Passing vehicle detection device and passing vehicle detection method

Abstract

To provide a passing vehicle detection device and passing vehicle detection method for accurately and easily detecting passing vehicles even when a wide variety of vehicles intermingle and pass through a predetermined area.SOLUTION: A passing vehicle detection device 1 includes an optical sensor 20 for irradiating a side surface of a vehicle passing through a predetermined area A with laser light and detecting reflected light of the laser light reflected by the side surface, and an arithmetic processing unit 41 for detecting the vehicle passing through the predetermined area A on the basis of a detection result of the optical sensor 20. The height of the optical sensor 20 from the ground is set such that the irradiation position of the laser light in the height direction is within a range Rh from the center of a wheel provided on the vehicle to the top of the wheel.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a passing vehicle detection device and a passing vehicle detection method. [Background technology]

[0002] BACKGROUND ART At the entrances and exits of vehicle storage areas such as parking lots or motor pools, vehicle detection devices are provided to detect vehicles passing through the entrances and exits (for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a gate control device that detects vehicles passing through a parking gate. The gate control device disclosed in Patent Document 1 detects the vehicle using a detection signal from an optical sensor consisting of a light emitter and a light receiver, and a detection signal from a loop sensor placed a predetermined distance from the optical sensor. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 3000267 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In a vehicle storage yard installed at a wharf where vehicle transport ships are moored, a wide variety of vehicles may be stored in the same storage yard, and therefore a wide variety of vehicles may pass through a predetermined area, such as an entrance / exit to this type of vehicle storage yard or a vehicle monitoring station installed on a route connecting the vehicle storage yard and the transport ship.

[0006] The gate control device disclosed in Patent Document 1 does not specify the irradiation position at which the light emitter constituting the optical sensor emits light onto a vehicle. Therefore, depending on the type of vehicle passing through a predetermined area, such as the entrance / exit of a vehicle storage facility, the gate control device disclosed in Patent Document 1 may be unable to detect the vehicle because the light emitted from the light emitter constituting the optical sensor passes through the vehicle's window. In order to comprehensively detect a wide variety of vehicles in the gate control device disclosed in Patent Document 1, it may be possible to change the placement of the optical sensor and loop sensor depending on the type of vehicle. However, in the gate control device disclosed in Patent Document 1, the optical sensor consists of a light emitter and a light receiver respectively placed on both sides of the vehicle, and the loop sensor is buried underground, making it difficult to change the placement of the optical sensor and loop sensor.

[0007] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above, and aims to provide a passing vehicle detection device and a passing vehicle detection method that can accurately and easily detect passing vehicles even when a wide variety of vehicles are mixed and passing through a specified area. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] In order to solve the above problem, the passing vehicle detection device of the present invention comprises an optical sensor that irradiates laser light onto the side of a vehicle passing through a specified area and detects the reflected light of the laser light reflected by the side, and an arithmetic processing unit that detects the vehicle passing through the specified area based on the detection result of the optical sensor, and is characterized in that the height of the optical sensor from the ground is set to a height such that the irradiation position of the laser light in the vertical direction is within the range from the center of a wheel installed on the vehicle to the top of the wheel.

[0009] With this configuration, even if a wide variety of vehicles pass through the predetermined area, the laser light emitted from the optical sensor is reliably reflected by the body frame on the side of the vehicle. The optical sensor can detect the reflected light once per vehicle. Therefore, even if a wide variety of vehicles pass through the predetermined area, the processing unit can easily distinguish the reflected light detected by the optical sensor from vehicle to vehicle. Therefore, the passing vehicle detection device can accurately and easily detect passing vehicles even if a wide variety of vehicles pass through the predetermined area.

[0010] In a further preferred embodiment, the optical sensor is attached to a support member connected to an adjustment mechanism that adjusts the height from the ground, and the adjustment mechanism adjusts the height of the optical sensor from the ground so that the irradiation position of the laser light is at the position within the range.

