WO2022263901A1 - Device for monitoring and warning of risk factors while driving vehicles and its method of generating warnings - Google Patents

Abstract

This invention is mainly based on the use of various mobile sensors and devices integrated in different types of motor vehicles, which make it possible to precisely and reliably note the reactions that a person has to situations associated with risk factors in a road environment. The device is capable of exchanging information with web platforms dedicated to tracking and/or monitoring vehicles, where the information collected by the system can be reported in real time via cellular and/or satellite communication. The device records the activity of the driver and of the vehicle before, during and after being exposed to conventional situations or situations that can be associated with risk factors integrated in an area of common mobility with different road users to which people are exposed on a daily basis.

Description

DEVICE FOR MONITORING AND ALERT OF RISK FACTORS IN THE DRIVING OF VEHICLES AND ITS GENERATION METHOD

OF ALERTS

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a device for detecting risk factors while driving vehicles, related to bad behaviors or states that the driver may present; This is achieved thanks to a series of sensors, patterns and alerts, which determine said risk factors.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It has been shown that driving implies a high degree of concentration and coordination, so that all the information that reaches the driver from the outside is administered by him in an appropriate way and his reactions are consistent and timely.

It has been determined that there are several behaviors that can be considered unsafe and/or risky, such as driving posture, misuse of seat belts, the way of approaching intersections, proximity to other vehicles, stopping distances, etc. the sudden acceleration and the state of sobriety of the driver. These are some of the causes that we find important and relevant when it comes to controlling a safe driving habit on the road. Yo There are various systems on the market that can determine one or more of these risk elements. Some associated with the vehicle itself included by the manufacturers themselves and others as additional devices that can be installed in it. However, these devices usually work in an isolated and independent way, offering few possibilities to share information among themselves or with other actors, limiting the possibility of inferring additional information with the combination of information from each of these systems.

Therefore, the need for a comprehensive device that can help identify and assess in real time these behaviors associated with risk factors in driving is identified, capable of reporting this information remotely, giving the possibility of taking preventive measures and alerting the driver of these behaviors during the driving activity.

The present invention can identify and assess in real time through integrated technology, the behaviors associated with risk factors that people assume when driving a vehicle or wish to take the driving course and obtain their respective license. This device is applicable for private, public service and/or motorcycle vehicles, scalable in communication protocols and programming languages to be approved with any make and/or model of automobile.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This invention is mainly based on the use of different sensors and mobile devices integrated into different types of automobiles, which make it possible to accurately and reliably demonstrate the reactions that a person has to situations associated with risk factors in their road environment. The system is capable of exchanging information with web platforms dedicated to vehicle tracking and/or monitoring, where it can report and transmit the information collected by the sensors in real time via cellular and/or satellite communication. The device records the activity of the driver and the vehicle before, during and after being exposed to conventional situations or those that may be associated with risk factors as it integrates into a common mobility area with the different road actors in which we see ourselves. exposed daily.

Therefore, the device evaluates the driver's performance and determines if it corresponds to safe driving behaviors, by comparing driving parameters against others already established and previously programmed in our main processor. This information can be used for the validation and granting of driving licenses in automobile academies.

FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS

The present invention discloses a device that is powered from the vehicle's main battery or through an independent battery, as soon as it detects voltage, the equipment is capable of collecting information from different devices and sensors installed in the vehicle and storing it locally, analyzes this information in real time and reports or alerts any misconduct detected, both to the driver through an auditory alert system with components such as horns (4), or visual signals with integrated components such as lights (5), LED and LCD screens , window cleaner as well as to the remote center (6) via cellular or satellite network.

The device integrates a microcontroller (7) from the ARM CORTEX-M0 family, which works with a 32-bit instruction set and has an internal clock speed of 48MHz. This microcontroller is in charge of processing the information obtained from the outside (sensors), analyzing it, and delivering different responses, either through a frame sent through the serial communication port using the RS-232 protocol, or through the human-machine interface (RGB led, buzzer) connected to the digital input/output station.

The device has an I2C communication port that allows communication with some sensors such as the accelerometer (8), the temperature sensor (9) and the humidity sensor (10).

The system also has a bluethooth, wifi or zigbee communications module (11) that exchanges information with the controller (7) through the serial communication port.

The device has a voltage regulator (12) that is responsible for receiving the voltage provided by the external source, and feeds each internal module. In addition, it has an energy management module, with a battery charger and a fuel Gauge, to measure and control the state of charge, and the state of health of the internal battery.

