Drilling Site Personnel Tracking via Multi-Camera Triangulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current technologies for detecting person location in industrial environments, such as drilling sites, require personnel to take specific actions (e.g., wearing RFID, reporting location), which are failure points leading to preventable injuries, and lack accurate, automated sensing solutions.
Innovation Solution
A computer vision system using multiple calibrated cameras to track personnel locations through triangulation and triangulated bounding boxes, integrating with machinery control systems to inhibit or initiate automated actions based on real-time personnel positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If automated machinery motion is implemented to improve speed and efficiency, then productivity increases, but safety risks to personnel increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously captures video frames from multiple cameras, detects personnel locations in real-time, and feeds this information back to the control system to dynamically adjust or prohibit automated machinery actions based on current personnel positions
Solution Approach 2:
A computer vision system acts as an intermediary between personnel and automated machinery, using video-based personnel location detection to mediate whether automated actions should proceed or be prohibited based on detected personnel proximity
2Measurement precision
If RFID or manual location reporting is used to track personnel, then personnel location can be identified, but the system requires personnel actions that create failure points
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically detects and tracks personnel locations using video analysis without requiring any action or cooperation from personnel, eliminating the need for them to wear RFID tags or manually report locations
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical/physical tracking systems (RFID tags, manual reporting) with an optical/computer vision-based system that passively detects personnel locations through video analysis
3Measurement precision
If multiple video sources are used to track personnel, then personnel location accuracy improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges data from multiple video cameras into a unified personnel location estimation, combining information from different camera angles and perspectives to achieve accurate 3D location tracking
Solution Approach 2:
The computer vision system performs multiple functions simultaneously: it detects personnel locations, estimates 3D positions from 2D video frames, tracks personnel movement over time, and provides this information to control systems for safety decisions
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for determining the location of personnel on a drilling site. A computer vision system can automatically identify and determine the locations of personnel on a drilling site, can generate a confidence map of the locations, and can display the locations of the personnel on a map of the drilling site. The system and methods also include taking corrective action when a person's location is determined to be unsafe, such as by inhibiting or causing automated actions with respect to machinery and equipment at the drilling site. The systems and methods may include the use of multiple cameras or video sources located at the drilling site and may be coupled to a control system to control machinery or equipment at the drilling site.