Information providing system

Abstract

To provide an information providing system for providing an accurate circuit breaker state.SOLUTION: An information providing system 100 includes a circuit breaker monitoring device 10 having a detection device 12 for detecting appearance information on a monitoring area BR including an arm section 22 of a circuit breaker 20, a determination device 11b for determining a circuit breaker state based on the appearance information, and a communication device 13 for transmitting the circuit breaker state to an external OS.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an information providing system that provides information regarding the state of a barrier gate.

Background Art

[0002] As a driving support device, it is disclosed that whether a level crossing can be crossed is determined based on information such as the opening / closing status of the level crossing, the road conditions ahead of the level crossing, and the position of the own vehicle (Patent Document 1). In the device of Patent Document 1, the opening / closing status of the level crossing is generated based on the position of the level crossing, the train operation information, the control information of the barrier gate, etc., and there are cases where the actual level crossing situation cannot be accurately determined when the barrier rod is damaged.

[0003] As a level crossing information providing system, it is disclosed that the relative position between a moving body and a level crossing is detected, the opening / closing state of the level crossing is detected, the traffic conditions before and after the level crossing are detected, and the generated level crossing information is output to the moving body (Patent Document 2). In the system of Patent Document 2, the open state or closed state of the barrier gate is detected by a level crossing management device installed inside the level crossing, and there are cases where the actual level crossing situation cannot be accurately determined when the barrier rod is damaged.

[0004] As an abnormality monitoring device, it is disclosed that an abnormality of the barrier gate is detected based on an image portion corresponding to a predetermined marker color on the barrier rod in a captured image (Patent Document 3). In the device of Patent Document 3, since only the barrier rod is extracted from the image to detect an abnormality, there is a possibility that a situation inconsistent with the state of the barrier gate occurs when the barrier rod is damaged.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Patent Document 3

Summary of the Invention

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of the above background, and an object thereof is to provide an information providing system that provides accurate breaker state information.

[0007] To achieve the above object, an information providing system according to the present invention includes a detection device that detects appearance information about a monitoring area including a link portion of a breaker, a determination device that determines a breaker state based on the appearance information, and a communication device that transmits the breaker state to the outside. It comprises a breaker monitoring device having a communication device.

[0008] In the above information providing system, by detecting appearance information including a link portion directly connected to the drive source of the breaker, the actual breaker state can be determined regardless of the state of the breaker rod. Further, the communication device can provide information about the breaker state to the vehicle side using this system, and can assist safe passage at the location where the breaker is installed.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0009]

Figure 1

Figure 2

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Figure 11

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0010] 〔First Embodiment〕 Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 1 and the like, an example of the information - providing system according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram for explaining an overview of a level crossing GC where the information - providing system 100 according to the present embodiment is introduced and the surrounding road RA.

[0011] In the example of FIG. 1, the level crossing GC is arranged in an area where the road RA and the railway line RD intersect. The information - providing system 100 is installed within the level crossing GC or on the road RA around the level crossing GC. In the example of FIG. 1, the vehicle VE is traveling on the road RA in the direction of the arrow AR towards the railway line RD.

[0012] The information providing system 100 supports traffic in the level crossing GC by transmitting information regarding the state of the barrier (barrier information), specifically information regarding the crossing situation, to an external OS. The information providing system 100 can communicate with the external OS, for example, via wireless communication. The external OS is, for example, a vehicle VE, or a train, a moving body, a management device, etc. not shown in the figure. Specifically, the vehicle VE is an autonomous driving vehicle described later, and the vehicle device 60 mounted on the autonomous driving vehicle acquires the state of the barrier or barrier information. By providing the autonomous driving vehicle with barrier information, the autonomous driving vehicle can safely pass through the level crossing. The moving body as the external OS may be a manually driven automobile other than the autonomous driving vehicle (for example, a commercial vehicle such as a bus or a general vehicle), a bicycle, or a pedestrian, etc. In that case, the barrier information is acquired by application software or an in-vehicle device mounted on a car navigation device or a mobile terminal, etc. The management device as the external OS is installed, for example, in a management center, etc. located away from the barrier monitoring device 10 described later, and comprehensively manages the information providing system 100.