[0011] In this manner, even if the height direction of the laser beam falls outside the above range due to an unforeseen event, the passing vehicle detection device can adjust the height direction of the laser beam to fall within the above range. Therefore, even if a wide variety of vehicles pass through a predetermined area, the passing vehicle detection device can accurately, easily, and stably detect passing vehicles.

[0012] In a more preferred embodiment, the optical sensor, the processing unit, and the support member are installed on a moving body.

[0013] In this manner, the optical sensor, the processing unit, and the support member of the passing vehicle detection device can be quickly installed and quickly removed in an unspecified outdoor location, so the passing vehicle detection device can accurately and easily detect passing vehicles even when a wide variety of vehicles are mixed, and can be easily applied to a variety of locations.

[0014] In a further preferred embodiment, the optical sensor emits the laser light in a linear irradiation range that is horizontal to the side surface, and the arithmetic processing device calculates the horizontal length of an object passing through the specified area based on the detection result of the optical sensor, and detects that the object is the vehicle based on the calculated length.

[0015] With this configuration, the processing device can accurately and easily detect objects other than vehicles, such as workers, even if they pass through a predetermined area where a wide variety of vehicles pass together. Therefore, the passing vehicle detection device can accurately and easily detect passing vehicles even if objects other than vehicles pass through the predetermined area.

[0016] In a more preferred embodiment, the arithmetic processing unit calculates the number of vehicles passing through the predetermined area from the calculated length.

[0017] In this manner, the processing unit can manage the number of vehicles passing through the predetermined area. Therefore, the passing vehicle detection device can not only accurately and easily detect vehicles passing through the predetermined area, but also appropriately manage the number of vehicles.

[0018] In addition, the passing vehicle detection method of the present invention includes irradiating a laser beam onto the side of a vehicle passing through a specified area, detecting the reflected light of the laser beam reflected by the side, and detecting the vehicle passing through the specified area based on the detection result of the reflected light, and irradiating the laser beam so that the vertical irradiation position of the laser beam is within the range from the center of a wheel provided on the vehicle to the top of the wheel.

[0019] With this configuration, the passing vehicle detection method can easily distinguish the detected reflected light from each vehicle even when a wide variety of vehicles are mixed and passing through the predetermined area. Therefore, the passing vehicle detection method can accurately and easily detect passing vehicles even when a wide variety of vehicles are mixed and passing through the predetermined area.

[0020] The range from the center of the wheel to the top of the wheel on a vehicle is a height range that can be satisfied for all wheels on all types of vehicles that are expected to pass through a specified area. [Effects of the Invention]

[0021] According to the present invention, even if a wide variety of vehicles are mixed and pass through a predetermined area, passing vehicles can be detected accurately and easily. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0022] [Figure 1] 2 is a diagram illustrating a predetermined area to which the passing vehicle detection device of the present embodiment is applied; FIG. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the passing vehicle detection device shown in FIG. [Figure 3] 3 is a diagram for explaining the irradiation position of laser light by the optical sensor shown in FIG. 2; [Figure 4] 4 is a diagram showing the results of verifying the irradiation position of the laser light described in FIG. 3. [Figure 5] 3 is a flowchart showing a passing vehicle detection process performed by the arithmetic processing device shown in FIG. 2; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0023] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Components with the same reference numerals in each embodiment have the same functions in each embodiment unless otherwise specified, and description thereof will be omitted.

[0024] Fig. 1 is a diagram illustrating a predetermined area A to which a passing vehicle detection device 1 of this embodiment is applied. Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the passing vehicle detection device 1 shown in Fig. 1.

[0025] Near vehicle manufacturing plants, there are vehicle storage facilities such as motor pools that store vehicles to be loaded onto land transport vehicles that transport vehicles to dealerships or wharves. In addition, at wharves where transport ships that transport vehicles are moored, there are vehicle storage facilities such as motor pools that store vehicles to be loaded onto transport ships or vehicles that are unloaded from transport ships.

