Information provision system

Abstract

To provide an information provision system for providing correct railroad crossing information.SOLUTION: An information provision system 100 includes: a railroad crossing control device 11 arranged in a railroad crossing device 10 so as to acquire bar movement information related to a movement of a crossing bar 13a; a detection device 22 for acquiring bar outer appearance information related to an outer appearance state of the crossing bar 13a; a determination device 21a for determining a railroad crossing state based on the bar movement information and the bar outer appearance information; and a communication device 23 for transmitting a determination result of the determination device 21a to an external OS as railroad crossing information.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an information providing system that provides information regarding the status of a railroad crossing. [Background technology]

[0002] It is disclosed that an information provision system acquires railroad crossing timetable information from a railroad crossing control system and signal change timing information from a traffic signal control system, and transmits to automobiles predicted warning time information for railroad crossings and predicted signal change information for intersections (Patent Document 1).

[0003] It has been disclosed that a railroad crossing information system notifies vehicles, trains, etc. of information based on whether or not there is vehicle space beyond the railroad crossing in order to determine the road conditions around the railroad crossing (Patent Document 2).

[0004] The systems in Patent Documents 1 and 2 do not provide the vehicle with information that takes into account the actual movement of the gate and the situation at the crossing at that time, so if there is a discrepancy between the actual movement of the gate and the situation at the crossing at that time, it may lead to a collision between the train and the vehicle. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] JP 2020-67742 A [Patent Document 2] JP 2019-172076 A Summary of the Invention

[0006] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above background, and has an object to provide an information providing system that provides accurate railroad crossing information.

[0007] In order to achieve the above-mentioned objective, the information provision system of the present invention comprises a railroad crossing control device that is installed in a railroad crossing device and acquires rail operation information regarding the operation of the barrier bar, a detection device that acquires rail appearance information regarding the external condition of the barrier bar, a judgment device that judges the railroad crossing situation from the rail operation information and the rail appearance information, and a communication device that transmits the judgment result of the judgment device to the outside as railroad crossing information.

[0008] In the above information providing system, the gate bar status can be reliably determined by comparing the gate bar operation information acquired as internal information of the crossing device with the gate bar appearance information acquired as the gate bar's appearance status. This makes it possible to provide accurate gate bar information to the outside world and support safe crossing at the crossing. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a road on which an information provision system according to a first embodiment is provided. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram illustrating the movement or position of a barrier of a crossing gate. [Diagram 3] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of an information providing system. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a determination result of the determination device. [Diagram 5] 11 is a flowchart illustrating a series of operations in the information providing system. [Figure 6] FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of an information providing system according to a second embodiment. [Figure 7] 6 is a flowchart for explaining a series of operations in the information providing system shown in FIG. 5. [Figure 8] FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of an information providing system according to a third embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] [First embodiment] An example of an information provision system according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to Fig. 1 etc. Fig. 1 is a conceptual diagram for explaining an overview of a railroad crossing GC and a road RA in the vicinity thereof, to which an information provision system 100 according to this embodiment has been introduced.

[0011] In the example of Fig. 1, the railroad crossing GC is located in an area where a road RA and a railway line RD intersect. The information provision system 100 is installed at the railroad crossing GC and the surrounding road RA. In the example of Fig. 1, a vehicle VE runs on the road RA in the direction of an arrow AR toward the railway line RD.

[0012] The information providing system 100 controls the operation of the railroad crossing device 10 and transmits information on the state of the railroad crossing GC to an external OS, thereby supporting traffic at the railroad crossing GC. The information providing system 100 is capable of communicating with the external OS, for example, by wireless communication. The external OS is, for example, a vehicle VE, or a train, a moving object, a management device, etc. (not shown). Specifically, the vehicle VE is an autonomous vehicle, which will be described later, and acquires railroad crossing information by a vehicle device 60 mounted on the autonomous vehicle. The moving object is a manually driven vehicle other than an autonomous vehicle, or a pedestrian, etc., and acquires railroad crossing information by application software mounted on a car navigation device, a mobile terminal, etc. The management device is, for example, installed in a management center or the like away from the railroad crossing device 10, and comprehensively manages the information providing system 100.

[0013] The crossing information indicates the status of the crossing GC, and specifically, is either the crossing open, the barrier in operation, the crossing closed, or the barrier abnormality. Figure 2 is a conceptual diagram explaining the movement or position of the barrier 13a of the crossing gate 13 described later. As shown in Figure 2, the crossing open is a state in which the barrier 13a has risen to the non-blocking position P1. The crossing closed is a state in which the barrier 13a has descended to the blocking position P4. The barrier in operation is a state in which the barrier 13a is moving between the non-blocking position P1, which includes positions P2 and P3, and the blocking position P4. The barrier abnormality is a state in which the barrier 13a is broken.

