Dynamic Safety Alert Zoning With Distributed Remote Sensors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing integrated control and safety systems in industrial facilities rely on static sensing systems and predefined responses, which are inflexible, non-robust, and inefficient, leading to inadequate monitoring and response to safety hazards, particularly in dynamic environments where personnel movement and equipment operation pose challenges.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of intelligent industrial facility safety systems using remote sensing devices (RSDs) that include fixed and mobile units with sensing, processing, communication, and alert capabilities, configured in various communication schemes to provide robust and adaptive safety monitoring and alerting, enabling dynamic adjustment of sensor deployment and alert prioritization based on real-time data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If fixed sensors are distributed throughout the facility to provide balanced coverage, then monitoring coverage is improved, but the ability to provide heightened monitoring in areas with more personnel is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements mobile sensors that can dynamically relocate to different areas of the facility based on real-time personnel location data and hazard risk assessments. This transforms the static sensor deployment into a dynamic system that adapts its coverage areas, allowing heightened monitoring in high-risk zones while maintaining comprehensive facility-wide coverage through coordinated movement of multiple sensors.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor system is divided into multiple independent mobile units that can operate autonomously or in coordination. Each sensor unit can independently navigate and monitor its assigned zone, allowing the system to provide both comprehensive coverage through distributed sensors and heightened monitoring in specific areas by concentrating multiple sensors where needed.
2Device complexity
If sensors rely on direct communication with a centralized controller, then system simplicity is improved, but monitoring robustness is worsened when sensors lose communication
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines centralized controller architecture with distributed autonomous capabilities in mobile sensors. Each mobile sensor maintains independent hazard detection and local alerting functionality, allowing it to continue monitoring and reporting even when communication with the centralized controller is lost. The centralized controller coordinates overall system operation but the mobile sensors' autonomy ensures monitoring robustness during communication disruptions.
3Device complexity
If fixed sensors provide partial coverage of an area, then device complexity is reduced, but the ability to pinpoint event location and provide precise alerts is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
Mobile sensors dynamically navigate to and concentrate in areas where hazards are detected or where personnel are located, providing high-resolution monitoring of specific zones. This dynamic positioning allows the system to achieve precise event location identification without requiring a dense fixed sensor network throughout the entire facility, as sensors can be concentrated where needed based on real-time conditions.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are systems and methods for intelligent distributed industrial facility safety systems. In some embodiments an industrial facility safety system includes remote sensing devices (RSDs) disposed throughout an industrial facility and a facility safety control system (FSCS) adapted to collect safety data from the RSDs, determine a zone of interest within the industrial facility based on the collected data, and send corresponding alerts to the RSDs based on the zone of interest.