[0026] The passing vehicle detection device 1 is a device that detects vehicles passing through a predetermined area A, such as a vehicle monitoring location set up at the entrance / exit of a vehicle storage yard or on a route connecting a land transport vehicle or transport ship to the vehicle storage yard. In this embodiment, the predetermined area A to which the passing vehicle detection device 1 is applied will be described taking as an example a vehicle monitoring location set up on a route connecting a transport ship to the vehicle storage yard.

[0027] FIG. 1 shows a state in which vehicles are loaded onto a transport ship (reference symbol S in FIG. 1) from a vehicle storage facility installed at a wharf. Objects passing through the predetermined area A include vehicles to be transported (reference symbol V in FIG. 1) that are being loaded onto or unloaded from the transport ship, and workers (reference symbol W in FIG. 1) working around the predetermined area A. The vehicles to be transported may be equipped with RFID tags that store identification information, etc., of the vehicles to be transported. There are no particular limitations on the type, shape, size, color, etc. of the vehicles to be transported.

[0028] There are two directions in which an object passes through the specified area A: the loading direction toward the transport ship and the unloading direction away from the transport ship. The timing at which an object passes through the specified area A is irregular. The speed of an object passing through the specified area A may be between 0 km / h and approximately 40 km / h and is not constant. The distance between vehicles passing through the specified area A may be 70 cm or more and is not constant.

[0029] The passing vehicle detection device 1 is disposed on one side of a predetermined area A extending in the passing direction, but not on both sides. The passing vehicle detection device 1 is adaptable to all weather conditions. The passing vehicle detection device 1 is installed on a moving body 10 such as a vehicle or a robot. In this embodiment, a vehicle will be used as an example of the moving body 10 as shown in FIG. 2.

[0030] As shown in FIG. 2, the passing vehicle detection device 1 includes an optical sensor 20, a reading device 30, a computer 40, and a notification device 50.

[0031] The optical sensor 20, the reading device 30, the computer 40, and the notification device 50 are installed on the moving body 10. As a result, the passing vehicle detection device 1 can instantly install and instantly remove the optical sensor 20, the reading device 30, the computer 40, and the notification device 50 in an unspecified outdoor location. Therefore, the passing vehicle detection device 1 can accurately and easily detect passing vehicles even when a wide variety of vehicles are mixed together, and can be easily applied to a variety of locations.

[0032] The optical sensor 20 is a sensor that irradiates a laser beam onto the side surface of an object passing through the predetermined area A and detects the reflected light of the laser beam reflected by the side surface. The optical sensor 20 is configured, for example, by a two-dimensional LiDAR. The optical sensor 20 is attached to a support member 13 of a hitch carrier 12 fixed to the rear of the mobile body 10. The optical sensor 20 is attached to the support member 13 in an orientation such that the laser beam is irradiated horizontally from one side of the predetermined area A toward the predetermined area A. The optical sensor 20 does not require the installation of a reflector that reflects the laser beam on the other side of the predetermined area A.

[0033] The optical sensor 20 irradiates a laser beam whose irradiation range is a line extending horizontally toward the side of a vehicle passing through the predetermined area A. That is, when viewed from one side of the predetermined area A, the side of the vehicle is irradiated with a line of laser beam extending horizontally. The method of irradiating the laser beam by the optical sensor 20 is not particularly limited and may be a mechanical method such as a line scanning method or a flash method that does not involve scanning, a MEMS mirror method, or an OPA (Optical Phased Array) method. Details of the irradiation position of the laser beam by the optical sensor 20 will be described later using FIGS. 3 and 4.

[0034] The reading device 30 is a device that reads information from an RFID tag mounted on a vehicle passing through the predetermined area A. The reading device 30 has an antenna 31 and a reader 32. The antenna 31 receives radio waves transmitted from the RFID tag. The antenna 31 is attached to the support member 13 from one side of the predetermined area A in a position facing the predetermined area A. The reader 32 reads the information from the RFID tag from the radio waves received by the antenna 31. The reader 32 transmits the read result of the information from the RFID tag to the computer 40. The reader 32 may be disposed inside the mobile object 10 or attached to the hitch carrier 12.