[0014] 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the information provision system 100. The information provision system 100 includes a railroad crossing device 10 and a roadside device 20. In the information provision system 100 of this embodiment, the railroad crossing device 10 internally monitors the status of the railroad crossing GC. The roadside device 20 externally monitors the status of the railroad crossing GC.

[0015] As shown in Fig. 3, the railroad crossing device 10 includes a railroad crossing control device 11, a motor 12, a barrier 13, a monitoring device 14, and an interface 15. The railroad crossing device 10 is disposed inside the railroad crossing GC or near the track RD (see Fig. 1). The railroad crossing devices 10 are disposed at the entrance and exit of the railroad crossing GC, with the track RD in between.

[0016] The crossing control device 11 controls the operation of the motor 12, the barrier 13, the monitoring device 14, etc. The crossing control device 11 also acquires bar operation information relating to the operation of the barrier bar 13a of the barrier 13, which will be described later. Here, the bar operation information is based on the operation information of the motor 12, and specifically, is any one of the following: crossing open, barrier bar lowering, crossing blocked, and barrier bar rising. Note that when a breakage of the barrier bar 13a is detected by the monitoring device 14, which will be described later, the crossing control device 11 acquires breakage information of the barrier bar 13a.

[0017] The motor 12 operates a barrier bar 13a of a crossing gate 13. The motor 12 is controlled by an operation signal from a railroad crossing control device 11. The motor 12 outputs operation information to a monitoring device 14.

[0018] The crossing gate 13 has a crossing bar 13a and a crossing gate body 13b. The crossing gate 13 prevents vehicles VE, pedestrians, etc. from entering the crossing GC by lowering the crossing bar 13a. The crossing gate body 13b houses the crossing control device 11, the monitoring device 14, the motor 12, an opening and closing mechanism (not shown), etc. inside the housing. In the illustrated example, the pair of crossing devices 10 provided at the crossing GC each have the crossing control device 11, but the pair of crossing devices 10 may be controlled collectively by providing the crossing control device 11 to either one of the pair of crossing devices 10 or as a separate device. The housing of the crossing gate body 13b holds one end of the crossing bar 13a.

[0019] The monitoring device 14 internally monitors the barrier bar 13a and outputs bar operation information to the crossing control device 11. As described above, the monitoring device 14 outputs bar operation information based on operation information of the motor 12. The monitoring device 14 detects whether the barrier bar 13a is broken by, for example, a sensor not shown. If the monitoring device 14 detects breakage of the barrier 13, it outputs breakage information together with bar operation information to the crossing control device 11.

[0020] The interface 15 outputs the bar operation information, breakage information, and the like acquired by the railroad crossing control device 11 to the roadside device 20. The interface 15 is connected by wire or wirelessly.

[0021] The roadside device 20 includes a roadside control device 21, a detection device 22, a communication device 23, and an interface 24. The roadside device 20 is disposed in the vicinity of the railroad crossing device 10 near a road RA and capable of monitoring the railroad crossing device 10 (see FIG. 1).

[0022] The roadside control device 21 controls the operation of the detection device 22, communication device 23, etc. The roadside control device 21 has a judgment device 21a. The judgment device 21a judges the status of the railroad crossing GC from the stick operation information and the stick appearance information. The judgment device 21a judges whether the railroad crossing is crossable, not crossable, or not crossable and the barrier bar is abnormal, in accordance with a predetermined judgment criterion. This allows easy judgment regarding the railroad crossing information.

[0023] FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining an example of the judgment result of the judgment device 21a and the railroad crossing information. As shown in FIG. 4, the judgment device 21a judges that crossing is possible in response to the railroad crossing information when the stick operation information and the stick appearance information match and the railroad crossing is open. The judgment device 21a judges that crossing is impossible in response to the railroad crossing information when the stick operation information and the stick appearance information match and the railroad crossing is closed or the barrier is operating. The judgment device 21a judges that crossing is impossible and the barrier is abnormal in response to the railroad crossing information when the stick operation information and the stick appearance information do not match. The judgment device 21a judges that crossing is impossible and the barrier is abnormal in response to the railroad crossing information when either the breakage information from the railroad crossing device 10 or the barrier is broken in the bar appearance information is input. Note that the judgment device 21a may judge that crossing is impossible and the barrier is abnormal in response to the railroad crossing information when there is information on the barrier bar breakage without checking the agreement between the stick operation information and the bar appearance information. In other words, the determination of the coincidence may or may not use the blocking rod breakage in the rod appearance information.

