Unmanned Gateline Fail-Safe Mechanism for Emergency Response
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Solution Overview
Problem
Automated pedestrian access control gates, such as turnstiles, require manual intervention during health and safety events to ensure passenger safety, which can be inefficient and costly, as they need to be manned despite the potential for unmanned operation with remote monitoring.
Innovation Solution
A system that includes a gate paddle sensor and a computer server system to detect unnatural positions of the gate paddle and trigger a fail-safe mechanism to open the gate in case of an emergency or lack of response from monitoring staff, utilizing gateline sensors and video analytics to detect health and safety events and automatically initiate predefined actions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If automated pedestrian access control gates are operated without manual supervision, then operational efficiency is improved and costs are reduced, but safety response capability deteriorates during health and safety events
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables the access control gate to automatically detect and respond to safety events without requiring manual intervention. Sensors monitor gate position and detect abnormal states, while the system autonomously determines whether to open or close the gate based on detected events, eliminating the need for continuous manual supervision while maintaining safety response capability
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors gate position through sensors and receives feedback about the current state of the gate. This feedback loop enables the system to detect when the gate is in an abnormal position and automatically respond by opening or closing the gate, ensuring safety without requiring manual intervention
2Reliability
If manual supervision is maintained during gate operation, then safety response capability is improved, but operational efficiency deteriorates and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces manual mechanical supervision with an automated electronic monitoring system. Sensors, processors, and communication modules work together to detect safety events and control gate operation, substituting human operators with an automated system that maintains safety response capability while improving operational efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces remote monitoring devices and communication systems as intermediaries between the gate and human operators. When safety events are detected, the system can automatically respond or alert remote operators, eliminating the need for continuous on-site manual supervision while maintaining safety response capability
3Productivity
If the gate paddle is automatically controlled, then operational efficiency is improved, but reliability deteriorates when the paddle becomes stuck in an unnatural position
Solution Approach 1:
The system prepares for potential failures by continuously monitoring gate position through sensors and having pre-programmed response protocols. When the gate becomes stuck in an unnatural position, the system automatically detects the abnormal state and executes predetermined actions to open or close the gate, preventing safety incidents without requiring manual intervention
Data Source
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AI summary
Systems and techniques are presented for enabling fail-safe operation of an automatic pedestrian access control gate during a health and safety event. Gateline sensor data is received from at least one gateline sensor. The gateline sensor data indicates that an event concerning health and safety has occurred. An alert is generated in response to receiving the gateline sensor data. The alert is transmitted to a remote monitoring device that is remote from the access control gate. A determination is made that a preset amount of time has elapsed since transmitting the alert. A further determination is made that an acknowledgement of the alert has not been received. Based on determining that the preset amount of time has elapsed and determining that the acknowledgement has not been received, a predefined action is triggered.