[0035] The computer 40 controls the operations of the optical sensor 20, the reading device 30, and the alarm device 50 to realize the functions of the passing vehicle detection device 1. The computer 40 is configured by a mobile PC or a PC incorporated in the moving object 10. The computer 40 has an arithmetic processing unit 41.

[0036] The arithmetic processing device 41 is composed of a CPU, ROM, RAM, etc., and realizes the functions of the computer 40 by the CPU executing a program stored in the ROM. The arithmetic processing device 41 can transmit information from the RFID tag read by the reader 30 to a server device that manages the vehicles to be transported via the wireless communication device of the computer 40. Based on the information from the RFID tag, the server device updates the information in a database in which the identification information of the vehicles to be transported is registered, and manages the location and condition of the vehicles during the transportation process, the number of vehicles stored in the vehicle storage yard, etc. Note that the database in which the identification information of the vehicles to be transported is registered may be integrated into the computer 40.

[0037] Furthermore, the arithmetic processing device 41 detects an object passing through the predetermined area A based on the detection result of the optical sensor 20. Specifically, the arithmetic processing device 41 calculates the horizontal length (passing direction) of the object passing through the predetermined area A based on the detection result of the optical sensor 20, and detects that the object is a vehicle based on the calculated length. In particular, the arithmetic processing device 41 detects that the object is a vehicle if the calculated length is equal to or greater than a threshold value (e.g., 700 mm), and detects that the object is an object other than a vehicle if the calculated length is less than the threshold value.

[0038] As a result, the arithmetic processing device 41 can accurately and easily detect objects other than vehicles, such as workers, passing through the predetermined area A where a wide variety of vehicles pass together. Therefore, the passing vehicle detection device 1 can accurately and easily detect passing vehicles even if objects other than vehicles pass through the predetermined area A.

[0039] Furthermore, the arithmetic processing device 41 calculates the number of vehicles passing through the predetermined area A from the calculated horizontal length.

[0040] This allows the arithmetic processing device 41 to manage the number of vehicles passing through the predetermined area A. Therefore, the passing vehicle detection device 1 can not only accurately and easily detect vehicles passing through the predetermined area A, but also appropriately manage the number of vehicles.

[0041] The notification device 50 notifies the processing results of the arithmetic processing device 41 and the like around the predetermined area A. For example, the notification device 50 can notify the detection results of a vehicle passing through the predetermined area A or the results of reading information from an RFID tag. The configuration and notification manner of the notification device 50 are not particularly limited. The notification device 50 of this embodiment is attached to a roof carrier 11 fixed to the top of the mobile object 10.

[0042] Fig. 3 is a diagram illustrating the irradiation position of the laser beam by the optical sensor 20 shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a diagram illustrating the verification results of the irradiation position of the laser beam explained in Fig. 3.

[0043] The height of the optical sensor 20 from the ground (symbol G in Figure 3) is preset to a height such that the vertical irradiation position of the laser light is within the range Rh from the center (symbol Vb in Figure 3) of a wheel (symbol Va in Figure 3) mounted on a vehicle (symbol V in Figure 3) passing through the specified area A to the top of the wheel (symbol Vc in Figure 3), as shown in Figure 3.

[0044] This range Rh is a height range that can be satisfied for all wheels provided on all types of vehicles that are expected to pass through the predetermined area A. For example, the height position (reference symbol P1 in FIG. 3) indicating the lower limit of the range Rh may be the height position from the ground at the center of the wheel with the largest diameter among all the wheels. For example, the height position (reference symbol P2 in FIG. 3) indicating the upper limit of the range Rh may be the height position from the ground at the top of the wheel with the smallest diameter among all the wheels. In other words, the range Rh may be the height range from the center of the wheel with the largest diameter among all the types of wheels to the top of the wheel with the smallest diameter among all the types of wheels. However, the wheel diameters of vehicles that are expected to pass through the predetermined area A do not vary significantly depending on the type of vehicle and can be considered to be approximately the same regardless of the type of vehicle.