[0024] In the above, the display or expression of the crossing information can be changed as appropriate. For example, the crossing information may be expressed in a color corresponding to the judgment result. Specifically, the crossing information may be expressed in green if crossing is possible, in red if crossing is impossible, and in red and a note that the crossing bar is abnormal if crossing is impossible and the crossing bar is abnormal.

[0025] Returning to Fig. 3, the detection device 22 acquires bar appearance information relating to the external state of the barrier 13a. The bar appearance information is any one of the following: crossing open, bar descending, crossing closed, bar rising, and bar broken. The detection device 22 grasps the state of the barrier 13a from its appearance, and detects not only the operation of the barrier 13a, but also whether the barrier 13a is broken.

[0026] The detection device 22 has an acquisition unit 22a and a processing unit 22b. The acquisition unit 22a is, for example, an imaging device such as a camera or a sensor such as a LiDAR (Light Detection And Ranging), and captures or measures a predetermined range of the railroad crossing GC including the barrier bar 13a. The processing unit 22b performs predetermined processing on the image data acquired by the acquisition unit 22a, and obtains the state of the barrier bar 13a as barrier appearance information. Note that the roadside control device 21 may take on the function of the processing unit 22b.

[0027] The communication device 23 transmits the determination result of the determination device 21a to an external OS, specifically, a vehicle VE, as crossing information by wireless communication. The communication device 23 performs digital data communication with a vehicle VE present in a predetermined communication zone, while identifying the other device, via a communication network NT. The communication network NT enables communication by a communication method using a mobile communication line, such as 5G or 4G LTE, a mid-range wireless communication method, such as wireless LAN, a short-range wireless communication method, such as DSRC, or a spot communication method, such as a beacon. The communication device 23 can employ any one or a combination of the above communication methods. The communication by the communication device 23 may be a broadcast or a response to a request from the vehicle VE.

[0028] The interface 24 receives information output by the railroad crossing device 10. The interface 24 is connected by wire or wirelessly.

[0029] The vehicle VE that is the support target of the information provision system 100 is, for example, an autonomous vehicle. The vehicle VE has a vehicle device 60 for autonomous driving. The vehicle device 60 has a processor 61, a communication device 62, and an interface 63. The processor 61 controls various operations of the vehicle device 60. The processor 61 transmits a vehicle ID, position information, etc. to the roadside device 20 via the communication device 62, and receives railroad crossing information, etc. from the roadside device 20. The processor 61 performs various controls for autonomous driving based on the received railroad crossing information, etc. The processor 61 also outputs the possibility of crossing the railroad crossing GC based on the railroad crossing information, etc. to an interface 63 such as a display. The interface 63 is connected by wire or wirelessly.

[0030] An example of a series of operations in the information provision system 100 will be described below with reference to Fig. 5. The crossing control device 11 of the crossing device 10 outputs an operation signal to the motor 12 at a predetermined timing based on train detection information acquired by a sensor (not shown) to operate the crossing gate 13. The crossing gate 13 changes the position of the gate bar 13a in accordance with the operation of the motor 12. The monitoring device 14 monitors the state of the gate bar 13a, specifically, whether it is broken, by a sensor (not shown).

[0031] The crossing control device 11 of the crossing device 10 acquires bar operation information (step S11). Specifically, the crossing control device 11 receives bar operation information from the monitoring device 14. At this time, if the barrier bar 13a is broken, breakage information is also received. When the monitoring device 14 acquires operation information from the motor 12, it outputs the position or operation of the barrier bar 13a to the crossing control device 11 as bar operation information based on the operation information. In addition, when the monitoring device 14 acquires breakage information from the barrier 13, it outputs this to the crossing control device 11.

[0032] Next, the railroad crossing control device 11 outputs stick operation information to the roadside device 20 (step S12). Specifically, the railroad crossing control device 11 outputs the stick operation information acquired in step S11 to the roadside device 20 via the interface 15. At this time, if the railroad crossing control device 11 also acquires breakage information, it also outputs this to the roadside device 20.

[0033] Next, the roadside control device 21 of the roadside device 20 receives input of stick operation information from the railroad crossing device 10 (step S21). Specifically, the roadside control device 21 receives input of the stick operation information or breakage information output by the railroad crossing device 10 via the interface 24.

