Unmanned roadside signage vehicle system

Abstract

There is provided an unmanned roadside signage vehicle comprising an autonomous, semiautonomous and/or remotely controllable roadside signage vehicle for various roadside signage, emergency response and maintenance applications. In accordance with one aspect, the unmanned roadside signage vehicle comprises drive motors operably coupled to driven wheels; steering coupled to the driven wheels; a controller for controlling the drive motors and steering; at least one electronic signage board for displaying roadside signage; and a data interface for receiving at least remote control instructions, the data interface operably coupled to the controller and wherein the controller is configured for controlling the drive motors and steering in accordance with the remote control instructions.

1 . An unmanned vehicle for roadside fire management, the unmanned vehicle comprising:
 a fire suppressant tank for storing fire suppressant;   at least one jet fluidly coupled to the tank for dispensing the suppressant;   a data interface for receiving control instructions data from a proximate maintenance machine and wherein, in use, the unmanned vehicle is configured for:   receiving fire suppressant control instructions from the maintenance machine and spraying fire suppressant from the least one jet accordingly.   
     
     
         2 . The unmanned vehicle as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a level sensor operably coupled to the fire suppressant tank for determining a level of fire suppressant within the tank and wherein the vehicle is further configured for transmitting the level via the data interface to the maintenance machine. 
     
     
         3 . The unmanned vehicle as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one jet is configured for creating a protective veil of fire suppressant around the unmanned vehicle. 
     
     
         4 . The unmanned vehicle as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the unmanned vehicle is configurable in a following mode wherein the unmanned vehicle follows the maintenance machine and wherein, in the event of a fire, an operator may take over the control of the unmanned vehicle for firefighting. 
     
     
         5 . The unmanned vehicle as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the control instructions comprise instructions for controlling the drive motors and steering of the unmanned vehicle. 
     
     
         6 . The unmanned vehicle as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the fire suppressant control instructions comprise instructions for controlling the volumetric flow rate of the fire suppressant. 
     
     
         7 . The unmanned vehicle as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein at least one jet is directional and wherein the fire suppressant control instructions comprise instructions for controlling an angle of the at least one jet. 
     
     
         8 . The unmanned vehicle as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one jet comprises a plurality of jets and wherein the fire suppressant control instructions control which of the plurality of jets spray fire suppressant. 
     
     
         9 . The unmanned vehicle as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the unmanned vehicle further comprises a fire detection subsystem. 
     
     
         10 . The unmanned vehicle as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the fire detection subsystem is configured for detecting a fire by detecting infrared radiation. 
     
     
         11 . The unmanned vehicle as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the fire detection subsystem comprises a thermometer. 
     
     
         12 . The unmanned vehicle as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the unmanned vehicle is configured for sending an alert to the maintenance machine via the data interface when detecting a fire. 
     
     
         13 . The unmanned vehicle as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the unmanned vehicle comprises a vision subsystem configured for transmitting image data via the data interface to the maintenance machine. 
     
     
         14 . The unmanned vehicle as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the vision subsystem comprises a thermal imaging camera. 
     
     
         15 . The unmanned vehicle as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the unmanned vehicle is configured for automating the spraying of fire suppressant from the at least one jet when the fire detection subsystem detects a fire. 
     
     
         16 . The unmanned vehicle as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the fire detection subsystem is configured for sensing infrared radiation around the unmanned vehicle so as to be able to sense a direction of a fire with reference to the unmanned vehicle and wherein the unmanned vehicle is configured for actuating the at least one jet in the direction of the fire. 
     
     
         17 . The unmanned vehicle as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the fire detection subsystem is configured for controlling at least one of volumetric flow rate or elevation angle of the at least one jet. 
     
     
         18 . The unmanned vehicle as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the unmanned vehicle is configured for entering a fire following and suppression mode when the fire detection subsystem detects a fire, wherein the unmanned vehicle is configured for following a detected fire whilst spraying fire suppressant from the at least one jet. 
     
     
         19 . The unmanned vehicle as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein, in the fire following and suppression mode, the unmanned vehicle is configured for travelling along a fire front of the fire. 
     
     
         20 . The unmanned vehicle as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein, in the fire following and suppression mode, the unmanned vehicle is configured for communicating with a further unmanned vehicle such that the unmanned vehicle and the further unmanned vehicle travel in opposite directions along the fire front.