[0045] If the height-direction irradiation position of the laser light is above the range Rh, depending on the type of vehicle passing through the predetermined area A, the laser light may pass through the vehicle's window, and the optical sensor 20 may not be able to detect the reflected light. If the height-direction irradiation position of the laser light is below the range Rh, the optical sensor 20 may detect the reflected light twice per vehicle if the vehicle is a four-wheeled vehicle, but may detect the reflected light three or more times per vehicle if the vehicle has more than four wheels. Therefore, if vehicles with different numbers of wheels are mixed and passing through the predetermined area A, the calculation processing device 41 (described later) may not be able to easily distinguish the reflected light detected by the optical sensor 20 from vehicle to vehicle. Therefore, if vehicles with different numbers of wheels are mixed and passing through the predetermined area A, a special means may be required to accurately detect vehicles passing through the predetermined area A.

[0046] On the other hand, when the irradiation position of the laser light in the height direction is within range Rh, even if a wide variety of vehicles pass through the predetermined area A, the laser light emitted from optical sensor 20 is reliably reflected by the body frame on the side of the vehicle. Optical sensor 20 can detect the reflected light once for each vehicle. This allows the arithmetic processing device 41 to easily distinguish the reflected light detected by optical sensor 20 from vehicle to vehicle, even if a wide variety of vehicles pass through the predetermined area A. Therefore, the passing vehicle detection device 1 can accurately and easily detect passing vehicles, even if a wide variety of vehicles pass through the predetermined area A.

[0047] FIG. 4 shows the results of verifying whether the passing vehicle detection device 1 can accurately detect a wide variety of vehicles, from small to large, when the laser light irradiation position in the height direction is set to each of positions (1) to (4). Position (3) shown in FIG. 4 is within range Rh. A circle in FIG. 4 indicates that the passing vehicle detection device 1 was able to accurately detect the vehicle. A triangle in FIG. 4 indicates that the optical sensor 20 detected reflected light twice per vehicle, making it difficult for the passing vehicle detection device 1 to accurately detect the vehicle. A cross in FIG. 4 indicates that the passing vehicle detection device 1 was unable to accurately detect the vehicle. As shown in FIG. 4, when the laser light irradiation position in the height direction is within range Rh, the passing vehicle detection device 1 can accurately and easily detect a wide variety of vehicles.

[0048] As shown in FIG. 2, the optical sensor 20 of this embodiment is attached to a support member 13 connected to an adjustment mechanism 14 that adjusts the height of the optical sensor 20 from the ground.

[0049] As a result, even if the irradiation position in the height direction of the laser light becomes outside the range Rh due to an unforeseen event, the passing vehicle detection device 1 can adjust the irradiation position to a position within the range Rh. Therefore, even if a wide variety of vehicles are mixed and pass through the predetermined area A, the passing vehicle detection device 1 can accurately, easily, and stably detect passing vehicles.

[0050] The support member 13 has a holding mechanism for the optical sensor 20 and the antenna 31, and may be configured as an axial member such as a frame or rod extending in the height direction (vertical direction). For example, the support member 13 has an upper part 13a extending above the connection position of the support member 13 to the adjustment mechanism 14, and a lower part 13b extending below the connection position. The antenna 31 is attached to the upper part 13a. The optical sensor 20 is attached to the lower part 13b.

[0051] The adjustment mechanism 14 may be configured by a linear electric actuator or the like that is fixed to the main body 12a of the hitch carrier 12 and moves the support member 13 upward or downward. By moving the support member 13, the adjustment mechanism 14 can adjust the height of the optical sensor 20 from the ground so that the irradiation position of the laser light on the side of a vehicle passing through the predetermined area A is within the range Rh. The operation of the adjustment mechanism 14 is controlled by the processing unit 41 of the computer 40.

