Context-Aware Collision Avoidance Devices and Collision Avoidance System Comprising the Same

Abstract

Personnel and vehicle collision avoidance devices configured to be used in collision avoidance systems are disclosed. The collision avoidance devices are configured to be aware of the context (e.g. position, location, state, status, etc.) in which the person or vehicle is. This awareness allows the devices to avoid transmitting non-hazardous proximity warnings when the context does not warrant the transmission of proximity warnings, and to transmit special critical proximity warnings when the context warrants the transmission of such proximity warnings. To detect the context, the devices comprise one or more context-awareness mechanisms (e.g. user input interfaces, sensors, infra-red receivers, etc.), each of which being capable of detecting one or more particular contexts. A collision avoidance system comprising these personnel and vehicle collision avoidance devices is also presented.

1 ) A collision avoidance device comprising:
 a) a processing unit;   b) a transceiver comprising an antenna, the transceiver being in communication with the processing unit and being capable of establishing wireless communications with other collision avoidance devices in communication range to transmit and/or receive proximity warnings;   c) a user interface in communication with the processing unit;   d) at least one context awareness mechanism in communication with the processing unit, the at least one context awareness mechanism being configured to detect a context in which the collision avoidance device is and to transmit data related to the detected context to the processing unit;   wherein the processing unit is operable to 1) disable the transmission of proximity warnings to at least some devices if the processing unit determines that the detected context is non-hazardous, 2) cause the transmission of regular proximity warnings to at least some devices if the processing unit determines that the detected context is hazardous, or 3) cause the transmission of critical proximity warnings, different from regular proximity warnings, to at least some devices if the processing unit determines that the detected context is critically hazardous.   
     
     
         2 ) The collision avoidance device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the device is configured to be mounted to a vehicle and wherein the at least one context awareness mechanism comprises a vehicle interface configured to determine at least one operating parameter of the vehicle. 
     
     
         3 ) The collision avoidance device as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the at least one operating parameter of the vehicle comprises the ignition status, the oil pressure status, or the operating status of the lights of the vehicle. 
     
     
         4 ) The collision avoidance device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the device is configured to be mounted to a person and wherein the collision avoidance device is integrated into a cap lamp comprising a light operatively connected to a cap lamp controller. 
     
     
         5 ) The collision avoidance device as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the at least one context awareness mechanism comprises a cap lamp controller interface configured to detect an operating status of the light. 
     
     
         6 ) The collision avoidance device as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the at least one context awareness mechanism comprises a cap lamp charger interface configured to detect a charging status of the cap lamp. 
     
     
         7 ) A collision avoidance system comprising a plurality of collision avoidance devices mounted to vehicles and persons, the personnel collision avoidance devices being configured to transmit proximity warnings to vehicle collision avoidance devices in communication range, and the vehicle collision avoidance devices being configured to transmit proximity warnings to other vehicle collision avoidance devices and to personnel collision avoidance devices in communication range;
 wherein each of the vehicle and personnel collision avoidance devices comprises at least one context awareness mechanism configured to detect a context in which the collision avoidance device is; and   wherein each of the vehicle and personnel collision avoidance devices is operable to 1) disable the transmission of proximity warnings if the collision avoidance device determines that the detected context is non-hazardous, 2) cause the transmission of regular proximity warnings if the collision avoidance device determines that the detected context is hazardous, or 3) cause the transmission of critical proximity warnings, different from regular proximity warnings, if the collision avoidance device determines that the detected context is critically hazardous.   
     
     
         8 ) The collision avoidance system as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the collision avoidance devices further comprise obstacle collision avoidance devices, the obstacle collision avoidance devices being configured to transmit proximity warnings to vehicle collision avoidance devices in communication range. 
     
     
         9 ) The collision avoidance system as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the at least one context awareness mechanism of the vehicle collision avoidance devices comprises a vehicle interface configured to determine at least one operating parameter of the vehicle. 
     
