Holographic Safety Gate for Dynamic Hazard Projection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Industrial environments face safety risks due to unawareness of hazards around machines and material movements, particularly in areas with varying levels of sensor instrumentation, where older machines may have less safety monitoring and newer machines more, leading to potential accidents.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method generates a virtual three-dimensional holographic safety gate around machines and areas of material movement, using IoT-enabled PPE and sensors to dynamically project safety boundaries, alerting personnel of required safety precautions and hazards through holographic projections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional physical safety gates are used to protect workers from machine hazards, then worker safety is improved, but the complexity of the safety system and the cost of installation and maintenance increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual copy of a physical safety gate using holographic projection technology. Instead of installing actual physical barriers, the system projects a lifelike holographic image that appears as a three-dimensional safety gate, providing visual warning and guidance without the physical infrastructure requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical physical safety gate system with an optical holographic projection system. The virtual safety gate uses light fields and visual perception rather than physical barriers, eliminating the need for mechanical installation, assembly, and maintenance while achieving the same safety communication function
2Reliability
If fixed physical safety barriers are installed around machines, then safety boundaries are clearly defined, but the flexibility to adapt to different machine configurations and operating conditions is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic safety gate system where the holographic projection can be repositioned, resized, and reconfigured instantly by adjusting projection parameters. The safety boundary is no longer fixed in space but can adapt dynamically to different machine locations, operating modes, and hazard levels through software control
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameters of the safety gate from fixed physical dimensions to adjustable optical parameters. The holographic projection can modify its position, size, opacity, and visual characteristics based on machine operating conditions, providing flexible adaptation without physical reconfiguration
3Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If comprehensive sensor instrumentation is installed on all machines, then hazard detection capability is improved, but the cost and complexity of equipping older machines increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal safety interface that works with machines regardless of their sensor capabilities. The holographic safety gate system provides a common visual communication layer that can integrate with simple sensors on older machines or advanced sensor systems on newer machines, making the safety system universally applicable across diverse equipment
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces the holographic projection system as an intermediary between the machine's sensor system and the worker. This intermediary layer translates various sensor inputs and machine states into a unified visual safety interface, bridging the gap between different machine technologies and providing consistent safety communication
Data Source
AI summary
A method includes: determining, by a computing device, an operating condition of a machine in an industrial environment; determining, by the computing device, a hazard based on the operating condition; determining, by the computing device, one or more safety precautions based on the hazard; generating, by the computing device, a virtual three-dimensional holographic safety gate around the machine based on the one or more safety precautions.