Systems and methods for multi-elevation foot traffic scanning
Systems and methods are provided for obtaining characterizations of paths to be traversed, such as foot paths. A scanning tool may be configured to capture information or data characterizing aspects of such a path. The scanning tool may comprise multiple sensors for capturing image/visual data from multiple perspectives, as well as for capturing data reflecting physical features or conditions of the path. Such information can be combined and quantified or otherwise characterized to provide insight into micromobility zones.
1 . An apparatus, comprising:
a mobility mechanism operatively connected to a frame;
a first set of sensors mounted to the frame capturing different perspective views of a scene including a pathway, the sensors adapted to capture viewpoints for persons traversing the pathway; and
a second set of sensors operatively connected to the frame capturing physical measurements characterizing the pathway based on the mobility mechanism traversing the pathway, wherein the first set of sensors and the second set of sensors are actively controlled to capture data only during a first distance interval at a start of the pathway and a second distance interval at an end of the pathway, wherein the first distance interval is bounded based on determining that the second set of sensors have started moving, and wherein the second distance interval is bounded based on determining that the second set of sensors have stopped moving.
2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first set of sensors comprises imaging sensors.
3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the frame comprises a vertical structure and a horizontal structure moveably connected to the vertical structure.
4 . The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the first set of sensors are operatively connected to the vertical structure at different heights along the vertical structure.
5 . The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the second set of sensors are operatively connected to the horizontal structure.
6 . The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein a first sensor of the second set of sensors comprises an angle sensor adapted to measure an angle of deviation from a level surface of the pathway.
7 . The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the angle sensor is disposed approximately at a point where the vertical structure and the horizontal structure are moveably connected.
8 . The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein second and third sensors of the second set of sensors comprises torque sensors further operatively connected to the mobility mechanism.
9 . The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the torque sensors measure resistance experienced by the mobility mechanism when traversing the pathway.
10 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a communications unit through which the perspective views and the physical measurements are transmitted to a remote path analysis server generating a map of the pathway by combining the perspective views and the physical measurements.
11 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second set of sensors is actively controlled to not capture data during a section of the pathway located in between the first distance interval and the second distance interval.
12 . A method, comprising:
receiving data regarding a scanned path from a set of one or more sensors capturing physical measurements characterizing a pathway by traversing the scanned path with the set of one or more sensors, the sensors adapted to capture viewpoints for persons traversing the pathway, wherein the set of one or more sensors is actively controlled to capture data only during a first distance interval at a start of the pathway and a second distance interval at an end of the pathway, wherein the first distance interval is bounded based on determining that the set of one or more sensors have started moving, and wherein the second distance interval is bounded based on determining that the set of one or more sensors have stopped moving;
combining the received data to generate a map of the scanned path; and
characterizing aspects of the scanned path based on the combined received data.
13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein receiving the data regarding the scanned path comprises receiving sensor data from a first set of sensors disposed on a scanning tool, each of the first set of sensors comprising imaging devices disposed at varying heights along the scanning tool.
14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein receiving the data regarding the scanned path comprises receiving sensor data from a second set of sensors disposed on the scanning tool, the second set of sensors comprising an angle sensor and a torque sensor.
15 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising determining at least one of a time and location associated with the received data.
16 . The method of claim 14 , wherein characterizing aspects of the scanned path comprises assigning a value quantifying the aspects of the scanned path based on physical features of the scanned path.
17 . The method of claim 14 , wherein characterizing aspects of the scanned path comprises assigning a value quantifying the aspects of the scanned path based on an amount of torque needed to overcome a physical feature of the scanned path.
18 . The method of claim 14 , wherein characterizing aspects of the scanned path comprises assigning a value quantifying the aspects of the scanned path based on an angle of deviation of a physical feature of the scanned path relative to a level section of the scanned path.
19 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the set of one or more sensors is actively controlled to not capture data during a section of the pathway located in between the first distance interval and the second distance interval.