Systems and methods for improved operations of ski lifts

Abstract

Systems and methods for improved operations of ski lifts increase skier safety at on-boarding and off-boarding locations by providing an always-on, always-alert system that “watches” these locations, identifies developing problem situations, and initiates mitigation actions. One or more video cameras feed live video to a video processing module. The video processing module feeds resulting sequences of images to an artificial intelligence (Al) engine. The AI engine makes an inference regarding existence of a potential problem situation based on the sequence of images. This inference is fed to an inference processing module, which determines if the inference processing module should send an alert or interact with the lift motor controller to slow or stop the lift.

1 . A computerized method for improved ski lift operations, comprising:
 capturing, by at least one computer processor, digital video of one or more of on-boarding and off-boarding operations of a ski lift;   generating, by at least one computer processor, as the ski lift is operating, a plurality of digital images of the one or more of on-boarding and off-boarding operations of the ski lift based on the captured digital video;   automatically detecting, by at least one computer processor, in real-time as the digital video is being captured, as the ski lift is operating, a potential problem situation in one or more of an on-boarding area and an off-boarding area of the ski lift based on the plurality of digital images; and   initiating an action, by the at least one computer processor, as the ski lift is operating, to address the potential problem situation in the one or more of the on-boarding area and off-boarding area of the ski lift while the potential problem situation still exists.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 analyzing, by at least one computer processor, the plurality of digital images as the ski lift is operating, wherein the automatically detecting the potential problem situation is based on the analysis of the plurality of digital images. 
 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the analyzing the plurality of digital images as the ski lift is operating, includes:
 recognizing in the plurality of digital images a sequence of events that represents an abnormal on-boarding or off-boarding process at a scene of the ski lift that includes the one or more of the on-boarding area and an off-boarding area of the ski lift. 
 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the sequence of events that represents an abnormal on-boarding or off-boarding process includes one or more of: a lift rider falling while on-boarding the ski lift; a lift rider falling while off-boarding the ski lift; a lift rider lying or sitting the ground in a lift chair loading zone; a lift rider being dragged by a ski lift chair; a ski pole or other equipment of a lift rider being caught in a ski lift chair; a lift rider proceeding to on-board the ski lift late; a lift rider failing to exit off-boarding area; a lift rider being in an abnormal position on a lift chair after on-boarding the ski lift; a lift rider starting to slip off a lift chair after on-boarding the ski lift; a lift rider leaving a lift chair loading zone as a lift chair is approaching the lift rider; a lift rider under a pre-determined size in a lift chair loading zone as a lift chair is approaching the lift rider; a number of lift riders being in a lift chair loading zone that is over a pre-determined limit of lift riders for a lift chair; a lift rider facing a wrong direction in a lift chair loading zone as the lift chair is approaching the lift rider; a lift rider being in an incorrect position within a lift chair loading zone as the lift chair is approaching the lift rider; an incorrect number of lift riders off-boarding a lift chair compared to a number of lift riders that on-boarded the lift chair; an incorrect number of lift riders on a lift chair compared to a number of lift riders that were in a lift chair loading zone for the lift chair when the lift chair arrived for on-boarding; a mechanical problem with a lift chair of the ski lift; a mechanical problem with operation of the ski lift; and a problem with a structural element of the ski lift. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the analyzing the plurality of digital images as the ski lift is operating, includes:
 analyzing the plurality of digital images using an artificial intelligence engine trained to assess sequences of digital images and identify normal and potential problem situations taking place in a scene of the ski lift that includes the one or more of the on-boarding area and an off-boarding area of the ski lift. 
 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  further comprising:
 training the artificial intelligence engine, using sequences of training images of one or more of on-boarding and off-boarding operations of one or more ski lifts, to assess the sequences of digital images and identify normal and potential problem situations taking place in the scene. 
 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein initiating the action to address the potential problem situation in the one or more of the on-boarding and off-boarding area of the ski lift while the potential problem situation still exists includes:
 comparing the detected potential problem situation to a plurality of potential problem situations to determine a match of the detected potential problem situation to a matching one of the plurality of potential problem situations; 
 selecting an action to initiate according to a rule associated with the matching one of the plurality of potential problem situations; and 
 initiating the selected action to address the potential problem situation in the one or more of the on-boarding and off-boarding area of the ski lift while the potential problem situation still exists. 
 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the initiating the action to address the potential problem situation in the one or more of the on-boarding and off-boarding area of the ski lift while the potential problem situation still exists includes initiating electronic sending of a signal to a motor controller of the ski lift to slow down or stop operation of the ski lift to address the potential problem situation in the one or more of the on-boarding and off-boarding area of the ski lift. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the initiating the action to address the potential problem situation in the one or more of the on-boarding and off-boarding area of the ski lift while the potential problem situation still exists includes initiating of electronic sending of an alert for a ski lift attendant. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the sending the alert for the ski lift attendant includes one or more of: sending an audio alert, sending a message-based alert and sending a light-based alert. 
     
