Police Vehicle Light Control via Wearable Node Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Police officers manually adjust spotlights on police vehicles to illuminate different areas, which is inefficient and requires returning to the vehicle each time, disrupting their operations.
Innovation Solution
A police vehicle exterior light control system that includes beacons on the chassis and lightbar, wearable nodes for officers, and a light control unit that tracks the officer's location using signal strength values to automatically adjust and direct spotlights for continuous illumination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If police officers manually adjust spotlights to illuminate different areas, then the spotlights can be positioned to provide light to desired locations, but the officers must return to the vehicle to adjust them, which disrupts operations and reduces efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service operation where the spotlights automatically track and illuminate the officer's location without manual intervention. The wearable node detects the officer's position and the control unit automatically adjusts spotlight orientation and selection, eliminating the need for the officer to return to the vehicle for adjustments.
Solution Approach 2:
The manual mechanical adjustment of spotlights is replaced with an automated electronic control system. The control unit uses sensor data from wearable nodes to electronically steer and activate spotlights, substituting the mechanical manual positioning process with an automated electronic control mechanism.
2Duration of action of stationary object
If spotlights are manually adjusted by police officers, then light can be directed to specific areas, but continuous illumination is disrupted when officers move away from the vehicle
Solution Approach 1:
The system ensures continuous illumination by automatically tracking the officer's movement in real-time. As the officer moves, the wearable node continuously transmits position data, and the control unit continuously adjusts spotlight orientation and activation to maintain uninterrupted lighting coverage of the officer's location.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback through wearable nodes that continuously monitor the officer's location and transmit this information to the control unit. The control unit uses this feedback to dynamically adjust spotlight positioning and ensure continuous illumination adapts to the officer's current position.
3Productivity
If multiple spotlights are used to track the officer's location, then continuous illumination is maintained, but the system complexity increases with beacon tracking and automated control
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit performs multiple functions including tracking officer location via beacon signals, calculating optimal spotlight orientation, selecting appropriate spotlights for activation, and adjusting light intensity. This multi-functionality consolidates what could be separate complex systems into a single integrated control unit, managing complexity through functional integration.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables efficient and continuous illumination of the officer's location without manual adjustment, improving operational efficiency by maintaining light focus as the officer moves and optimizing light intensity and angle based on distance and ambient conditions.
Implementation Method 1
receiving signal strength values from wearable nodes associated with a police officer from at least one of first beacons positioned on a chassis of the police vehicle or second beacons positioned on a lightbar of the police vehicle
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are disclosed for a police vehicle exterior light control. An example disclosed police vehicle includes first beacons positioned on a chassis of the police vehicle, second beacons positioned on a lightbar of the police vehicle, and a plurality of spotlights on the lightbar. The example police vehicle also includes a light control unit that tracks a location of wearable nodes associated with a police officer. Additionally, the light control unit illuminates the area around the police officer using selected ones of the plurality of spotlights.