Articulated Bus Passenger Detection Using Inclination and Geolocation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing passenger detection systems in articulated buses face challenges in accurately detecting passengers, especially in complex configurations, and often result in false positives due to the reliance on wearable device detection, leading to incorrect occupancy assessments.
Innovation Solution
A process for detecting user terminals in articulated buses that involves obtaining position data, computing inclination information, and assessing the shape of the passenger compartment to determine if a user terminal is inside, using a network with multiple access points and geolocation data to improve accuracy and reduce computational resources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If optical means are used for passenger detection, then detection coverage is improved, but computation resources required increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex optical detection systems with a simplified wireless signal-based detection method. Instead of using optical sensors and image processing that require significant computational resources, the system uses wireless terminals (smartphones) carried by passengers to send simple presence signals, dramatically reducing the computational burden while maintaining detection coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a virtual model of the passenger compartment that is updated based on wireless terminal positions. Instead of directly processing complex optical data, the system creates and updates a digital representation of passenger presence, allowing for efficient detection and tracking without heavy computation.
2Reliability
If wearable device detection is used for passenger detection, then detection capability is improved, but false positives increase due to pedestrians with cellular phones
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the detection space into distinct regions: inside the passenger compartment and outside (including bus stops and sidewalks). By segmenting the detection zones and applying different interpretation rules to each region, the system can distinguish between pedestrians and actual passengers, reducing false positives while maintaining detection capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces the concept of a 'reference point' or virtual boundary that acts as an intermediary between the detection system and the physical space. This virtual reference framework allows the system to accurately determine whether a wireless terminal is inside or outside the passenger compartment, resolving the ambiguity between pedestrians and passengers.
3Reliability
If complex configurations like double deck buses are detected, then detection coverage is improved, but detection accuracy decreases due to hidden passengers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal detection method that works across different bus configurations (single deck, double deck, articulated buses). By using wireless terminals that passengers carry regardless of their location, the system achieves consistent detection accuracy across complex geometries where optical systems would struggle with occlusions and hidden areas.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention provides a process for detecting a user terminal in the passenger compartment of an articulated bus. The articulated bus comprises at least two, for instance three units, adapted for pivoting with respect to each other, said units comprising a first unit and a second unit, a passenger compartment extending at least in the first unit and in the second unit. The process comprising the steps: obtaining position data (100) of a user terminal, said user terminal notably being outside the first unit, computing (102) inclination information of the second unit with respect to the first unit, computing (104) the shape of the passenger compartment by means of the inclination information, geolocation (106) of the articulated bus in order to obtain articulated bus geolocation data, obtaining (108) orientation data of the articulated bus, notably of at least one of the two units, assessing (150) whether the user terminal is inside the passenger compartment by means of the shape of the passenger compartment and the position data.