[0052] Alternatively, the support member 13 may be configured with an upper portion 13a and a lower portion 13b formed as separate members, and the lower portion 13b may be configured with a telescopic rod or a piston cylinder that moves forward and backward relative to the upper portion 13a. The adjustment mechanism 14 may be configured with an electric motor that moves the lower portion 13b upward or downward relative to the upper portion 13a. By moving the lower portion 13b, the adjustment mechanism 14 can adjust the height of the optical sensor 20 from the ground so that the irradiation position of the laser light on the side of a vehicle passing through the predetermined area A is within the range Rh.

[0053] The adjustment mechanism 14 may be configured as a manual mechanism instead of the electric mechanism described above. Also, the support member 13 may be fixed to the main body 12a of the hitch carrier 12 without using the adjustment mechanism 14. In any case, the support member 13 and the adjustment mechanism 14 are not particularly limited as long as they can set and adjust the height of the optical sensor 20 from the ground so that the irradiation position of the laser light in the height direction is within the range Rh.

[0054] FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the passing vehicle detection process performed by the arithmetic processing device 41 shown in FIG.

[0055] The arithmetic processing device 41 repeatedly performs the process shown in Fig. 5 at a predetermined cycle. When the irradiation position of the laser light in the height direction is outside the range Rh, the arithmetic processing device 41 can perform the following process before performing the process shown in Fig. 5. That is, in this case, the arithmetic processing device 41 can perform a process of controlling the operation of the adjustment mechanism 14 to adjust the height of the optical sensor 20 from the ground so that the irradiation position of the laser light in the height direction is within the range Rh.

[0056] In step S1, the calculation processing device 41 controls the optical sensor 20 to irradiate the side surface of an object passing through the predetermined area A with laser light. The optical sensor 20 irradiates the laser light with the irradiation position in the height direction of the laser light set to a position within the range Rh.

[0057] In step S2, the arithmetic processing device 41 controls the optical sensor 20 to determine whether or not it detects reflected light of the laser light reflected by the side surface of an object passing through the predetermined area A. If the optical sensor 20 detects reflected light, the arithmetic processing device 41 proceeds to step S3. If the optical sensor 20 does not detect reflected light, the arithmetic processing device 41 ends the process shown in FIG. 5.

[0058] In step S3, the arithmetic processing unit 41 calculates the horizontal length of the object passing through the predetermined area A from the detection result of the reflected light by the optical sensor 20.

[0059] In step S4, the arithmetic processing device 41 determines whether the calculated horizontal length of the object is equal to or greater than a threshold. If the calculated horizontal length of the object is equal to or greater than the threshold, the arithmetic processing device 41 proceeds to step S6. If the calculated horizontal length of the object is less than the threshold, the arithmetic processing device 41 proceeds to step S5.

[0060] In step S5, the arithmetic processing device 41 detects that the object passing through the predetermined area A is not a vehicle. After that, the arithmetic processing device 41 ends the processing shown in FIG.

[0061] In step S6, the arithmetic processing unit 41 detects that the object passing through the predetermined area A is a vehicle.

[0062] In step S7, the arithmetic processing device 41 calculates the number of vehicles passing through the predetermined area A, and stores the number in a predetermined storage area of ​​the computer 40. Thereafter, the arithmetic processing device 41 ends the processing shown in FIG.

[0063] As described above, the passing vehicle detection device 1 of this embodiment includes an optical sensor 20 that irradiates a side surface of a vehicle passing through a predetermined area A with laser light and detects the reflected light of the laser light reflected by the side surface. The passing vehicle detection device 1 also includes a processing unit 41 that detects vehicles passing through the predetermined area A based on the detection result of the optical sensor 20. The height of the optical sensor 20 from the ground is set to a height such that the irradiation position of the laser light in the height direction is within the range Rh from the center of a wheel provided on the vehicle to the top of the wheel.