[0034] Next, the roadside controller 21 detects the bar appearance information (step S22). Specifically, the roadside controller 21 operates the detector 22 to detect the bar appearance information. The detector 22 acquires an image of the barrier bar 13a, analyzes the state of the barrier bar 13a from the acquired image, and outputs the result as bar appearance information to the roadside controller 21. The roadside controller 21 may analyze the acquired image.

[0035] Next, the roadside control device 21, functioning as the determination device 21a, determines the status of the railroad crossing GC (step S23). Specifically, the determination device 21a compares, or matches, the bar operation information acquired from the railroad crossing device 10 with the bar appearance information acquired from the detection device 22 to determine the status of the railroad crossing GC as shown in FIG. 4. The determination result is, for example, either crossing permitted, crossing prohibited, or crossing prohibited and the barrier bar is abnormal, and corresponds to the railroad crossing information. The railroad crossing information may be expressed in a color corresponding to the determination result. Specifically, green is used when crossing is permitted, red is used when crossing is prohibited, and red is used with a note that the barrier bar is abnormal when crossing is prohibited and the barrier bar is abnormal.

[0036] Next, the roadside control device 21 transmits the crossing information to the external OS (step S24). Specifically, the roadside control device 21 transmits the judgment result of step S23 as crossing information to the external OS, specifically the vehicle VE, via the communication device 23. The calculation processing device 61 of the vehicle VE receives the crossing information from the roadside device 20 via the communication device 62, and outputs the crossing information to the interface 63. The interface 63 displays the crossing information, for example, as either crossing permitted, crossing prohibited and barrier abnormal, or crossing prohibited. The crossing information may be displayed in a color corresponding to the judgment result.

[0037] In the information providing system 100 described above, the state of the gate bar 13a can be reliably determined by comparing the gate bar operation information of the gate bar 13a acquired as internal information of the crossing device 10 with the gate bar appearance information of the gate bar 13a acquired as the appearance state of the gate bar 13a. This makes it possible to provide accurate crossing information to the external OS and to support safe crossing at the GC crossing.

[0038] Second Embodiment An example of an information providing system according to the second embodiment will be described below with reference to Fig. 6 etc. In the second embodiment, a description of matters similar to those in the first embodiment etc. will be omitted.

[0039] Fig. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the information provision system 100. As shown in Fig. 6, the information provision system 100 includes a railroad crossing device 10. That is, in this embodiment, the information provision system 100 does not include a roadside device 20, and the railroad crossing device 10 includes the functions of the roadside device 20 shown in Fig. 1.

[0040] The railroad crossing device 10 includes a railroad crossing control device 11, a motor 12, a barrier 13, a monitoring device 14, a detection device 22, and a communication device 23.

[0041] The crossing control device 11 controls the operation of the motor 12, the barrier 13, the monitoring device 14, the detection device 22, the communication device 23, etc. The crossing control device 11 has a determination device 21a. The determination device 21a compares stick operation information from the monitoring device 14 with stick appearance information from the detection device 22 to determine the status of the crossing GC as shown in Figure 4.

[0042] An example of a series of operations in the information provision system 100 will be described below with reference to Fig. 7. In this embodiment as well, the railroad crossing control device 11 of the railroad crossing device 10 operates the crossing gate 13 at a predetermined timing.

[0043] The railroad crossing control device 11 of the railroad crossing device 10 acquires bar operation information (step S31).

[0044] Next, the railroad crossing control device 11 detects the railroad crossing appearance information (step S32). Specifically, the railroad crossing control device 11 operates the detection device 22 to detect the railroad crossing appearance information. The acquired image may be analyzed by the railroad crossing control device 11.

[0045] Next, the crossing control device 11, as the determination device 21a, determines the state of the crossing GC (step S33). Specifically, the determination device 21a compares the stick operation information with the stick appearance information to determine the state of the crossing GC as shown in FIG.

[0046] Next, the railroad crossing control device 11 transmits the railroad crossing information to the external OS (step S34). Specifically, the railroad crossing control device 11 transmits the determination result of step S33 as the railroad crossing information to the external OS, specifically, the vehicle VE, via the communication device 23.

[0047] Third Embodiment An example of an information providing system according to the third embodiment will be described below with reference to Fig. 8 etc. In the third embodiment, the description of the same matters as in the first embodiment etc. will be omitted.

[0048] Fig. 8 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of an information provision system 100. As shown in Fig. 8, the information provision system 100 includes a railroad crossing device 10 and a roadside device 20. In this embodiment, the railroad crossing device 10 does not include a monitoring device 14. The roadside device 20 has the same configuration as the roadside device 20 shown in Fig. 3.