[0013] Figure 2 is a conceptual diagram for explaining the information providing system 100 as a whole. In Figure 2, the movement or position of the barrier rod 21 and the tie bar 22 of the barrier 20 are shown. Figure 3 is a block diagram for explaining a configuration example of the information providing system 100.

[0014] As shown in Figure 2, the barrier 20 has a barrier rod 21, a tie bar 22, and a barrier body 23. The barrier 20 prevents the entry of vehicle VEs, pedestrians, etc. into the level crossing GC by lowering the barrier rod 21. The barrier body 23 houses a level crossing control device, a motor, etc. not shown inside the housing. The tie bar 22 rotatably holds one end of the barrier rod 21.

[0015] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the information providing system 100 can be regarded as including the circuit breaker monitoring device 10 and adding the vehicle device 60 incorporating the user terminal device UT to the circuit breaker monitoring device 10. The circuit breaker monitoring device 10 constituting the information providing system 100 externally monitors the circuit breaker state in the monitoring area BR. The monitoring area BR is an area for monitoring the operation of the circuit breaker 20 (only the tie bar portion 22, or the breaker bar 21 and the tie bar portion 22). In the present embodiment, the circuit breaker state is the situation of the level crossing GC in the monitoring area BR, and specifically, it is any one of open, blocked, breaker bar in operation, and circuit breaker abnormality. Open means a state where the breaker bar 21 is raised and in the raised position (non-blocked position) P1. Blocked means a state where the breaker bar 21 is lowered and in the lowered position (blocked position) P3. Breaker bar in operation means a state where the breaker bar 21 is in the transition position P2 between the raised position P1 and the lowered position P3. In FIG. 2, there is one transition position P2, but actually, there may be a plurality of transition positions P2 between the raised position P1 and the lowered position P3. Circuit breaker abnormality means a state where the breaker bar 21 is damaged, or a state where the breaker bar 21 or the tie bar portion 22 does not operate normally, etc. The monitoring area BR has a predetermined area CR arranged at the raised position P1, the lowered position P3, and the transition position P2 of the breaker bar 21. Each predetermined area CR has a range set along the shapes of the breaker bar 21 and the tie bar portion 22 at the raised position P1, the lowered position P3, and the transition position P2. At the raised position P1, the lowered position P3, and the transition position P2, the range of the predetermined area CR may change according to the shapes of the breaker bar 21 and the tie bar portion 22. The predetermined area CR is set by the determination device 11b of the control device 11 described later. The predetermined area CR may be set in advance according to the position of the monitoring area BR, or may be set in real time following the movement of the breaker bar 21 and the tie bar portion 22. In any case, the predetermined area CR is linked to the position information of the monitoring area BR.

[0016] The circuit breaker monitoring device 10 includes a control device 11, a detection device 12, a communication device 13, and a storage device 14. The circuit breaker monitoring device 10 is arranged at a position near the road RA where the circuit breaker 20 can be monitored.

[0017] The control device 11 includes an arithmetic processing unit such as a CPU, reads out a computer program and data recorded in a storage device 14 (an auxiliary storage device 14b described later, see FIG. 3), and executes predetermined information processing (specifically, various processes executed by the breaker monitoring device 10). The control device 11 controls the operations of the detection device 12, the communication device 13, the storage device 14, and the like. The control device 11 has a processing device 11a and a determination device 11b. The control device 11 realizes the processing device 11a and the determination device 11b by reading out and executing a computer program from the storage device 14, specifically, the auxiliary storage device 14b.

[0018] The processing device 11a analyzes appearance information such as image data acquired by the detection device 12. The appearance information is image data or point cloud data including the appearances of the breaker rod 21 and the brace 22 acquired by the detection device 12, or something obtained by analyzing these. The appearance information, which is the analyzed image information, is output to the determination device 11b. Note that the processing device 11a may be omitted and the detection device 12 may be responsible for analyzing appearance information and the like.

