UWB Anti-Impact Barrier Sensing for Predictive Collision Avoidance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing anti-impact protection systems are often destroyed or severely damaged during collisions, leading to lengthy repair times and substantial costs, and lack predictive functionality to prevent collisions by detecting the movement of objects within a predetermined area.

Innovation Solution

An anti-impact protection system using UWB sensors with multiple antennas and geo-location capabilities to detect and track the position of moving objects, triggering alarms and adjusting vehicle behavior to prevent collisions, and integrating with existing barriers to create communication networks for data sharing and analysis.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional anti-impact protection systems are used without predictive functionality, then the barriers provide basic protection, but they are often destroyed or seriously damaged during collisions, leading to lengthy repair times and substantial costs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecollision prevention capabilityVSAvoidrepair time and cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary detection of moving objects and predicts potential collision trajectories before actual contact occurs. By identifying objects in the danger zone and calculating their movement vectors, the system triggers warnings to operators in advance, enabling them to take corrective action before the collision happens, thus preventing barrier damage entirely

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors the environment using sensors, processes the detected data to determine object positions and movement patterns, and provides real-time feedback through visual and audible warnings. This closed-loop feedback mechanism allows operators to respond to potential threats dynamically, adjusting their behavior to avoid collisions with the barriers

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If traditional anti-impact protection systems are used without predictive functionality, then the system structure remains simple, but the system lacks the ability to detect and respond to potential collisions, resulting in frequent barrier damage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecollision detection accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system employs multi-functional sensors that simultaneously perform detection, tracking, and data collection tasks. The same sensor network used for collision prediction also gathers traffic flow data and operational statistics, enabling the system to serve multiple purposes including safety monitoring, traffic management optimization, and barrier positioning analysis without requiring separate dedicated systems

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary processing layer that bridges the simple sensor inputs and the complex collision prediction algorithms. This intermediary layer pre-processes sensor data, filters relevant information, and prepares it for analysis, thereby managing system complexity while maintaining high detection accuracy and enabling scalable system deployment

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Measurement precision

If UWB sensors with multiple antennas are deployed for precise position determination, then collision prediction accuracy is improved, but the system complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveposition determination accuracyVSAvoidsensor system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements a hierarchical sensor deployment strategy where UWB sensors with multiple antennas are strategically positioned only at critical locations and angles necessary for accurate position determination. By optimizing the spatial distribution and angular coverage of sensors, the system achieves high measurement precision for collision prediction while minimizing the total number of complex sensors required, thereby controlling system complexity and cost

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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

The system effectively prevents collisions by dynamically detecting and adjusting to potential impacts, reducing damage to barriers, optimizing traffic management, and providing detailed safety mapping and data analysis for improved operational efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

A sensor in UWB technology (Ultra Wide Band) adapted to detect the position of a TAG or another sensor in UWB technology, within the area of action thereof, utilizing the technique of the angle of arrival (AoA) combined with the distance measurement

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectUltra Wide Band (UWB) signal propagation: Electromagnetic Propulsion

Implementation Method 2

utilizing the technique of the angle of arrival (AoA) combined with the distance measurement

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAngle of Arrival (AoA) measurement:

Implementation Method 3

it triggers an alarm in an electromagnetic form so as to warn the operator of the movable object about the potential collision with the barrier

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic radiation: Electromagnetic Propulsion

Data Source

PatentEP4621435A1Dynamic detection system for possible collisions and impact protection barrier belonging to said system
Publication Date: 2025.09.24 BONIFACIO FILIPPO
  • EP4621435A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4621435A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4621435A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention suggests an impact prevention and protection system in a specific area. It includes a TAG device and/or a first sensor associated with an operator and/or with a vehicle and a second sensor connected to an anti-impact barrier in the area. The TAG devices and sensors employed use the same radio frequencies for transmitting and receiving data. The TAGs have a radio transceiver, an antenna and a controller for managing the transmission. The sensors have three radio transceivers, each with an omnidirectional antenna, and a control unit for calculating the distance and the approach angle of the other sensors and TAGs in the vicinity. This information determines the probability of impact between a moving vehicle and the barrier, and can be used to activate any safety procedures or alarms.