-board unit 31 that is the target of reception by the second receiving unit 71.

[0028] As described above, according to the contact prevention system 1 of this embodiment, when a vehicle 3 exceeding a predetermined height is detected at detection point P1 before the structure 2, the on-board unit ID and warning information of the ETC on-board unit 31 of that vehicle 3 are transmitted, causing the ETC on-board unit 31 of the vehicle 3 exceeding the predetermined height to report the warning information, thereby preventing the vehicle 3 from contacting the structure 2. Since the information is reported using the ETC on-board unit 31 for using toll roads, no additional costs are incurred for the vehicle 3, and the system can be easily spread.

[0029] When an on-board unit ID identical to the on-board unit ID transmitted together with the warning information is received at a second point P2 closer to the structure 2, that on-board unit ID and warning information are transmitted, so that the ETC on-board unit 31 of the vehicle 3 that is above a specified height is notified of the warning information, thereby preventing the vehicle 3 from coming into contact with the structure 2.

[0030] When a vehicle 3 exceeding a predetermined height is detected at the second point P2, the vehicle-mounted unit ID of the ETC vehicle-mounted unit 31 of that vehicle 3 and warning information are transmitted, causing the ETC vehicle-mounted unit 31 of the vehicle 3 exceeding the predetermined height to report the warning information, thereby preventing the vehicle 3 from coming into contact with the structure 2. As the warning information is reported by two different configurations, the reliability of the system is improved.

[0031] The present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above embodiment, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention. For example, in a vehicle 3 having a driving support device, when an ETC vehicle-mounted device 31 (ITS vehicle-mounted device) is connected to the driving support device, the vehicle may be automatically braked by the driving support device when the vehicle-mounted device ID of the vehicle and warning information are received from the contact prevention system 1. In addition, the detection point P1 and the second point P2 are not limited to a point where the vehicle 3 can change its course to detour around the height-restricted portion of the structure 2 and a point where the vehicle 3 can brake and stop in front of the structure 2, respectively. For example, the detection point P1 may be a point where the vehicle 3 can decelerate and stop in front of the structure 2 without applying sudden brakes, and the second point P2 may be a point where sudden brakes should be applied. [Explanation of symbols]

[0032] 1 Contact Prevention System 4. Detection unit 51 Receiving section 52 Transmitter 6. Control Unit 71 Second Receiving Unit 72 Second Transmission Unit 8 Second detection section

Claims

1. A contact prevention system for preventing a vehicle from contacting a structure, comprising: a detection unit that detects that a vehicle proceeding toward a structure exceeds a predetermined height at a detection point before the structure; A receiver that reads an on-board device ID of an ETC on-board device of a vehicle; a transmitter for transmitting an in-vehicle device ID and information to an ETC in-vehicle device having the in-vehicle device ID, and A control unit connected to the detection unit, the reception unit, and the transmission unit, A contact prevention system characterized in that, when a vehicle exceeding the specified height is detected by the detection unit, the control unit causes the transmission unit to transmit the vehicle's ETC onboard unit ID and warning information read by the receiving unit.

2. a second receiving unit that reads an on-board unit ID of an ETC on-board unit of a vehicle proceeding to the structure at a second point that is closer to the structure than the detection point; a second transmission unit that transmits the vehicle-mounted device ID and the information to cause an ETC vehicle-mounted device having the vehicle-mounted device ID to notify the information; The second receiving unit and the second transmitting unit are connected to the control unit, The contact prevention system according to claim 1, characterized in that when the second receiving unit receives an on-board device ID that is the same as the on-board device ID transmitted by the transmitting unit together with the warning information, the control unit causes the second transmitting unit to transmit the on-board device ID and warning information.

3. A second detection unit is further provided to detect that a vehicle proceeding toward the structure at the second point exceeds a predetermined height, The second detection unit is connected to the control unit, The contact prevention system described in claim 2, characterized in that when a vehicle exceeding the specified height is detected by the second detection unit, the control unit causes the second transmission unit to transmit the vehicle's ETC vehicle unit ID and warning information read by the second receiving unit.

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