Vehicle Operator Identification Using Proximity-Based Device Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems face challenges in reliably distinguishing between operators and pedestrians in environments where machinery is in use, as they often rely on visual detection which can be obstructed by loads or structures, leading to potential safety hazards.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a machine or vehicle system that uses external sensors and portable devices to detect pedestrians through electronic signals, allowing for the differentiation between operators and pedestrians based on proximity thresholds and communication modes, thereby preventing accidental triggering of safety measures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If visual detection systems are used to detect pedestrians, then the system can identify personnel in the environment, but the detection reliability deteriorates when obstructions such as loads or structures block the line of sight
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces portable electronic devices as intermediary objects that personnel carry. These devices emit electronic signals that can be detected by the vehicle system, serving as a mediator between the detection system and the personnel. This allows detection to occur through electronic signal transmission rather than direct visual line of sight, resolving the contradiction by enabling reliable detection even when physical obstructions block the visual path.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/optical visual detection system with an electronic signal-based detection system. Instead of relying on cameras or visual sensors that require line of sight, the system uses electronic signals emitted by portable devices to detect personnel presence. This substitution eliminates the limitation of visual obstructions while maintaining detection capability.
2Reliability
If the vehicle system detects all portable devices as pedestrians, then pedestrian safety is improved, but false alarms increase when operators carry portable devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different classification rules to different spatial locations relative to the vehicle. Operators are defined as personnel within a first proximity threshold (closer to the vehicle), while pedestrians are personnel beyond this threshold. This local quality differentiation allows the system to treat portable devices differently based on their spatial relationship to the vehicle, enabling accurate identification of operators versus pedestrians and preventing false safety interventions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the detection parameter from a binary presence/absence detection to a proximity-based classification system. By introducing proximity thresholds as a variable parameter, the system can dynamically classify personnel as either operators or pedestrians based on their distance from the vehicle. This parameter change enables the system to distinguish between operators who carry portable devices and actual pedestrians, resolving the false alarm issue while maintaining safety protection.
Data Source
Figure 1~2A
Figure 2B~2D
Figure 3A~3C
AI summary
Systems and methods associate operators with machinery, such as materials-handling vehicles. Embodiments of the disclosed system comprise a first communication module configured to determine a distance between a frame of reference associated with a vehicle and respective portable devices and first logic configured to designate a first portable device as an operator device based, at least in part, on a first distance determined by the communication module. The first logic may be further configured to exclude the first portable device from a pedestrian detection function in response to classifying the first portable device as an operator device.