Telematics system for preventing collisions and improving worksite safety

Abstract

A telematics system and method for monitoring objects in a space having a worker and a lifting apparatus or piece of equipment is described. The telematics system may comprise a base station in communication with a plurality of portable units. The portable units may comprise a position sensor and may secure to a lifting apparatus, worker, or other person or equipment. The portable units may communicate the location of the lifting apparatus, worker, or other person or equipment to the base station. The base station may compare or dynamically generate a safety zone around the locations of the lifting apparatus, worker, or other person or equipment to the base station. The base station may issue an alert if a lifting apparatus, worker, or other person or equipment comes within a predetermined distance of or within the safety zone around a different lifting apparatus, worker, or other person or equipment.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of monitoring objects in a space having a lifting apparatus and a worker, comprising the steps of:
 a) providing a telematics system comprising a base station;   b) securing a first portable unit to the lifting apparatus, the first portable unit configurable to allow the telematics system to determine the location of the lifting apparatus;   c) securing a second portable unit to the worker, the second portable unit configurable to allow the telematics system to determine the location of the worker;   d) communicating the locations of the worker and the lifting apparatus from the first and second portable units to the base station;   e) comparing the locations of the worker and the lifting apparatus; and   f) issuing an alert to the worker if the worker and the lifting apparatus come within a predetermined distance of each other.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of comparing the locations further comprises dynamically generating a safety zone around the location of the lifting apparatus and comparing the location of the worker and the safety zone, and wherein the step of issuing an alert further comprises issuing an alert to the worker if the location of the worker is within the safety zone. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of comparing the locations further comprises dynamically generating a safety zone adjacent to the location of the lifting apparatus and comparing the location of the worker and the safety zone, wherein the lifting apparatus is outside of the safety zone, and wherein the step of issuing an alert further comprises issuing an alert to the worker if the location of the worker is within the safety zone. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the base station comprises a position sensor for determining the location of the base station. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the base station is disposed in a fixed location. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of issuing an alert further comprises issuing a visual alert. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the lifting apparatus further comprises an operator, and wherein the step of issuing an alert further comprises issuing an alert to the operator if the worker and lifting apparatus come within a predetermined distance of each other. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of issuing an alert further comprises issuing an alert that is an auditory or kinetic alert. 
     
     
         9 . A method of monitoring objects in a space having a piece of equipment and a worker, comprising the steps of:
 a) providing a telematics system comprising a base station;   b) securing a first portable unit to the worker, the first portable unit configurable to allow the telematics system to determine the location of the worker;   c) securing a second portable unit to the piece of equipment, the second portable unit configurable to allow the telematics system to determine the location of the piece of equipment;   d) communicating the locations of the worker and the piece of equipment from the first and second portable units to the base station;   e) comparing the locations of the worker and the piece of equipment; and   f) issuing an alert to the worker if the worker and the piece of equipment come within a predetermined distance of each other.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the step of comparing the locations further comprises dynamically generating a safety zone around the location of the piece of equipment and comparing the location of the worker and the safety zone around the piece of equipment, and wherein the step of issuing an alert further comprises issuing an alert to the worker if the location of the worker is within the safety zone. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the step of comparing the locations further comprises dynamically generating a safety zone adjacent to the location of the lifting apparatus and comparing the location of the worker and the safety zone, wherein the lifting apparatus is outside of the safety zone, and wherein the step of issuing an alert further comprises issuing an alert to the worker if the location of the worker is within the safety zone. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the base station comprises a position sensor for determining the location of the base station. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the base station is disposed in a fixed location. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the step of issuing an alert further comprises issuing a visual alert. 
     
     
         15 . A method of monitoring objects in a space having a first piece of equipment and a second piece of equipment, comprising the steps of:
 a) providing a telematics system comprising a base station;   b) securing a first portable unit to the first piece of equipment, the first portable unit configurable to allow the telematics system to determine the location of the first piece of equipment;   c) securing a second portable unit to the second piece of equipment, the second portable unit configurable to allow the telematics system to determine the location of the second piece of equipment;   d) communicating the locations of the first and second pieces of equipment from the first and second portable units to the base station;   e) comparing the locations of the first and second pieces of equipment; and   f) issuing an alert to an operator of the first or second pieces of equipment if the first and second pieces of equipment come within a predetermined distance of each other.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the step of comparing the locations further comprises dynamically generating safety zones around the location of the first and second pieces of equipment and comparing the location of the first and second pieces of equipment and the safety zones around the first and second pieces of equipment, and wherein the step of issuing an alert further comprises issuing an alert to the operator of the first or second pieces of equipment if the location of the first or second pieces of equipment are within the safety zone around the other of the first and second pieces of equipment. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the first piece of equipment is a first lifting apparatus. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the second piece of equipment is a second lifting apparatus. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein each of the first and second lifting apparatuses comprises a load point, wherein the step of comparing the locations further comprises dynamically generating safety zones around the location of the load points of the first and second lifting apparatuses and comparing the location of the first and second lifting apparatuses and the safety zones around the load points of first and second lifting apparatuses, and wherein the step of issuing an alert further comprises issuing an alert to the operator of the first or second lifting apparatus if the location of the first or second lifting apparatus is within the safety zone around the load point of the other of the first and second lifting apparatus. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising the steps of providing a load carried by the first lifting apparatuses, wherein the load comprises a load point, and securing a third portable unit to the load point, wherein the step of comparing the locations further comprises dynamically generating a safety zone around the load point and comparing the location of the second lifting apparatus and the safety zone around the load point, and wherein the step of issuing an alert further comprises issuing an alert to the operator of the first or second lifting apparatus if the location of the second lifting apparatus is within the safety zone around the load point. 
     
     
         21 . A telematics system for monitoring objects in a space having a piece of equipment and a worker, comprising:
 a base station comprising a position sensor for determining the location of the base station; and   a plurality of portable units communicably connected to the base station, each portable unit comprising a position sensor,   wherein a portable unit is configured to secure to the piece of equipment, to allow the telematics system to determine the location of the piece of equipment using the position sensor, and to transmit the location of the piece of equipment to the base station,   wherein a portable unit is configured to secure to the worker, to allow the telematics system to determine the location of the worker using the position sensor, and to transmit the location of the worker to the base station;   wherein the base station is configured to receive the locations of the piece of equipment and the worker, compare the piece of equipment and the worker, and issue an alert if the piece of equipment and the worker come within a predetermined distance of each other.   
     
     
         22 . The telematics system of  claim 21 , wherein a portable unit further comprises an accelerometer for measuring the movement of the portable unit. 
     
     
         23 . The telematics system of  claim 21 , wherein a portable unit further comprises a camera configured to take photos or videos at regular time intervals. 
     
     
         24 . The telematics system of  claim 21 , wherein the base station and/or each portable unit comprises a digital storage medium. 
     
     
         25 . The telematics system of  claim 21 , wherein a portable unit further comprises:
 a temperature sensor for measuring temperature data;   a humidity sensor for measuring humidity data;   a volatile organic compound sensor for detecting volatile organic compound around the sensor; and   a microphone for recording audio data.