[0019] The determination device 11b determines the state of the breaker based on the appearance information obtained by the processing in the processing device 11a. The breaker state is the state of the blocking rod 21 (blocking rod state) and the state of the link part 22 (link part state) obtained from the appearance information (image, point cloud) in the monitoring area BR detected by the detection device 12. The appearance information determined by the determination device 11b may be only an image, only a point cloud, or both an image and a point cloud. The determination device 11b determines the breaker state as a crossing situation based on the results of determining the blocking rod state and the link part state from the appearance information. The determination device 11b determines the breaker state, for example, based on the consistency or conformity between the blocking rod state and the link part state. Thereby, the determination device 11b can accurately determine the breaker state. Here, the blocking rod state means that the blocking rod 21 is in any of the raised position P1, the lowered position P3, lowering, raising, and blocking rod abnormality. The link part state means that the link part 22 is in any of the raised position P1, the lowered position P3, lowering, and raising. Lowering and raising correspond to the operation of the blocking rod and mean that it is at any transition position P2 between the raised position P1 and the lowered position P3 and is moving. The blocking rod abnormality is included in the breaker abnormality.

[0020] FIGS. 4(A) and 4(B) are conceptual diagrams for explaining the determination of the blocking rod state and the link part state. FIGS. 4(A) and 4(B) are views of the breaker 20 seen from the side, that is, the front side. Note that the appearance information detected by the detection device 12 is not limited to the front view image data of the breaker 20, and may be image data or the like viewed from other directions such as an obliquely upward direction or an obliquely left and right direction as long as the appearance of the breaker 20 can be observed.

[0021] As shown in FIG. 4(A), the determination device 11b detects the positions and angles of the cutoff lever 21 and the link part 22. The positions and angles of the cutoff lever 21 and the link part 22 are determined based on, for example, the center or tip of the cutoff lever 21 and the link part 22 in the appearance information as reference points. The positions of the cutoff lever 21 and the link part 22 are classified into the raised position P1, the lowered position P3, or the transition position P2 (see FIG. 2). The angle of the cutoff lever 21 and the link part 22 is set to, for example, 0° with respect to the lowered position P3 with the minimum value, the angle of the raised position P1 with the maximum value is, for example, 90° with respect to the lowered position P3, and the angle of the transition position P2 is, for example, more than 0° and less than 90° with respect to the lowered position P3. The angles of the cutoff lever 21 and the link part 22 are not limited to 0° or more and 90° or less, and can be changed as appropriate.

[0022] Note that the positions and angles of the cutoff lever 21 and the link part 22 may be detected based on a predetermined region CR including the cutoff lever 21 and the link part 22. In this case, the predetermined region CR is preset according to the positions and angles of the cutoff lever 21 and the link part 22. The determination device 11b extracts the predetermined region CR to which the cutoff lever 21 and the link part 22 in the appearance information apply from the plurality of preset predetermined regions CR, and sets the position and angle of the extracted predetermined region CR as the positions and angles of the cutoff lever 21 and the link part 22.

[0023] The determination device 11b determines the link part state based on the position and angle of the link part 22 and the position of the predetermined region CR, and determines the cutoff lever state based on the position and angle of the cutoff lever 21 and the position of the predetermined region CR. By grasping the positions and the like of the link part 22 and the cutoff lever 21, the determination device 11b can accurately determine the link part state and the cutoff lever state.

[0024] As shown in FIG. 4(B), when the cutoff lever 21 deviates from the predetermined region CR of the monitoring region BR, the determination device 11b determines that there is a cutoff lever abnormality. Thereby, it is possible to grasp the breakage of the cutoff lever 21. When the link part state or the cutoff lever state has been the same state for a predetermined time or more, the determination device 11b determines that there is a cutoff machine abnormality because the cutoff lever 21 and the link part 22 are not operating normally. Thereby, it is possible to grasp the abnormality of the control system of the cutoff machine 20.

[0025] The determination device 11b determines, according to a predetermined determination criterion, corresponding to the breaker state as (1) crossable, (2) non-crossable, and (3) non-crossable and breaker abnormal. Thereby, it is possible to simply determine the breaker state.