     
         10 ) The collision avoidance system as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the at least one operating parameter of the vehicle comprises the ignition status, the oil pressure status, or the operating status of the lights of the vehicle. 
     
     
         11 ) The collision avoidance system as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the at least one context awareness mechanism of the personnel collision avoidance devices comprises a pressure sensor. 
     
     
         12 ) The collision avoidance system as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the pressure sensor is located in a footwear of the person. 
     
     
         13 ) The collision avoidance system as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the at least one context awareness mechanism of the personnel collision avoidance devices comprises a movement detector. 
     
     
         14 ) The collision avoidance system as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the personnel collision avoidance devices are respectively integrated into cap lamps, each cap lamp comprising a light operatively connected to a cap lamp controller. 
     
     
         15 ) The collision avoidance system as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the at least one context awareness mechanism of the personnel collision avoidance devices comprises a cap lamp controller interface configured to detect an operating status of the light. 
     
     
         16 ) The collision avoidance system as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the at least one context awareness mechanism of the personnel collision avoidance devices comprises a cap lamp charger interface configured to detect a charging status of the cap lamp. 
     
     
         17 ) A method to control the transmission of proximity warnings between collision avoidance devices, the collision avoidance devices comprising vehicle collision avoidance devices, personnel collision avoidance devices, the personnel collision avoidance devices being configured to transmit proximity warnings to vehicle collision avoidance devices in communication range, and the vehicle collision avoidance devices being configured to transmit proximity warnings to other vehicle collision avoidance devices and to personnel collision avoidance devices in communication range, the vehicle and personnel collision avoidance devices each comprising at least one context awareness mechanism, the method comprising, for each of the vehicle and personnel collision avoidance devices:
 a) detecting, with the at least one context awareness mechanism, if the device is in a non-hazardous context, in a hazardous context, or in a critically hazardous context;   b) as a function of the detected context, disabling the transmission of proximity warnings if the detected context is non-hazardous, transmitting proximity warnings if the detected context is hazardous, or transmitting critical proximity warnings if the detected context is critically hazardous.   c) repeating steps a) and b).   
     
     
         18 ) The method as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the collision avoidance devices further comprise obstacle collision avoidance devices, the obstacle collision avoidance devices being configured to transmit proximity warnings to vehicle collision avoidance devices in communication range. 
     
     
         19 ) The method as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the step of detecting comprises, for vehicle collision avoidance devices, detecting an operating parameter of the vehicle. 
     
     
         20 ) The method as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the step of detecting comprises, for personnel collision avoidance devices, detecting a pressure generated by the person, wherein the pressure is indicative of a sitting or standing position of the person, and wherein a sitting-indicative pressure is indicative of a non-hazardous context, and wherein a standing-indicative pressure is indicative of a hazardous context. 
     
     
         21 ) The method as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein the pressure is detected in a footwear of the persons. 
     
     
         22 ) The method as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the personnel collision avoidance devices are respectively integrated into cap lamps, each cap lamp comprising a light operatively connected to a cap lamp controller. 
     
     
         23 ) The method as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein the step of detecting comprises, for personnel collision avoidance devices, detecting a cap lamp charging status, wherein a charging status is indicative of a non-hazardous context, and wherein a non-charging status is indicative of a hazardous context. 
     
     
         24 ) The method as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein the step of detecting comprises, for personnel collision avoidance devices, detecting a cap lamp light operating status, wherein a ON operating status is indicative of a hazardous context, and wherein a OFF operating status is indicative of a critically non-hazardous context. 
     
     
         25 ) The method as claimed in  claim 24 , wherein the step of detecting further comprises, for personnel collision avoidance devices, detecting movements of the person, wherein detection of movements while the operating status of the cap lamp light is ON is indicative of hazardous context, and wherein non-detection of movements for more than a predetermined period of time while the operating status of the cap lamp light is ON is indicative of a critically hazardous context.