In addition, this system consists of a device that allows to measure in real time, through the breath, the drunken state of a driver, this is an alcohol sensor (20) or a breathalyzer whose purpose is to prevent and prevent the driver from driving. in a drunken state. In addition to measuring the level of alcohol in the exhalation, the alcohol sensor (20) is attached to the temperature, humidity and CO2 sensors, to determine the alcohol level and guarantee that this value is the one presented by the driver of the vehicle. The device is provided with strategies for the detection of risk factors based on the sensors it has. These factors are: • Gestural evaluation: Analyzes the driver's gestural compartments that may indicate risk factors such as fatigue, distraction, micro dreams, interaction with unauthorized devices (cell phones), and consumption of food, drinks and/or substances that are not allowed while driving. Through very complex algorithms, frame-by-frame and real-time comparisons are made, situations such as blink rate or pupil dilation, to determine driver fatigue conditions. A facial analysis camera(13) is needed, connected and integrated to the microcontroller (7).

The facial recognition camera (13) detects the level of stress at all times (obtaining medical information, such as heart rate, breathing rate, and number of blinks per minute), fatigue, and other factors in the driver that can become at risk both for him and for passengers and pedestrians, in addition to the improper use of electronic devices, such as cell phones, tablets or others that may affect concentration when driving.

• Seat belt evaluation: Evidence if you drive without fastening one or more harnesses, seat belts or vehicle safety straps, by means of digital sensors (contact) that indicate the position of said harnesses in an appropriate way.

It should be taken into account that the clasp sensor (14) starts its operation when it is powered from the vehicle's battery (2). As soon as it detects voltage, it determines if the clasp, such as the seat belt or the strap of a helmet, it is adjusted or not, by means of a contact switch which delivers a binary analog response, if you drive without fastening your seat belt, it will be taken into account for the alert report. This, since it represents a significant and additional security risk, generates a fine if the driver is caught by the relevant authority. • Evaluation of approaches: Analyze whether driving dangerously close to other vehicles generates a risk factor, this is done by means of proximity sensors (15) that analyze every second the physical distance and speed of the vehicle with respect to others. road vehicles.

The proximity sensors (15) determine the distance and speed of the vehicle with other road actors and/or with fixed obstacles. When driving, being close to other vehicles at high speeds can cause serious accidents.

According to the National Traffic Code in different countries, walking at 30 kilometers per hour or more (average driving speed in residential and school zones) must leave a minimum of 10 meters of space with the vehicle in front; between 30 and 60 kilometers per hour, you must have a distance of at least 20 meters; between 60 and 80 kilometers per hour, a distance of at least 25 meters must be kept and when driving at more than 80 kilometers per hour, it must be at least 30 meters. In these parameters it is determined in the system if the braking is sudden and if so, it will be taken into account to generate the report and activate the corresponding alerts.

• Gyroscopic driving evaluation: Analyze and evaluate the performance of dangerous maneuvers such as: tight turns, crossing at high speeds, zigzagging, sudden starts and stops, by means of the accelerometer sensor (8) that determines the force of acceleration, the degree of inclination and braking force, since this type of action can be related to a risk factor for rough driving.

Also the rotation sensors (22) that can determine the speed of rotation of the vehicle and infer the opening or closing of the crossings. This can be related to the risk factor of rough driving, measuring the changes in the movement of the vehicle in any of its 3 axes and also the changes made in very short periods of time in the angles of inclination.

• Location evaluation: With a geolocation sensor (16), which allows tracking the location of the vehicle and detects irregular behaviors such as unscheduled stops, route deviations, and location in the event of an accident or theft. All the information is recorded and stored in a local memory (31) and is transmitted in real time to a web platform.

• Assessment of drunkenness: Presence in the environment of alcohol, which may indicate a drunken state of the pilot. The device has sensors specialized in the detection of temperature, humidity, CO2 and alcohol in the driver's breath programmed under complex algorithms, with which other types of agents that can generate false measurements can be discriminated.

The alcohol sensor (20) determines the composition of the gases present in the driver's exhalations and specifically the presence or absence of alcohol in these gases. The presence of alcohol in the driver's alveolar exhalations and other variables such as temperature (9) and humidity (10). With the data collection of these variables, it is possible to really identify if a driver is driving his vehicle under the influence of alcohol. With the analysis of this data, it is possible to differentiate alcohol from other substances present in the environment such as ketones, perfumes, gases, among others. The alcohol sensor (20) begins its operation by being powered from the vehicle battery (2), as soon as it detects voltage, it begins to heat the analog sensors (alcohol and CO2), which are measured not in temperature. but in a period of time greater than 10 seconds and they carry out continuous measurements (every second) of the environmental variables, both alcohol and CO2, such as humidity (10) and temperature (9) of the passenger compartment, a change in the temperature curve, humidity CO2 and humidity with a steep upward slope in a time line of less than 5 seconds, will be considered abnormal and will be reported for the generation of alerts.