[0026] FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining an example of the determination result of the determination device 11b and the breaker state (breaker information). As shown in FIG. 5, when the state of the link part and the state of the cutoff rod are consistent and open, the determination device 11b determines as (1) crossable corresponding to the breaker state. The determination device 11b determines as (2) non-crossable corresponding to the breaker state when the state of the link part and the state of the cutoff rod are consistent and in the cutoff or cutoff rod operation. The determination device 11b determines as (3) non-crossable and breaker abnormal corresponding to the breaker state when the state of the link part and the state of the cutoff rod are inconsistent.

[0027] In the above, the display or expression of the breaker state (breaker information) can be changed as appropriate. For example, when the breaker state is displayed on the display of an external OS, it may be expressed in a color corresponding to the determination result. Specifically, it is green in the case of (1) crossable, red in the case of (2) non-crossable, and red with an additional note of breaker abnormal in the case of (3) non-crossable and breaker abnormal.

[0028] Returning to FIG. 3, the detection device 12 detects appearance information about the monitoring area BR shown in FIG. 2. By the detection device 12, the state of the breaker 20 can be grasped from the appearance, and in addition to the operations of the cutoff rod 21 and the link part 22, image data etc. that can also determine the presence or absence of breakage of the cutoff rod 21 can be obtained. The detection of the breaker state by the detection device 12 means the acquisition of image data etc. for the determination of the breaker state, but when the detection device 12 performs analysis processing of the image data, it may perform the determination of the breaker state as a part of the determination device 11b.

[0029] The detection device 12 is, for example, an imaging device such as a camera or a sensor such as LiDAR (Light Detection And Ranging), and photographs or measures the monitoring area BR.

[0030] The communication device 13 transmits, by wireless communication, the determination result of the determination device 11b to an external OS, specifically, to the vehicle VE as a circuit breaker state (circuit breaker information). Thereby, the circuit breaker state can be provided to the external OS. The information providing system 100 of the present embodiment can provide the circuit breaker state without using existing railway signal equipment, and can assist safe crossing at the level crossing GC. The communication device 13 performs digital data communication while identifying a counterpart device with a vehicle VE existing in a predetermined communication zone via a communication network NT. The communication network NT uses, for example, a wireless communication method of the 700 MHz band advanced road traffic system, a communication method using a mobile communication line typified by 5G and 4GLTE, a medium-range wireless communication method typified by wireless LAN, a narrow-range wireless communication method such as DSRC, a spot communication method such as a beacon using light or radio waves, and communication by a short-range wireless communication method such as BLE. The communication device 13 can adopt any one or a combination of the above communication methods. The communication by the communication device 13 may be a broadcast or a response to a request from the vehicle VE. Further, the communication device 13 may be a wired communication as well as a wireless communication.

[0031] The storage device 14 has a main storage device 14a and an auxiliary storage device 14b. The main storage device 14a includes a memory device such as a DRAM, and temporarily records data necessary for the control device 11 to execute arithmetic processing. The auxiliary storage device 14b is a non-volatile storage medium or a non-temporary storage medium such as a hard disk or a flash memory, and records a computer program and data for the control device 11 to execute various information processes described later. The auxiliary storage device 14b records data such as appearance information and determination results. Note that the computer program and the above data may be provided by being recorded on a storage medium other than the auxiliary storage device 14b.

[0032] The vehicle VE to be supported by the information providing system 100 is, for example, an autonomous vehicle. The vehicle VE has a vehicle device 60 for performing autonomous driving. The vehicle device 60 has a user terminal device UT and an engine control device ET. The user terminal device UT has a function as a drive control system of the vehicle VE, and also has a function of providing information to the driver or passenger of the vehicle VE and receiving commands from the driver or passenger. The user terminal device UT has an arithmetic processing unit 61, a communication device 62, and an interface 63. The arithmetic processing unit 61 controls various operations of the vehicle device 60. Specifically, the arithmetic processing unit 61 controls the operations of the communication device 62 and the interface 63. Also, the arithmetic processing unit 61 controls the drive of the engine control device ET composed of various circuit mechanisms and the like. The arithmetic processing unit 61 transmits information such as vehicle ID, position, speed, and time to the cutoff machine monitoring device 10 via the communication device 62, and receives information such as the cutoff machine state from the cutoff machine monitoring device 10 as a receiving device RC that particularly receives information from the cutoff machine monitoring device 10. The arithmetic processing unit 61 performs various controls for performing autonomous driving based on the received cutoff machine state and the like. Also, the arithmetic processing unit 61 outputs the determination result of whether it is possible to cross the level crossing GC based on the cutoff machine information and the like to the interface 63 such as a display.

