MOTION DETECTION AND LIGHTING SYSTEM
A motion detection and lighting system to improve the visibility and safety of a person operating equipment while moving through space is disclosed herein. The motion detection and lighting system includes at least: a motion detection module, controller, and lighting system that are configured to be communicatively coupled to one another and attached to a person. The motion of the person is detected and the one or more lights in the lighting system are configured to be activated for illumination based at least in part on the motion of the person operating the equipment while traveling through space.
1 . A motion detection and lighting system to improve the visibility of a person operating equipment while moving through space, comprising:
one or more lights attached to the person or to an article of clothing worn by the person;
a motion detection module including a plurality of sensors; and
a controller communicatively coupled to the motion detection module and the one or more lights, wherein the controller further comprises instructions that when executed by the controller, cause the controller to:
receive, from the plurality of sensors, data indicative of the motion of the person operating equipment while moving through space;
determine, based on the data received, a change in direction or acceleration associated with the motion of the person operating equipment while moving through space, wherein the instructions to cause the controller to determine a change in direction or acceleration comprise instructions to detect yaw about a vertical axis of the equipment; and
activate, based on the determination, the one or more lights for illumination.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more lights includes a light attached to the back of the person or article of clothing and at least two lights attached to the back shoulders of the person or article of clothing, wherein the light attached to the back of the person or article of clothing illuminates a different color than the at least two lights attached to the back shoulders of the person or article of clothing.
3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of sensors further comprising:
at least one of: an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a barometer, a speedometer, a global positioning system (GPS), and a compass.
4 . The system of claim 3 , wherein data indicative of the motion of the person operating equipment while moving through space from the plurality of sensors includes:
data indicative of at least one of: acceleration, tilt, position, location, and change in direction of the person operating equipment while moving through space.
5 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the controller activates the light attached to the back of the person or article of clothing each time data indicative of acceleration is determined to be greater than −¼*gravitational constant (g).
6 . The system of claim 4 , wherein data indicative of tilt is compared to a predetermined banking value.
7 . The system of claim 4 , wherein data indicative of tilt is compared to a predetermined period of time.
8 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the controller activates one of the two lights attached to the back shoulders of the person or article of clothing each time data indicative of tilt is determined to exceed the predetermined banking value and the predetermined period of time.
9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the predetermined banking value is 5 degrees from the initial straight up position of the person and the predetermined period of time is 1/10 th of a second.
10 . A method to improve the visibility of a person operating equipment while moving through space, comprising:
attaching one or more lights to the person or to an article of clothing worn by the person;
detecting motion of the person using a motion detection module including a plurality of sensors;
detecting yaw about a vertical axis of the equipment using the motion detection module; and
providing a controller that is communicatively coupled to the motion detection module and to the one or more lights, wherein the controller is configured for:
receiving, from the plurality of sensors, data indicative of the motion of the person operating equipment while moving through space;
determining, based on the data received, a change in direction or acceleration associated with the motion of the person operating equipment while moving through space, wherein the step of determining a change in direction or acceleration comprises determining an intent to turn the equipment based on the detected yaw; and
activating, based on the determination, the one or more lights for illumination.
11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the one or more lights includes a light attached to the back of the person or article of clothing and at least two lights attached to the back shoulders of the person or article of clothing, wherein the light attached to the back of the person or article of clothing illuminates a different color than the at least two lights attached to the back shoulders of the person or article of clothing.
12 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of sensors further comprising:
at least one of: an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a barometer, a speedometer, global positioning system (GPS), and a compass.
13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein data indicative of the motion of the person operating equipment while moving through space from the plurality of sensors includes:
data indicative of at least one of: acceleration, tilt, position, location, and change in direction of the person operating equipment while moving through space.
14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the controller activates the light attached to the back of the person or article of clothing each time data indicative of acceleration is determined to be greater than −¼*gravitational constant (g).
15 . The method of claim 13 , wherein data indicative of tilt is compared to a predetermined banking value.
16 . The method of claim 13 , wherein data indicative of tilt is compared to a predetermined period of time.
17 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the controller activates one of the two lights attached to the back shoulders of the person or article of clothing each time data indicative of tilt is detected to exceed the predetermined banking value and the predetermined period of time.
18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the predetermined banking value is 5 degrees and the predetermined period of time is 1/10 th of a second.
19 . A system, comprising:
a motion detection module;
one or more storage devices configured to store data;
one or more memories having stored thereon computer-readable instructions that, upon execution by a computing device, cause the system at least to:
receive data from the motion detection module indicative of the motion associated with a person operating equipment while moving through space, said data including data representing yaw about a vertical axis of the equipment;
in response to the data received, determine a change in direction or acceleration associated with the motion of the person operating equipment while moving through space; and
activate one or more lights attached to the person based at least in part on the determination.
20 . The system of claim 19 , wherein the instructions to determine a change in direction or acceleration associated with the motion of the person operating equipment while moving through space comprise instructions to:
compare the data received indicative of the motion associated with the person to at least one of: a predetermined banking value, a predetermined period of time, and a predetermined threshold value associated with the gravitational constant (g).