Wireless Sensor Network for Real-Time Worksites Safety Monitoring

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current safety monitoring systems for work environments and mobile work vehicles lack real-time, comprehensive, and automated capabilities to detect unsafe conditions and alert workers and management, leading to potential hazards and substandard safety records.

Innovation Solution

A comprehensive monitoring system that employs small battery-powered sensors wirelessly communicating with computing devices and servers, integrating data from third-party services for real-time safety monitoring, using sensors like RFID, accelerometers, and weather sensors to alert workers and management of unsafe conditions through audible and visual alarms, and providing data analysis for safety statistics and gamification.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional safety monitoring systems are used, then safety monitoring is provided, but real-time detection and alerting capabilities are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesafety monitoring reliabilityVSAvoidreal-time detection speed

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces traditional mechanical safety monitoring systems with an automated electronic monitoring system that uses sensors, processors, and wireless communication to detect unsafe conditions and alert workers in real-time, eliminating the need for manual monitoring and significantly improving detection speed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The monitoring system automatically detects unsafe conditions, processes sensor data, generates alerts, and provides notifications without requiring human intervention, enabling the system to monitor itself and continuously provide real-time safety monitoring

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Adaptability or versatility

If comprehensive safety monitoring is implemented, then safety coverage is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesafety monitoring coverageVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The comprehensive safety monitoring system is divided into modular components including sensor units, processing units, communication units, and alert generation units, each performing specific functions that can be independently configured and maintained, making the complex system manageable and adaptable to different worksite requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The monitoring system is designed to detect multiple types of unsafe conditions (electrical hazards, structural instability, environmental dangers, equipment malfunctions) using a unified platform that can be adapted to various worksite environments and mobile work vehicles, providing comprehensive coverage without requiring separate specialized systems

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If automated alerting systems are deployed, then worker safety awareness is improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveworker safety awarenessVSAvoidsystem energy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses periodic sensor activation and event-triggered alert generation rather than continuous operation, where sensors monitor conditions continuously but only activate alerting functions when unsafe conditions are detected, significantly reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining reliable safety awareness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system incorporates feedback mechanisms that adjust monitoring and alerting behavior based on detected conditions, reducing energy consumption during normal operations and activating full alerting capabilities only when unsafe conditions are present, optimizing the balance between safety awareness and energy use

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS9776847B2Comprehensive worksite and transportation safety system

Publication Date: 2017.10.03 RECON DYNAMICS LLC

AI summary

Systems and methods for monitoring safety of work vehicles and worksites. Work vehicles and worksites may be provided with target object sensor units for detecting a condition regarding safety determinative aspects of the work vehicle or worksite. The target object sensor units communicate data regarding the safety determinative aspects to a data acquisition and communication unit that produces safety status data. The safety status data is analyzed to determine whether to issue a notification to a notification unit to alert workers of an unsafe condition. The data acquisition and communication unit transmits the safety status data to a server/processing unit for further analysis. The server/processing unit may track the safety status data regarding each worksite or work vehicle and generate statistical data regarding the safety status data. The server/processing unit may communicate with user interface to display notifications and statistical data.