products : Jannatec Advanced Warning System
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| Abstract |
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A system comprised of radio frequency transceivers mounted on vehicles and humans whereby the transceivers detect one another and warn the wearer or vehicle operator of a possible collision. Fixed hazards such as open holes can have a portable transceiver setup nearby to warn personnel of the hazard. The range at which the hazards are detected and warnings issued are programmable. A zone in around the operator area of a vehicle can be set up in which the operator?s tag and the vehicle?s tag ignore one another. Special transceivers can be set up as 'readers' and would collect unit ID's as they passed within the set range and the information passed on to a central processor.
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| System Overview |
JAWS Powerpoint
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| Two functions performed with one system; Collision Avoidance and RFID (radio frequency identification) |
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| Common hardware: radio transceiver |
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| Collision avoidance and RFID performed with same messages |
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| Stand alone system that requires no external communication infrastructure. |
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| Collision Avoidance |
Purpose: To aid in the prevention of collisions between vehicles and other vehicles/machinery as well as between vehicles and humans. These incidents commonly occur in an industrial situation where large vehicles with limited operator visibility are used.
How it works:
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| Each vehicle and person is equipped with a Collision Avoidance / RFID transceiver or 'tag'. |
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| The tags detect one another using received signal strength (RSSI). |
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| Tags listen most of the time but transmit their message several times per second using an anti message collision protocol such as carrier sense multiple access (CSMA). |
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| The messages contain codes identifying the type of equipment as well as a unique ID. |
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| If the received signal strength is higher than the programmed threshold then the remote tag is considered a hazard and the local tag listens for the remote tag?s message. |
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| Visual and/or audible warnings are given in the event of a possible collision. |
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| Different warnings are given for different types of hazards. In the case of visual warnings, different coloured warning lights could be used as well as a display indicating the hazard type and ID. Audible warnings could be as simple as an alarm buzzer or canned speech messages indicating the hazard type could be employed. |
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| By comparing past and present ID numbers, units can determine if multiple hazards of the same type are present and give a different warning than given for a single hazard of that type. |
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| Operates basically as an ?ad-hoc? network, no infrastructure required. |
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| System can handle multiple types of units or hazard types. |
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| A unit can be set to either accept or ignore messages from certain hazard types. |
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| Tag or Hazard Types |
Fixed Hazard Tag:
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| Can be placed on any object or in any area that presents a potential hazard to vehicle operators or humans on foot. i.e. an open hole, restricted area, unsafe ground. |
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| Sub-types of the fixed hazard tag are possible as well. |
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| Acts as a hazard beacon (like a lighthouse) |
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| Tag could be either be strictly an RF warning or could be accompanied by a visual or audible warning that is enabled either all the time or when a vehicle or human with a tag approaches |
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Vehicle Tag:
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| Tag type used on all mobile equipment |
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| Sub-types of the vehicle tag are possible as well |
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| Vehicle tags can be programmed to consider any tag type or sub-type a hazard or to ignore them |
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| Each type of detected hazard could produce a unique visual or audible warning |
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Human Tag:
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| Can be fitted into a safety vest, a belt-pack unit, a hardhat or a miner?s caplamp. |
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| Human tags can be programmed to consider any tag type or sub-type a hazard or to ignore them. (i.e. human tags would likely be programmed to ignore messages from other human tags) |
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| Wearer will be notified of detected hazard visually with a light, audibly with an alarm or by way of vibrating the tag unit. |
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| Special Situations |
Quiet Zone:
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| Unique to vehicle/human situations |
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| Programmable zone in very close proximity to vehicle in which neither human nor vehicle operator via vehicle unit is given a warning. The two ?ignore? one another when the signal strength (RSSI)exceeds a certain threshold thus creating three ?zones?; working, hazard and quiet. (See Appendix A) |
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| Prevents constant warnings given and received by vehicle operators and passengers. |
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| RFID |
Purpose: Provide time stamped location information for all tag equipped humans, vehicles or equipment.
How it works:
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| Uses same tag hardware as collision avoidance. |
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| Fixed tag readers placed anywhere that detection of personnel, vehicle or equipment presence is desired. (i.e. refuge station in an underground mine) |
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| Collects ID's from units in vicinity of reader. |
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| Collection range is programmable. |
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| ID's are collected as the units are transmitting their hazard type and ID messages three times per second. |
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| Reader will not receive more than one message at a time due to the anti message collision protocol used among the tags. |
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| Once a reader has received a valid ID it can either store the ID and wait to be polled by a remote computer or send the information as soon as it?s received. |
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| Fixed readers can be used to trigger events upon detection of certain types of units. (i.e. underground ventilation door control, underground ventilation control based on number and types of vehicles in area, automatically disabling machinery upon detection of personnel in danger zone) |
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 JAWS Alert Zones
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