The equipment graphs the averages of the data acquired in real time, taking a set point with average maximum and minimum values. If the acquired data falls outside these values of this curve, the equipment will request a breath from the driver to analyze the values and generate alerts.

Another alert will be given if ignition is detected, that is, if the equipment detects that the vehicle has been turned on, and if the time for the test request has expired, the equipment proceeds to request a mandatory test from the driver, otherwise, it stays reading variables.

Finally, after making the request, the status of the test, alcohol levels and breath pressure (20-39 mg/100ml, which is equivalent to zero degree) are analyzed. If any of the 2 fail, make 3 more attempts, if it does not find a valid murmur, or if the test is positive for alcohol, the data is sent to the AVL (Automatic Vehicle Location) and an alert is generated in the equipment, turning on the red led and generating an audible alert, otherwise , returns to perform continuous readings waiting for the time for a new test to expire. • Alarm generation: The device is capable of generating preventive and high-risk alarms through its own visual and auditory mechanisms, such as horns (4), lights (5) and vibrators, like those of the vehicle, such as the whistle. , headlights or turn signals, and windshield.

For this, the values obtained by all the sensors and by the facial recognition camera are collected and alerts are generated in the cabin and/or passenger compartment according to the cases previously exposed and both visual and auditory alerts are generated according to the event or risk factor identified. In addition, the system, through the AVL, sends the information to a remote center via cellular or satellite communication with a frequency of 1 Kb of information packets per minute and has a local storage (31) that can store up to 10GB. information packets. In case of failure or absence in the communication network, the system uses the local information system to store the data until the connection is recovered.

• Communication of the elements: The system is equipped with wired and wireless communication elements such as digital input and output ports, serial, I2C, bluetooth, zigbee, wifi, internet and/or SMS for communication with the sensors of the device through through its own computer, and with remote information reporting centers.

• System power supply: The system can be powered from the vehicle's battery and/or from an independent battery. DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES FIGURE 1. Conceptual diagram of the sensors and actuators involved in the technology.

FIGURE 2. Seatbelt or helmet clip FIGURE 3. Clip sensor alert generation method FIGURE 4. Location of proximity sensors. FIGURE 5. Alert generation method for proximity sensors.

FIGURE 6. Harsh braking alert generation method FIGURE 7. Location of gyroscopes.

FIGURE 8. Dangerous turns alert generation method FIGURE 9. AVL monitoring

FIGURE 10. Alcohol sensor.

FIGURE 11. Alcohol alert generation method.

Claims

1. Device for monitoring and alerting risk factors in driving vehicles, characterized in that it comprises a microcontroller (7) linked to a vehicular accelerometer (8), a temperature sensor (9), a humidity sensor (10), a breath alcohol sensor (20), camera (13), snap sensor (14), external proximity sensors (15), gyro sensors (22), a geolocator (16), this microcontroller is also linked to an information output device (11) or communication module. The microcontroller, sensors and actuators are electrically powered by a voltage regulator (12) 2. Device for monitoring and alerting risk factors when driving a vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that the communication module (11) has Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, SMS, and Zigbee communication towards a remote center (6). 3. Device for monitoring and alerting risk factors when driving a vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that the voltage regulator (12) is powered by its own battery or by the vehicle. 4. Device for monitoring and alerting risk factors when driving a vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that the actuators are horns (4), lights (5), led screens or glass cleaners. 5. Method of monitoring and warning of risk factors in driving a vehicle, characterized in that it includes the following steps. a) The clasp sensor (14) evaluates if the clasp is closed, if it does not send a signal to the microcontroller (7) b) Alcohol sensor (20) generates a breathalyzer evaluation for the driver if the sensor detects drunkenness, it sends a report or signal to the microcontroller . c) Gyroscope and accelerometer evaluate if the driver engages in dangerous maneuvers, if these maneuvers are detected, they send a signal to the microcontroller (7). d) The accelerometer and proximity sensors detect if the driver incurs dangerous braking using reference to the proximity of a body in front of the vehicle, if dangerous braking is detected, a signal is sent to the microcontroller. e) The geolocalized monitors the location of the vehicle and stores it in local memory (31) f) The microcontroller (7) integrates the alert signals received from step a) b) c) d) together with what is stored in step e) and sends report to remote central.