[0033] Hereinafter, with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7, a series of operation examples regarding the determination of the shackle state and the cutoff bar state in the determination device 11b will be described.

[0034] (Shackle state detection) FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the determination of the shackle state. Hereinafter, the determination result of the determination device 11b is recorded in the storage device 14 at any time.

[0035] The control device 11 receives the input of the external information (image information) acquired by the detection device 12 and processed by the processing device 11a (step S11).

[0036] Next, as a determination device 11b, the control device 11 detects the position and angle of the bracelet part 22 from the appearance information obtained in step S11 (step S12). In this case, the determination device 11b can set a predetermined region CR to which the bracelet part 22 can be fitted, and also considers whether the bracelet part 22 exists within the predetermined region CR.

[0037] When the position and angle of the bracelet part 22 exist at the rising position P1 as the determination device 11b (Y in step S13), the control device 11 determines that the bracelet part state is at the rising position P1 (step S14).

[0038] When the position and angle of the bracelet part 22 do not exist at the rising position P1 (N in step S13) and exist at the lowering position P3 (Y in step S15) as the determination device 11b, the control device 11 determines that the bracelet part state is at the lowering position P3 (step S16).

[0039] When the position and angle of the bracelet part 22 do not exist at the rising position P1 and the lowering position P3 (N in step S13, N in step S15), and the previous position was at the rising position P1 (Y in step S17), the control device 11 determines that the bracelet part state is in the process of lowering (step S18). When the bracelet part state is in the process of lowering, the bracelet part 22 exists at the transition position P2. Here, the previous position is the position in the appearance information before the current appearance information being determined. The previous position is read from the storage device 14, specifically, the auxiliary storage device 14b. When there is no previous appearance information, the determination device 11b makes a determination considering the initial position at the start of determination, that is, the determination start position (for example, the rising position P1 or the lowering position P3), etc. Specifically, when the determination start position is the rising position P1, the determination device 11b sets the previous position as the rising position P1. Also, when the previous position or a position before that is the transition position P2, it is determined whether the state before the transition position P2 or a state before that (that is, the most recent state or the state obtained last) is the rising position P1.

[0040] The control device 11, as a determination device 11b, determines that the state of the latch part 22 is ascending (step S19) when the position and angle of the latch part 22 do not exist at the ascending position P1 and the descending position P3 (N in step S13, N in step S15), and the previous position is not the ascending position P1 (N in step S17). When the state of the latch part is ascending, the latch part 22 exists at the transition position P2. Similarly in this step, when there is no previous appearance information, the determination device 11b makes a determination considering the initial position at the start of determination, that is, the determination start position, etc. Further, when the previous position or a position before that is the transition position P2, it is determined whether the state before the transition position P2 or a state before that (that is, the most recent state) is the ascending position P1.

[0041] After the determination of the state of the latch part as above, the process returns to the start.

[0042] (Detection of the state of the blocking rod) FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining the determination of the state of the blocking rod. Hereinafter, the determination result of the determination device 11b is recorded in the storage device 14 at any time.

[0043] The control device 11 receives the input of the appearance information (image information) acquired by the detection device 12 and processed by the processing device 11a (step S21).

[0044] Next, the control device 11, as a determination device 11b, detects the position and angle of the blocking rod 21 from the appearance information obtained in step S21 (step S22). In this case, the determination device 11b can set a predetermined region CR to which the blocking rod 21 can be applied, and also determines whether the blocking rod 21 exists within the predetermined region CR (step S31).

[0045] The control device 11, as a determination device 11b, determines that the state of the blocking rod is at the ascending position P1 when the position and angle of the blocking rod 21 are within the predetermined region CR and exist at the ascending position P1 (Y in step S31, Y in step S23) (step S24).

