Rear Vehicle Camera Activation for Safer Backing Visibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle monitoring and communication systems face challenges such as limited visibility, signal interference, antenna performance issues, difficulty in tracking devices, malfunction detection, power availability, and inadequate activation of optical sensors, leading to safety concerns and operational inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
A monitoring and communication device equipped with a camera or optical sensor at the trailing end of a vehicle system that activates based on movement changes, temperature, acoustic sounds, or pressure, and includes a controller to manage indicator devices and optical sensor outputs, ensuring safe and efficient vehicle operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a spotter exits the rail vehicle to walk to the back end to communicate about backing up, then the operating engineer can see what the spotter sees behind the rail vehicle, but this poses a safety risk to the spotter especially in adverse weather conditions and requires additional personnel
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical system of a human spotter physically moving to observe and communicate with a camera system mounted on the rail vehicle. The camera captures images and transmits them to a display device, eliminating the need for a spotter to exit the vehicle and reducing personnel requirements while maintaining safety and observational capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a visual copy of the rear view scene by using a camera to capture images and transmitting them to a display device inside the vehicle. This allows the operating engineer to see what would otherwise require a human spotter to physically observe, providing accurate visual information without human exposure to hazardous conditions
2Reliability
If high gain antennas are used exterior to the end of the vehicle device, then signal quality improves, but the rugged nature of end of vehicle devices causes signal quality to suffer in favor of antenna robustness and permanent fixtures are difficult to replace
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the antenna system into separable components: a removable antenna element and a permanent mounting base. The antenna can be detached and replaced without replacing the entire end of vehicle device, allowing maintenance of signal quality while improving repairability. The coupling mechanism enables easy attachment and detachment of the antenna element
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic characteristics to the antenna system by making the antenna element removable and replaceable rather than permanently fixed. This allows the system to adapt to maintenance needs and signal quality requirements, enabling operators to replace antennas as needed without replacing the entire device
3Use of energy by moving object
If monitoring devices are deactivated when not in use, then power consumption is reduced, but the devices cannot report locations while deactivated and tracking relies on human operators which is inaccurate and not timely
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback system where the monitoring device continuously reports its location and status to a central tracking system. This automatic feedback mechanism eliminates reliance on human operators to record locations, providing accurate and timely location information while allowing the device to remain in low-power mode when not actively monitoring
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables the monitoring device to automatically report its location and status before being activated for full operation. This preliminary reporting capability ensures that the device's location is known even when in low-power mode, eliminating the information loss that occurs when devices are deactivated without reporting
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle monitoring device includes a camera or other optical sensor configured to be disposed at a trailing end of a first vehicle system. The camera or other optical sensor is configured to output one or more images or video of a field of view behind the first vehicle system. The monitoring device also includes a controller configured to receive output from one or more sensors and to activate the camera or other optical sensor to output the one or more images or video based on the output from the one or more sensors. The output from the one or more sensors indicates one or more of a change in movement of the first vehicle system, a temperature, an acoustic sound, or movement of a second vehicle system.