[0049] The railroad crossing device 10 has a railroad crossing control device 11, a motor 12, and a barrier 13.

[0050] The crossing control device 11 controls the operation of the motor 12, the crossing gate 13, etc. The crossing control device 11 outputs a contact signal according to the positions P1 to P4 of the gate bar 13a shown in Fig. 2. The motor 12 operates the crossing gate 13 based on the contact signal.

[0051] The barrier 13 includes a barrier bar 13a, a barrier body 13b, and a breakage detector 13c. The breakage detector 13c detects whether the barrier bar 13a is broken by, for example, a sensor (not shown).

[0052] The crossing gate 13 outputs contact information to the crossing control device 11. The crossing control device 11 acquires crossing open or crossing closed information from the contact information as part of the stick operation information. The crossing control device 11 acquires information on the stick operation information, indicating that the stick is down or that the stick is up, based on the time series movement of the contacts. Note that the distinction between crossing open, stick down, crossing closed, and stick up in the stick operation information may be made by the roadside control device 21, rather than by the crossing control device 11. In this case, the contact information output to the roadside device 20 is also included in the stick operation information.

[0053] 〔others〕 The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be embodied in various forms without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

[0054] In the above embodiment, the shape of the road RA is merely an example, and the present invention is not limited to this and can be applied to cases where the road has various shapes and structures.

[0055] In the above embodiment, the criteria for determining the railroad crossing GC can be changed as appropriate.

[0056] In the above embodiment, when one of the stick operation information and the stick appearance information cannot be obtained, the situation of the railroad crossing GC may be determined based only on the other information.

[0057] In the above embodiment, when the determination device 21a determines that the barrier rod is abnormal, it may notify a management center (not shown). [Explanation of symbols]

[0058] 10...railroad crossing device, 11...railroad crossing control device, 12...motor, 13...crossing gate, 13a...barrier, 13b...crossing gate body, 13c...breakage detection device, 14...monitoring device, 15...interface, 20...roadside device, 21...roadside control device, 21a...judgment device, 22...detection device, 22a...acquisition unit, 22b...processing unit, 23...communication device, 24...interface, 60...vehicle device, 100...information provision system, GC...railroad crossing, OS...external, RA...road, RD...railway, RM...wireless communication, VE...vehicle

Claims

1. A railroad crossing control device that is provided in the railroad crossing device and acquires rail operation information related to the operation of a barrier bar; A detection device for acquiring stick appearance information relating to the appearance state of the barrier stick; A determination device that determines a railroad crossing situation from the stick operation information and the stick appearance information; A communication device that transmits the determination result of the determination device to an external device as railroad crossing information; An information provision system comprising:

2. The information providing system according to claim 1 , wherein the crossing information is any one of a crossing open, a barrier in operation, a crossing closed, and a barrier abnormality.

3. The information providing system according to claim 1 , wherein the bar operation information is any one of a crossing open, a barrier bar lowering, a crossing closed, and a barrier bar rising.

4. 2. The information providing system according to claim 1, wherein the gate appearance information is any one of: crossing open, gate bar lowering, crossing closed, gate bar rising, and gate bar broken.

5. The information provision system described in claim 1, wherein the judgment device judges that crossing is possible in accordance with the crossing information when the stick operation information and the stick appearance information match and the crossing is open, judges that crossing is not possible in accordance with the crossing information when the stick operation information and the stick appearance information match and the crossing is closed or the barrier bar is operating, and judges that crossing is not possible and the barrier bar is abnormal in accordance with the crossing information when the stick operation information and the stick appearance information do not match.

6. The railroad crossing control device acquires information on the breakage of the barrier, The information providing system according to claim 1 , wherein the determination device determines that crossing is impossible and that the barrier bar is abnormal when either the breakage information or the barrier bar appearance information is input.

7. The detection device, the determination device, and the communication device are provided in a roadside device that is arranged in the vicinity of the railroad crossing device so as to be able to monitor the railroad crossing device, The information providing system according to claim 1 , wherein the railroad crossing device outputs the stick operation information to the roadside device.

8. The information providing system according to claim 1 , wherein the detection device, the determination device, and the communication device are provided in the railroad crossing device.

9. 2. The information providing system according to claim 1, wherein the railroad crossing device has a monitoring device that internally monitors the barrier and outputs the barrier operation information to the railroad crossing control device.

10. The information providing system according to claim 1 , wherein the outside is an autonomous vehicle.

Images