[0064] As a result, even if a wide variety of vehicles pass through the predetermined area A, the laser light emitted from the optical sensor 20 is reliably reflected by the body frames on the sides of the vehicles. The optical sensor 20 can detect the reflected light once for each vehicle. Therefore, even if a wide variety of vehicles pass through the predetermined area A, the arithmetic processing device 41 can easily distinguish the reflected light detected by the optical sensor 20 from vehicle to vehicle. Therefore, the passing vehicle detection device 1 can accurately and easily detect passing vehicles even if a wide variety of vehicles pass through the predetermined area A.

[0065] The passing vehicle detection method of this embodiment can be realized by the processing unit 41 performing the processing shown in FIG.

[0066] That is, the passing vehicle detection method of this embodiment includes irradiating a side surface of a vehicle passing through a predetermined area A with laser light and detecting the reflected light of the laser light reflected by the side surface (steps S1 and S2). The passing vehicle detection method also includes detecting a vehicle passing through the predetermined area A based on the detection result of the reflected light (step S6). The passing vehicle detection method irradiates the laser light such that the irradiation position in the height direction of the laser light is within a range Rh from the center of a wheel provided on the vehicle to the top of the wheel.

[0067] As a result, the passing vehicle detection method of this embodiment can easily distinguish the detected reflected light from one vehicle to another even if a wide variety of vehicles are mixed together and pass through the predetermined area A. Therefore, the passing vehicle detection method can accurately and easily detect passing vehicles even if a wide variety of vehicles are mixed together and pass through the predetermined area A.

[0068] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention as defined in the claims. In the present invention, the configuration of one embodiment can be added to the configuration of another embodiment, the configuration of one embodiment can be replaced with the configuration of another embodiment, or part of the configuration of one embodiment can be deleted. [Explanation of symbols]

[0069] 1...passing vehicle detection device, 10...moving body, 13...support member, 14...adjustment mechanism, 20...optical sensor, 41...arithmetic processing device, A...predetermined area, V...vehicle, Va...wheel, Vb...center, Vc...top, Rh...range

Claims

1. an optical sensor that irradiates a side surface of a vehicle passing through a predetermined area with a laser beam and detects the reflected light of the laser beam reflected by the side surface; a processing unit that detects the vehicle passing through the predetermined area based on the detection result of the optical sensor, the optical sensor is attached to a support member connected to an adjustment mechanism for adjusting the height of the optical sensor from the ground; The adjustment mechanism adjusts the height of the optical sensor from the ground so that the irradiation position of the laser light in the height direction is within a range from the center of a wheel provided on the vehicle to the top of the wheel. A passing vehicle detection device.

2. The optical sensor, the arithmetic processing unit, and the support member are installed on a moving body.

2. The passing vehicle detection device according to claim 1.

3. the optical sensor irradiates the laser light in a linear irradiation range along a horizontal direction relative to the side surface; The arithmetic processing device calculates the horizontal length of the object passing through the predetermined area based on the detection result of the optical sensor, and detects that the object is the vehicle based on the calculated length.

2. The passing vehicle detection device according to claim 1.

4. The calculation processing unit calculates the number of the vehicles passing through the predetermined area from the calculated length.

4. The passing vehicle detection device according to claim 3.

5. An optical sensor irradiates a side of a vehicle passing through a predetermined area with a laser beam and detects the reflected light of the laser beam reflected by the side; and a processing unit detects the vehicle passing through the predetermined area based on a detection result of the reflected light, the optical sensor is attached to a support member connected to an adjustment mechanism for adjusting the height of the optical sensor from the ground; The adjustment mechanism adjusts the height of the optical sensor from the ground so that the irradiation position of the laser light in the height direction is within a range from the center of a wheel provided on the vehicle to the top of the wheel. A method for detecting a passing vehicle.

Images