Method and system for detecting impacts on areas to be monitored on a running vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for detecting impacts on areas to be monitored on a running vehicle ( 2 ), created by objects projected due to its velocity, wherein vibration sensors ( 11 a - 11 d ) are arranged in direct contact with areas to be monitored on said running vehicle ( 2 ) and the signals from the vibration sensors ( 11 a - 11 d ) are analyzed to detect impacts. The invention also relates to an impact detection system on areas to be monitored on a running vehicle ( 2 ).

1 . A method for detecting impacts on areas to be monitored ( 21   a - 21   c ) on a running vehicle ( 2 ), created by objects projected due to its velocity, wherein:
 vibration sensors ( 11   a - 11   d ) are arranged in direct contact with the areas to be monitored ( 21   a - 21   c ) on said running vehicle ( 2 ), and   an impact coefficient (Ci) is measured for each vibration signal ( 110 ) provided by a vibration sensor ( 11   a - 11   d );   each impact coefficient (Ci) is compared to a predetermined threshold value (Vs);   
     characterized in that an impact detection message (Mi) is transmitted when said impact coefficient (Ci) exceeds said predetermined threshold value (Vs), the impact detection message (Mi) comprising the reference of the area to be monitored ( 21   a - 21   c ) which received the impact. 
   
   
       2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein an impact coefficient (Ci) of said vibration signal ( 110 ) is measured on a time window of a predetermined time (T). 
   
   
       3 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the impact coefficient (Ci) corresponds to a peak to peak measurement (V cc ) of the vibration signal ( 110 ) provided by the vibration sensor ( 11   a - 11   d ). 
   
   
       4 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the threshold value (Vs) is a function of the area to be monitored ( 21   a - 21   c ) on the running vehicle ( 2 ). 
   
   
       5 . A method according to  claim 4 , wherein each area to be monitored ( 21   a - 21   c ) is associated with at least one video recording camera ( 17   a - 17   d ) being able to film said area ( 21   a - 21   c ), and
 from the impact detection message (Mi) is extracted the reference of the area to be monitored ( 21   a - 21   c ) which received the impact;   only the video recording camera ( 17   a - 17   d ) associated with the reference of said area to be monitored ( 21   a - 21   c ) is activated.   
   
   
       6 . An impact detection system on areas to be monitored ( 21   a - 21   c ) on a running vehicle ( 2 ), created by objects projected due to its velocity, comprising:
 vibration sensors ( 11   a - 11   d ) in direct contact with areas to be monitored ( 21   a - 21   c ) in said running vehicle ( 2 ), and   a data processing unit ( 12 ) connected to the plurality of vibration sensors ( 11   a - 11   d ), arranged for
 receiving vibration signals ( 110 ) provided by the plurality of vibration sensors ( 11   a - 11   d ), and 
 detecting impact signals among said vibration signals ( 110 ) for each one of the areas to be monitored ( 21   a - 21   c ) on the running vehicle ( 2 ), 
   
     characterized in that the processing unit ( 12 ) comprises:
 a matching table ( 123 ) associating for each vibration sensor ( 11   a - 11   d ) the area to be monitored ( 21   a - 21   c ) inside which it is arranged; 
 a discrimination module ( 121 ), connected to the matching table ( 123 ) arranged for
 measuring an impact coefficient (Ci) for each vibration signal ( 110 ) provided by a vibration sensor ( 11   a - 11   d ); 
 comparing said impact coefficient (Ci) to a predetermined threshold value (Vs); 
 transmitting an impact detection message (Mi) when said impact coefficient (Ci) exceeds the predetermined threshold value (Vs), the impact detection message (Mi) comprising the reference of the area to be monitored ( 21   a - 21   c ) that received the impact. 
 
 
   
   
       7 . A system according to  claim 6 , wherein the processing unit ( 12 ) comprises a video management module ( 122 ) the input of which is connected to the discrimination module ( 121 ) and the output of which is connected to a plurality of video recording cameras ( 17   a - 17   d ), the video management module ( 122 ) being arranged to control the plurality of video recording cameras ( 17   a - 17   d ) according to the impact detection messages (Mi) transmitted by the discrimination module ( 121 ). 
   
   
       8 . A system according to  claim 7 , wherein the video management module ( 122 ) is connected to a location table ( 124 ) wherein each area to be monitored ( 21   a - 21   c ) on the running vehicle ( 2 ) is associated with at least one video recording camera ( 17   a - 17   d ) being able to film said area ( 21   a - 21   c ), the video management module ( 122 ) being arranged for
 receiving an impact detection message (Mi) from the discrimination module ( 121 );   extracting from the impact detection message (Mi) the reference of the area to be monitored ( 21   a - 21   c ) which received the impact;   transmitting said reference of the area to be monitored ( 21   a - 21   c ) to the location table ( 124 ), said location table ( 124 ) returning back in response the reference of the recording camera ( 17   a - 17   d ) associated with said area to be monitored ( 21   a - 21   c );   controlling only the actuation of the recording camera ( 17   a - 17   d ) corresponding to the reference of the camera being provided.