Acoustic Street Light Control for Reliable Motion Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing street light management systems face challenges in accurately and reliably illuminating paths due to environmental and weather conditions, which limit the effectiveness of optical motion sensors used for detecting traffic motion.
Innovation Solution
Implementing an acoustics-based light source control system that uses acoustic sensors to detect sound emissions from moving objects, determine their velocity and trajectory, and adjust the illumination of nearby light sources based on proximity and topography, thereby optimizing lighting system operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If optical motion sensors are used to detect traffic motion for street light control, then the system can selectively illuminate paths, but environmental and weather conditions reduce detection accuracy and reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces optical motion sensors with acoustic sensors (microphones) to detect traffic. Acoustic sensors are not affected by environmental and weather conditions that hinder optical sensors, such as darkness, rain, fog, or snow. The acoustic sensors detect sound waves from moving vehicles and pedestrians, providing reliable detection regardless of visual conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the detection parameter from optical (visual) to acoustic (sound). By detecting sound emissions and analyzing acoustic characteristics, the system can identify moving objects and their trajectories without being influenced by lighting conditions, weather, or visibility issues that affect optical sensors.
2Illumination intensity
If street lights illuminate the entire path continuously, then all areas are well-lit, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting system transitions from static continuous illumination to dynamic selective illumination. The control system dynamically adjusts which lights are on based on real-time detection of moving objects. When no motion is detected, lights are turned off or dimmed. When motion is detected, only lights along the detected trajectory are illuminated, creating a dynamic response that adapts to actual needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary detection of moving objects using acoustic sensors before activating lights. By detecting sound emissions and predicting trajectories in advance, the system can pre-activate only the necessary lights along the anticipated path, avoiding unnecessary illumination of areas where no one is present.
3Reliability
If acoustic sensors are used instead of optical sensors, then detection reliability improves in various environments, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The acoustic sensors and control system operate autonomously to detect motion and control lighting. The system processes acoustic signals, determines trajectories, and activates lights without human intervention. This self-service capability simplifies deployment since the system automatically adapts to environmental conditions without requiring complex external infrastructure or manual configuration.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enhances the accuracy, reliability, and flexibility of street light management by enabling effective illumination based on detected motion, reducing power consumption, and expanding the system's deployment range across various environments.
Implementation Method 1
detecting sounds emitted by a sound source from positions located along the path
Data Source
AI summary
A computer-implemented method for acoustics-based light source control of a lighting system is provided. The method may include detecting sounds emitted by a sound source from positions located along the path. A velocity of the sound source is determined with respect to a point on the path based on the detected sound emissions. A spatio-temporal trajectory of the sound source is based on the determined velocity and a topography of the path at the positions of the sound source. One or more light sources positioned adjacent to the determined trajectory are identified. Responsive to determining that a distance between the sound source and the identified light sources does not exceed a predetermined threshold, the identified light sources are energized to illuminate the length of the path ahead of the sound source.