[0046] When the position and angle of the shut-off rod 21 are not within the predetermined region CR (N in step S31), the control device 11, as the determination device 11b, determines that the state of the shut-off rod is abnormal due to the shut-off rod 21 being out of the predetermined region CR and damaged (step S32).

[0047] When the position and angle of the shut-off rod 21 do not exist at the ascending position P1 (N in step S23) and exist at the descending position P3 (Y in step S25), the control device 11, as the determination device 11b, determines that the state of the shut-off rod is at the descending position P3 (step S26).

[0048] When the position and angle of the shut-off rod 21 do not exist at the ascending position P1 and the descending position P3 (N in step S23, N in step S25) and the previous position was at the ascending position P1 (Y in step S27), the control device 11, as the determination device 11b, determines that the shut-off rod is in the process of descending (step S28). When the shut-off rod is in the process of descending, the shut-off rod 21 exists at the transition position P2. The previous position is read from the storage device 14, specifically, the auxiliary storage device 14b. The determination device 11b makes a determination considering the initial position at the start of determination, i.e., the determination start position, etc., when there is no previous external appearance information. Also, when the previous position is the transition position P2, it is determined whether the state before the transition position P2 was the ascending position P1.

[0049] When the position and angle of the shut-off rod 21 do not exist at the ascending position P1 and the descending position P3 (N in step S23, N in step S25) and the previous position is not at the ascending position P1 (N in step S27), the control device 11, as the determination device 11b, determines that the shut-off rod is in the process of ascending (step S29). When the shut-off rod is in the process of ascending, the shut-off rod 21 exists at the transition position P2. Similarly in this step, the determination device 11b makes a determination considering the initial position at the start of determination, i.e., the determination start position, etc., when there is no previous external appearance information. Also, when the previous position is the transition position P2, it is determined whether the state before the transition position P2 was the ascending position P1.

[0050] After the determination of the above shut-off rod state, the process returns to the start.

[0051] Next, with reference to FIG. 8, an example of a series of operations in the information providing system 100 will be described. The circuit breaker 20 changes the position of the cutoff lever 21 according to the operation of the motor at a predetermined timing based on train detection information and the like.

[0052] The control device 11 of the circuit breaker monitoring device 10 operates the detection device 12 to acquire an image of the monitoring area BR (step S51). The image data acquired by the detection device 12 is analyzed by the processing device 11a and output to the determination device 11b as appearance information.

[0053] Next, the control device 11 determines the state of the locking part as the determination device 11b by the above-described steps S11 to S19 (step S52).

[0054] Next, the control device 11 determines the state of the cutoff lever as the determination device 11b by the above-described steps S21 to S32 (step S53).

[0055] Note that step S52 may be performed after step S53, or steps S52 and S53 may be performed in parallel.

[0056] When there is an information request regarding the state of the circuit breaker from the vehicle VE or the like (Y in step S54), the control device 11 determines the consistency or conformity between the state of the locking part and the state of the cutoff lever as the determination device 11b (step S55). When there is consistency between the state of the locking part and the state of the cutoff lever (Y in step S55) and the state of the locking part and the state of the cutoff lever are the same within a predetermined time (Y in step S56), the control device 11 determines the state of the circuit breaker as open, cutoff, or cutoff lever in operation corresponding to the state of the locking part and the state of the cutoff lever (step S57).

[0057] When the control device 11 serves as a determination device 11b and there is no consistency between the state of the locking part and the state of the blocking rod (N in step S55), or when the state of the locking part and the state of the blocking rod are the same for a predetermined time or more, or when the state of the locking part and the state of the blocking rod are not the same within a predetermined time (N in step S56), it determines that there is an abnormality in the blocking machine as the state of the blocking machine (step S58).

[0058] The determination result in step S57 or S58 is, for example, the one added with any of the information of (1) crossable, (2) non-crossable, and (3) non-crossable and blocking machine abnormality, and corresponds to the state of the blocking machine (blocking machine information). Note that the state of the blocking machine (blocking machine information) may be expressed in a color corresponding to the determination result. Specifically, it is green in the case of crossable, red in the case of non-crossable, and red with an additional note of blocking machine abnormality in the case of non-crossable and blocking machine abnormality. Note that the blocking machine abnormality may be noted for the corresponding abnormalities such as blocking rod abnormality and locking part abnormality.

