SYSTEM FOR DETECTING PERSONS IN AN AREA OF INTEREST

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system for detecting persons in an area of interest, comprising at least one camera, arranged for generating a stream of images of the area of interest, processing means, for processing the generated stream of images, configured for determining the actual locations of presence of persons in each image of the stream of images, thus generating a stream of actual locations of presence of persons, incorporating the stream of actual locations of persons in a schematic view of the area, thus generating a stream of images comprising a schematic view of the area with actual locations of presence of persons, and display means, for displaying the stream of images comprising a schematic view of the area with actual locations of presence of persons.

Claims

1. System for detecting persons in an area of interest, comprising: At least one camera, arranged for generating a stream of images of the area of interest; Processing means, for processing the generated stream of images, configured for: Determining the actual locations of presence of persons in each image of the stream of images, thus generating a stream of actual locations of presence of persons; Incorporating the stream of actual locations of persons in a schematic view of the area, thus generating a stream of images comprising a schematic view of the area with actual locations of presence of persons; Display means, for displaying the stream of images comprising a schematic view of the area with actual locations of presence of persons wherein setting which area may be entered by a person can be performed manually by an operator, automatically by following machine conditions or positions based on information given by the machine, or their position be determined based on machine conditions or positions derived from camera images.

2. System according to claim 1, wherein multiple cameras are applied for providing redundancy in case something or someone blocks the line of view of the at least one camera.

3. System according to claim 1, wherein at least one camera is arranged above and preferably on top of the area of interest, for example in a derrick, for providing a top view of the area of interest.

4. System according to claim 1, wherein determining of the actual locations of presence of persons in each image of the stream of images takes place based on classification.

5. System according to claim 4, wherein the entire image is classified.

6. System according to claim 4 or 5, wherein classification takes place by means of a convolutional neural network.

7. System according to claim 6, wherein the convolutional neural network is trained based on labeled images.

8. System according to claim 1, wherein the schematic view of the area of interest is divided into sub-areas, and wherein the system provides an interface for setting whether the actual area corresponding to the sub-area is allowed to be entered by a person.

9. System according to claim 8, wherein the schematic view of the area comprises an indication if a sub-area is allowed to be entered by a person or not.

10. System according to claim 8, configured for providing an alarm signal when a person is detected within a predetermined distance from a sub area which is set not to be allowed to be entered.

11. System according to claim 10, wherein the alarm signal is shown on the display means.

12. System according to claim 10, wherein the alarm signal is used for enabling an alarm light or an alarm sound at the actual area of interest.

13. System according to claim 1, wherein the processing means are configured for: Comparing subsequent images; and Relating detected locations of presence of persons in subsequent images to each other.

14. System according to claim 13, wherein the locations of presence of persons in subsequent images that belong to the same person are provided with a common ID.

15. System according to claim 14, wherein locations of a person in a predetermined number of previous images are depicted in an image.

16. System according to claim 15, wherein different indicators are used for actual and previous positions for displaying the stream of images comprising a schematic view of the area with actual locations of presence of persons.

17. System according to claim 2, wherein at least one camera is arranged above and preferably on top of the area of interest, for example in a derrick, for providing a top view of the area of interest.

18. System according to claim 5, wherein classification takes place by means of a convolutional neural network.

19. System according to claim 9, configured for providing an alarm signal when a person is detected within a predetermined distance from a sub area which is set not to be allowed to be entered.

20. System according to claim 11, wherein the alarm signal is used for enabling an alarm light or an alarm sound at the actual area of interest.

Description

[0032] The invention will now be elucidated into more detail with reference to the following figures. Herein:

[0033] FIG. 1 shows a simplified representation of a system according to the invention;

[0034] FIG. 2 shows a first screen from a monitor forming part of the present invention;

[0035] FIG. 3 shows a second screen from the monitor from FIG. 3; and

[0036] FIG. 4 shows a schematic view provided by a system according to the invention.

[0037] FIG. 1 shows a simplified representation of a system 1 for detecting persons in an area of interest, formed by a drilling rig according to the invention. The system comprises three cameras 2, 3 each arranged for generating a stream of images of the area of interest 5. The cameras have an overlapping (redundant) view 4. On the area of interest 5 a red zone 6 is indicated. In this area, no persons are allowed during specific operations. However, also the area of interest outside the red zone 6 is monitored, in order to detect persons heading for the red zone 6 or about to enter the red zone 6. Furthermore, the system allows to follow persons longer, such persons are detected when their position gets closer to a red zone.

[0038] The system further comprises processing means (not depicted) for processing the generated stream of images, are configured for determining the actual locations of presence of persons in each image of the stream of images, thus generating a stream of actual locations of presence of persons, and incorporating the stream of actual locations of persons in a schematic view of the area, thus generating a stream of images comprising a schematic view of the area with actual locations of presence of persons, as well as display means for displaying the stream of images comprising a schematic view of the area with actual locations of presence of persons.

[0039] FIG. 2 shows a first screen 7 view from a monitor forming part of the present invention. As visible, a schematic view of the area 8 with actual locations of presence of persons 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 is depicted. As visible, the schematic view of the area of interest is divided into sub-areas, 14, 15 and wherein the system provides an interface for setting whether the actual area corresponding to the sub-area is allowed to be entered by a person. The schematic view of the area comprises an indication if a sub-area is allowed to be entered by a person or not. In the given example, the area 14 is activated, which means that persons are not allowed in the area. Area 15 is deactivated, which means that persons are allowed in the area. In the depicted situation, persons 11, 12 and 13 are in the area 15.

[0040] The processing means are further configured for comparing subsequent images and relating detected locations of presence of persons in subsequent images to each other. These locations of presence of persons that belong to the same person are provided with a common ID. Locations of a person in a predetermined number of previous images are depicted in an actual image. In the given example, a different indication is used for previous locations as for the actual location. The actual location is depicted with a large dot 11, 12, 13 and the previous locations are indicated with smaller dots, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20. These smaller dots may for instance indicate the most recent positions during the last 5 or 10 or 15 seconds.

[0041] FIG. 3 shows the screen from FIG. 2, wherein person 11 has entered the red zone. An alarm signal 21 is shown on the display means. The alarm may also be equipped for enabling an alarm light or an alarm sound at the actual area of interest, such as a light or sound alarm. Which zones are indicated as red zones may change in time, due to the processes carried out on the drilling rig. Setting the actual red zone may be done in different ways. A manual setting can be applied by an operator, settings may follow machine conditions or positions, based on information given by the machine, or their position may be determined based on information derived from the cameras.

[0042] FIG. 4 shows how the system according to the invention may display a frame 22, 23, 26 with predetermined properties around persons 24, 27 and around an object 25 of interest. This enables an operator to obtain a quick overview of the situation in or around the red-zone.

[0043] The examples given are exemplary only and do in no sense limit the scope of protection of the present invention, as defined in the following claims.