School Bus Stop Sign Assembly with Integrated Cameras
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing school bus stop sign devices do not adequately ensure safety for children entering or exiting the bus, as they lack effective mechanisms to prevent vehicles from passing the bus and do not provide comprehensive visual alerts or surveillance.
Innovation Solution
A hinging unit coupled to the school bus extends a member across the roadway with integrated stop signs and light emitters, and pairs of video cameras capture imagery of the environment to deter vehicle passage and enhance visibility and safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a rotatable stop sign mounted on a pole is used, then the device can be deployed to block traffic, but it lacks effective mechanisms to prevent vehicles from passing the bus
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple safety functions into a single integrated assembly: the stop sign, light emitters, and video cameras are merged into one unit that deploys together. This resolves the contradiction by enhancing safety effectiveness through multiple simultaneous functions while avoiding the complexity of separate deployed components
Solution Approach 2:
The stop sign assembly serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides visual stop commands, emits light alerts, and records video evidence. This multi-functionality enhances safety effectiveness without requiring separate devices, as the same structural components perform multiple safety roles
2Reliability
If video surveillance devices are mounted on the school bus, then footage of vehicles can be captured, but comprehensive visual alerts and surveillance are not provided
Solution Approach 1:
The video cameras are integrated with the stop sign assembly rather than being separate bus-mounted devices. This merging provides comprehensive surveillance as part of the deployed stop configuration, resolving the contradiction by enhancing surveillance capability while avoiding the complexity of multiple separate system configurations
Solution Approach 2:
The video cameras are pre-positioned on the stop sign assembly so that surveillance is automatically activated when the stop sign is deployed. This preliminary positioning ensures comprehensive visual coverage is ready in advance, enhancing surveillance capability without requiring complex real-time system configuration
3Reliability
If a member is extended across the roadway to block traffic, then vehicle passage can be inhibited, but the device lacks effective mechanisms to prevent vehicles from passing
Solution Approach 1:
The physical barrier member is merged with visual alert mechanisms (light emitters) and documentation capabilities (video cameras) in a single deployed assembly. This resolves the contradiction by enhancing traffic blocking effectiveness through multiple simultaneous deterrents while avoiding the complexity of separate control systems
Solution Approach 2:
The extended member serves as both a physical barrier and a mounting structure for light emitters and video cameras. This multi-functionality enhances traffic blocking effectiveness by combining physical obstruction with visual alerts and evidence collection, without requiring additional separate mechanisms
Data Source
AI summary
A school bus stop sign assembly for enhancing safety of children entering and exiting a school bus includes a hinging unit that is coupled to an outer wall of a school bus. The hinging unit is actuated into a deployed position and a stored position. A member is coupled to the hinging unit and the member extends outwardly from the school bus when the hinging unit is actuated into the deployed position. Thus, the member extends across a roadway on which the school bus is driving to inhibit a vehicle from passing the school bus thereby enhancing safety for children entering or exiting the school bus. A pair of video cameras is each coupled to the member to capture imagery of the environment around the member.