[0059] Next, the control device 11 transmits the state of the blocking machine (blocking machine information) to the external OS (step S59). Specifically, the control device 11 transmits the determination result of step S57 or S58 as the state of the blocking machine to the external OS, specifically, to the vehicle VE via the communication device 13. The arithmetic processing device 61 of the vehicle VE receives the information regarding the state of the blocking machine from the blocking machine monitoring device 10 via the communication device 62 and outputs the information to the interface 63. For example, any of (1) crossable, (2) non-crossable, and (3) non-crossable and blocking machine abnormality is displayed on the interface 63 as the state of the blocking machine. Note that the state of the blocking machine may be displayed in a color corresponding to the determination result. After step S59, the process returns to the start.

[0060] In the information providing system 100 described above, by detecting the appearance information including the locking part 22 directly connected to the drive source of the blocking machine 20, the actual state of the blocking machine can be determined regardless of the state of the blocking rod 21. In addition, the communication device 13 can provide information about the situation of the blocking machine 20 to the vehicle VE side of the user of this system, and can assist the safe passage of the blocking machine 20.

[0061] [Second Embodiment] Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 9 and the like, an example of the information providing system according to the second embodiment will be described. In the second embodiment, descriptions of the same matters as those in the first embodiment will be omitted.

[0062] As shown in FIG. 9, in the information providing system 100 of the present embodiment, the circuit breaker monitoring device 10 incorporated therein monitors a predetermined area CR including only the link part 22 in the monitoring area BR. In the circuit breaker monitoring device 10, the control device 11 determines the circuit breaker state only based on the external appearance information of the link part 22, that is, the link part state, as a determination device 11b.

[0063] Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 10, an example of a series of operation examples in the information providing system 100 will be described.

[0064] The control device 11 of the circuit breaker monitoring device 10 operates the detection device 12 to acquire an image of the monitoring area BR (step S51). The image data acquired by the detection device 12 is analyzed by the processing device 11a and output to the determination device 11b as external appearance information.

[0065] Next, the control device 11 determines the link part state as a determination device 11b according to steps S11 to S19 shown in FIG. 6 (step S52).

[0066] When there is an information request regarding the circuit breaker state from the vehicle VE or the like (Y in step S54), and the link part state is the same within a predetermined time (Y in step S56), the control device 11 determines the circuit breaker state as open, closed, or in the process of operating the cutoff lever as a determination device 11b (step S57).

[0067] When the link part state is the same for a predetermined time or more, or when the link part state is not the same within a predetermined time (N in step S56), the control device 11 determines that the circuit breaker is abnormal as a determination device 11b (step S58).

[0068] The determination result in step S57 or S58 is, for example, any one of (1) crossable, (2) non-crossable, and (3) non-crossable and breaker abnormality, and corresponds to the breaker state (breaker information).

[0069] Next, the control device 11 transmits the breaker state (breaker information) to the external OS (step S59). After step S59, the process returns to the start.

[0070] 〔Third Embodiment〕 Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 11, an example of the information providing system according to the third embodiment will be described. In the third embodiment, descriptions of the same matters as those in the first embodiment and the like will be omitted.

[0071] FIG. 11 is a conceptual diagram for explaining a predetermined area CR in the monitoring area BR shown in FIG. 2. In FIG. 11, for convenience of explanation, mainly the predetermined area CR of the blocking rod 21 is shown. In the present embodiment, the predetermined area CR is divided into a plurality of sub-areas SR. In this case, it is possible to more easily determine the breakage of the blocking rod 21. In addition, the information providing system 100 can be applied to the monitoring of the breaker 20 having various types of blocking rods 21. For example, when the blocking rod 21 is long, it may bend even during normal times. By dividing the sub-areas SR along the shape of the blocking rod 21 and determining the state of the blocking rod for each sub-area SR, it is possible to perform a determination corresponding to the shape of the blocking rod 21.

[0072] 〔Others〕 The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be implemented in various modes without departing from the gist thereof.

