Pedestrian Crossing Shuttle With Lift Platforms for Mobility Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current pedestrian crossing safety systems inadequately address the needs of mobility disadvantaged persons, particularly in terms of safety and convenience, as existing solutions are either impractical due to high costs, durability issues, or space constraints, and fail to prevent accidents caused by speeding vehicles and signal violations.
Innovation Solution
A safety board system featuring a shuttle that travels between lift platforms on both sides of a pedestrian crossing, equipped with a direction changing device, sensing units, and anti-collision sensors, which allows for safe and efficient passage of mobility disadvantaged persons while minimizing sidewalk width reduction and preventing accidents by decelerating or stopping the shuttle when necessary.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a moving walkway is installed at the top of the road to assist pedestrian movement, then pedestrian convenience is improved, but durability deteriorates due to the weight of passing vehicles and construction/maintenance costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the pedestrian assistance function into separate components: lift platforms remain stationary on sidewalks while shuttles move independently on the road surface. This segmentation allows the road structure to bear vehicle loads without supporting a continuous moving walkway, resolving the durability issue while maintaining pedestrian convenience through the shuttle service.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of placing the moving component (walkway) on the road as in prior art, the invention inverts the approach by keeping platforms stationary on sidewalks and moving only the shuttles on the road surface. This inversion transfers the structural load burden from the road to the sidewalk platforms, eliminating durability concerns while preserving mobility assistance.
2Ease of operation
If lift platforms are installed on sidewalks to assist mobility disadvantaged persons, then accessibility is improved, but sidewalk width is reduced causing inconvenience to other pedestrians
Solution Approach 1:
The shuttle system dynamically adjusts its positioning and timing to minimize sidewalk occupation. Shuttles approach at angles and make quick directional changes near platform edges, reducing the static footprint required for platform installation while maintaining accessibility functionality for mobility disadvantaged persons.
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes the road surface area rather than expanding sidewalk occupation. By having shuttles travel on the road and approach platforms from various angles, the solution transfers the spatial requirement from the sidewalk dimension to the road dimension, preserving sidewalk width for pedestrian passage while maintaining accessibility.
3Ease of operation
If an electric cart operates autonomously on pedestrian crossing to transport elderly and disabled individuals, then mobility assistance is provided, but the cart cannot change direction requiring sufficient sidewalk space for entry and exit
Solution Approach 1:
The shuttle is equipped with dynamic directional control capabilities that allow it to change direction smoothly while moving. This enables the shuttle to approach and exit platforms at various angles without requiring large maneuvering spaces on the sidewalk, maintaining mobility assistance while improving adaptability to different spatial constraints.
4Reliability
If acoustic signals and LED blocks are installed at pedestrian crossings, then basic safety information is provided, but these facilities do not adequately address the needs of mobility disadvantaged persons
Solution Approach 1:
The shuttle system serves multiple functions: it provides physical transportation for mobility disadvantaged persons across the crossing, offers active safety monitoring through sensors and anti-collision systems, and delivers personalized assistance rather than generic signals. This multi-functionality addresses both safety information provision and specific needs of mobility disadvantaged persons.
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 1c
Figure 2a
AI summary
The present invention relates to a safety board system. The safety board system of the present invention is installed on a pedestrian crossing to assist individuals with reduced mobility in safety crossing the pedestrian crossing, the safety board system including: a pair of lift platforms that are formed on sidewalks on both sides of the pedestrian crossing; one or more shuttles that move along a predetermined travel path within a travel area set on the pedestrian crossing to travel back and forth between the pair of lift platforms and transport passengers to the opposite lift platforms; a driving device that moves the shuttles; and a control device that selectively operates the driving device. Therefore, the present invention can directly assist the movement of mobility disadvantaged persons crossing the pedestrian crossing, leading to rapid and safe crossing.