     
         11 . A system for improved operations of ski lifts, comprising:
 at least one memory; and   at least one processor coupled to the at least one memory, wherein the at least one memory has computer-executable instructions stored thereon that, when executed, cause the at least one processor to:   capture digital video of one or more of on-boarding and off-boarding operations of a ski lift;   generate, as the ski lift is operating, a plurality of digital images of the one or more of on-boarding and off-boarding operations of the ski lift based on the captured digital video;   automatically detect, as the ski lift is operating, a potential problem situation in one or more of the on-boarding and off-boarding area of the ski lift based on the plurality of digital images; and   initiate an action, as the ski lift is operating, to address the potential problem situation in the one or more of the on-boarding and off-boarding area of the ski lift while the potential problem situation still exists.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the computer-executable instructions, when executed, further cause the at least one processor to:
 analyze the plurality of digital images as the ski lift is operating, wherein the automatic detection of the potential problem situation is based on the analysis of the plurality of digital images. 
 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the computer-executable instructions, when executed, further cause the at least one processor to:
 recognize in the plurality of digital images a sequence of events that represents an abnormal on-boarding or off-boarding process at a scene of the ski lift that includes the one or more of the on-boarding area and an off-boarding area of the ski lift. 
 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the analyzing the plurality of digital images as the ski lift is operating, includes:
 analyzing the plurality of digital images using an artificial intelligence engine trained to assess sequences of digital images and identify normal and potential problem situations taking place in a scene of the ski lift that includes the one or more of the on-boarding area and an off-boarding area of the ski lift. 
 
     
     
         15 . A ski lift controller comprising:
 a ski lift motor controller of a ski lift;   at least one memory;   at least one video camera; and   at least one processor coupled to the at least one memory, the at least one camera and the ski lift motor controller, wherein the at least one memory has computer-executable instructions stored thereon that, when executed, cause the at least one processor to:
 capture, via the at least one video camera, digital video of one or more of on-boarding and off-boarding operations of the ski lift; 
 generate, as the ski lift is operating, a plurality of digital images of the one or more of on-boarding and off-boarding operations of the ski lift based on the captured digital video; 
 automatically detect, as the ski lift is operating, a potential problem situation in one or more of the on-boarding and off-boarding area of the ski lift based on the plurality of digital images; and 
 initiate an action, as the ski lift is operating, to address the potential problem situation in the one or more of the on-boarding and off-boarding area of the ski lift while the potential problem situation still exists. 
   
     
     
         16 . The ski lift controller of  claim 15  wherein the computer-executable instructions, when executed, further cause the at least one processor to:
 analyze the plurality of digital images as the ski lift is operating, wherein the automatic detection of the potential problem situation is based on the analysis of the plurality of digital images. 
 
     
     
         17 . The ski lift controller of  claim 15  wherein the computer-executable instructions, when executed, further cause the at least one processor to:
 recognize in the plurality of digital images a sequence of events that represents an abnormal on-boarding or off-boarding process at a scene of the ski lift that includes the one or more of the on-boarding area and an off-boarding area of the ski lift. 
 
     
     
         18 . The ski lift controller of  claim 15  wherein the analysis of the plurality of digital images as the ski lift is operating, includes:
 analysis of the plurality of digital images using an artificial intelligence engine trained to assess sequences of digital images and identify normal and potential problem situations taking place in a scene of the ski lift that includes the one or more of the on-boarding area and an off-boarding area of the ski lift.