[0073] In the above-described embodiments, the shape of the road RA and the like are examples, and the present invention is not limited thereto, and can be applied to various shapes and structures.

[0074] In the above-described embodiments, the determination criteria for the breaker state can be changed as appropriate.

[0075] In the above-described embodiment, when the determination device 11b determines that there is a breaker abnormality, it may notify a management center (not shown).

[0076] In the above-described embodiment, the range of the monitoring area BR can be changed as appropriate. For example, in the case of FIG. 9, the monitoring area BR may be narrowed to a range including the predetermined areas CR at the respective positions P1 to P3 of the armrest portion 22.

[0077] In the above-described embodiment, the breaker monitoring device 10 may periodically provide the breaker state to an external OS. In this case, in FIGS. 8 and 10, the information request from the vehicle VE can be omitted.

[0078] In the above-described embodiment, the breaker monitoring device 10 is not limited to monitoring the breaker 20 of the level crossing GC. For example, it can be applied to monitoring various breakers such as breakers installed at the gates of parking lots, toll gates on expressways, and breakers installed for traffic control associated with other traffic facilities (including temporary ones). In the case of a parking lot breaker, it is possible to prevent the vehicle VE from entering the gate during the opening / closing operation or while the gate is closed.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0079] 10…breaker monitoring device, 11…control device, 11a…processing device, 11b…determination device, 12…detection device, 13…communication device, 14…storage device, 20…breaker, 21…barrier arm, 22…armrest portion, 23…breaker body, 60…vehicle device, 100…information providing system, BR…monitoring area, CR…predetermined area, GC…level crossing, NT…communication network, OS…external, P1…rising position, P2…transition position, P3…descending position, RA…road, RC…receiver, RD…track, SR…sub-region, UT…user terminal device, VE…vehicle

Claims

1. A barrier monitoring device comprising a detection device that detects appearance information about a monitoring area including the toggle part of a barrier, a determination device that determines the state of the barrier based on the appearance information, and a communication device that transmits the barrier state to the outside. An information providing system.

2. The information providing system according to claim 1, further comprising a user terminal device having a receiving device that receives information from the barrier monitoring device. The information providing system according to claim 1.

3. The information providing system according to claim 2, wherein the user terminal device is incorporated in a vehicle device of an autonomous vehicle. The information providing system according to claim 2.

4. The barrier state is any one of open, blocked, in the process of the blocking rod moving, and barrier abnormality, and the determination device determines the barrier state based on the toggle part state from the appearance information and the result of determining either the toggle part state or the blocking rod state. The information providing system according to claim 1.

5. The determination device determines the barrier state based on the consistency between the toggle part state and the blocking rod state. The information providing system according to claim 4.

6. The toggle part state is any one of the raised position, the lowered position, lowering, and raising, and the blocking rod state is any one of the raised position, the lowered position, lowering, raising, and blocking rod abnormality. The information providing system according to claim 4.

7. When the blocking rod is out of a predetermined area of the monitoring area, the determination device determines that there is a blocking rod abnormality. The information providing system according to claim 6.

8. When the toggle part state or the blocking rod state has been in the same state for a predetermined time or more, the determination device determines that there is a barrier abnormality. The information providing system according to claim 4.

9. When the toggle part state and the blocking rod state are consistent and open, the determination device determines that it is possible to cross corresponding to the barrier state; when the toggle part state and the blocking rod state are consistent and blocked or in the process of the blocking rod moving, the determination device determines that it is not possible to cross corresponding to the barrier state; and when the toggle part state and the blocking rod state are not consistent, the determination device determines that it is not possible to cross and there is a barrier abnormality corresponding to the barrier state. The information providing system according to claim 4.

10. The monitoring area has a predetermined area arranged at the raised position of the blocking rod, the lowered position, and the transition position between the raised position and the lowered position. The determination device determines the state of the arm lock part based on the position and angle of the arm lock part and the position of the predetermined area, and determines the state of the blocking rod based on the position and angle of the blocking rod and the position of the predetermined area. The information providing system according to claim 4.

11. The predetermined area is divided into a plurality of sub-areas. The information providing system according to any one of claims 7 and 10.

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