Pedestrian Path Guidance Using Predictive Alerts and Barriers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Pedestrians traveling in areas shared with motorized vehicles often become distracted or non-compliant with traffic rules, leading to potential unsafe situations where they inadvertently enter vehicle lanes.
Innovation Solution
A system that predicts user behavior using sensor data and controls guides such as physical barriers, haptic systems, audio, and visual displays to redirect pedestrians away from unsafe zones, utilizing machine learning and sensor data to create safe and unsafe zones.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If pedestrians are allowed free movement on paths proximate to vehicle lanes, then ease of operation is improved, but safety is worsened due to distracted or non-compliant pedestrians entering vehicle lanes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary system consisting of sensors, processors, and guides that mediate between pedestrians and vehicle lanes. The system detects pedestrian behavior through sensors, processes the data to predict unsafe movements, and activates guides (physical barriers, haptic systems, audio-visual alerts) to prevent pedestrians from entering vehicle lanes, thus resolving the contradiction between movement freedom and safety
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical safety barriers with an intelligent system that uses sensors, processors, and multiple types of guides including haptic feedback systems, audio alerts, and visual displays. This substitution allows for dynamic, responsive safety measures that maintain pedestrian freedom while preventing unsafe behavior through non-physical means
2Object-affected harmful factors
If traditional fixed barriers are used to prevent pedestrians from entering vehicle lanes, then safety is improved, but device complexity and pedestrian convenience are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic guides that can be activated or deactivated based on real-time pedestrian behavior detection. Instead of fixed barriers, the system uses sensors to monitor pedestrians and only activates guides (physical barriers, haptic systems, audio-visual alerts) when unsafe behavior is predicted, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining safety
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates feedback mechanisms where sensors continuously monitor pedestrian behavior, the processor analyzes the data to predict unsafe movements, and guides are activated in response. This closed-loop feedback system replaces complex fixed barriers with a simpler, adaptive system that only intervenes when necessary
3Object-affected harmful factors
If responsive guidance systems are activated to redirect pedestrians, then safety is improved, but use of energy increases due to continuous sensor operation and guide activation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic sensing and selective guide activation rather than continuous operation. Sensors operate continuously to detect pedestrian behavior, but guides are only activated when unsafe behavior is predicted based on sensor data analysis, reducing energy consumption while maintaining safety effectiveness
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to guiding a user travelling along a path. In one embodiment, a method includes predicting, by a processor, a behavior of a user based on at least sensor data received by the processor. The user is travelling on a pedestrian path. The method further includes, in response to a predicted behavior, controlling a guide, by the processor, to output the guide along the pedestrian path to direct the user.