Abstract
A wildlife warning system that comprises at least two independent warning devices, wherein each warning device has an electric power supply, at least one signal generator, a microcontroller for controlling the signal generator, and a communication means for wireless communication with other warning devices and/or with a base station for the purpose of forming a wireless network of wildlife warning devices.
Claims
1. A wildlife warning system comprising: at least two independent warning devices, wherein each warning device has: an electric power supply, a detection device for sensing approaching vehicles, at least one signal generator for emitting audible and/or visual signals, a microcontroller for controlling the at least one signal generator, and a communication means for wireless communication with other warning devices and/or with a base station for the purpose of forming a wireless network of wildlife warning devices, wherein each warning device has an associated explicit network identification.
2. The wildlife warning system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wireless network is a radio network.
3. The wildlife warning system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wireless network comprises a base station for linking the network to a server control center.
4. The wildlife warning system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the base station uses a telephone or mobile radio network to communicate with the service control center.
5. The wildlife warning system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the warning device comprises a position sensor.
6. The wildlife warning system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the warning device comprises a mechanical theft prevention system.
7. The wildlife warning system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the mechanical theft prevention system comprises a foldout ground anchor.
8. The wildlife warning system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electric power supply of the warning device comprises a storage battery.
9. The wildlife warning system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the warning device comprises a solar module for charging the storage battery.
10. The wildlife warning system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the warning device can be configured using the solar module.
11. The wildlife warning system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the storage battery is a lithium polymer storage battery.
12. The wildlife warning system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electric power supply of the warning device comprises a battery.
13. The wildlife warning system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one signal generator is a visual signal generator that includes a light emitting diode.
14. The wildlife warning system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one signal generator is an audible signal generator that includes a loudspeaker.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) The wildlife warning system according to the invention is explained in more detail below with reference to accompanying drawings, in which:
(2) FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of a road section monitored by a plurality of warning devices;
(3) FIG. 2 shows a schematic illustration of a single warning device;
(4) FIG. 3 shows an example of a warning device of the wildlife warning system according to the invention, which warning device is secured with a ground anchor;
(5) FIG. 4 shows a variant of the warning device in FIG. 3; and
(6) FIG. 5 shows a schematic cross section through the wildlife warning device of FIG. 4 along the line V-V in FIG. 4.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
(7) FIG. 1 shows a section of a road 10 that is being monitored with the wildlife warning system according to the invention. Mounted at the edges 11, 12 of the road 10 are traffic posts 13, usually at intervals of 25 meters. Every 25 meters, the traffic posts are equipped with warning devices of the wildlife warning system according to the invention alternately on the left-hand and right-hand sides of the road. In the case of road sections with a lower level of risk, the devices can also be fitted every 50 meters, for example. The warning devices 14 can communicate with one another and/or with a base station 15 situated nearby wirelessly. By way of example, the base station 15 is equipped with a GSM or UMTS module 16 that it can use to communicate with a remote service control center 17. For wireless communication with the warning devices 14 in the network, the base station 15 has a radio module 18 that can be used to communicate over relatively short distances of between a few hundred meters and a few kilometers. The network may also be configured such that a short range for the communication module 18 prompts communication only with a warning device 14 that is situated in direct proximity to the base station 15, and the warning devices 14 that likewise have communication means for wireless communication with other warning devices forward appropriate data to the destination warning device, which means that it is also possible for relatively long road sections having relatively low-power and therefore energy-saving radio communication means to be monitored. The radio communication between base station 15 and warning devices 14 is symbolized by the arrows 19 in FIG. 1. The radio communication of the warning devices 14 among one another is symbolized by arrows 20.
(8) FIG. 2 shows a warning device 14 of the wildlife warning system according to the invention that can be mounted on a road traffic post 13, for example. The warning device 14 has a weatherproof housing 21 that contains the power supply 22, for example a lithium polymer storage battery, which is indicated only symbolically and is powered by a solar module 23, a light-emitting diode 24 that serves as a visual signal generator, a loudspeaker 25 that serves as a visual signal generator and a microcontroller 26 for controlling the two signal generators. Furthermore, the microcontroller 26 can ensure charge protection for the power supply 22. Furthermore, the housing 21 contains communication means 27 that comprise an antenna 28 for communicating with other warning devices or with the base station 15. Furthermore, the warning device 14 has a headlamp sensor 29 for detecting approaching vehicles, The communication means 27 are likewise controlled by the microcontroller 26. Finally, the housing 21 contains a position sensor 30, the signals from which are likewise evaluated by the microcontroller 26, so that in the event of an accident, for example, when the warning device 14 is no longer in its proper position or in the event of theft of the warning installation, an appropriate alarm can be triggered and transmitted to the service control center 17 via the communication means 27 and the base station 15.
(9) Conventional traffic posts can easily be ripped out of the ground, which means that a traffic post with a warning device can also easily be stolen. To improve theft prevention, the traffic post 13 or else a separate mounting rod on which the warning device 14 may be mounted can therefore be provided with a mechanical theft prevention system. A preferred embodiment of such a theft prevention system is shown in FIG. 3, wherein the traffic post 13 is provided with a ground anchor 30 that is connected to the warning device 14 by means of a wire cable 31. The ground anchor 30 has two or more foldout arms 32 that, after the post 13 has been inserted into the ground 33, can be folded out through openings 34 provided in the outer wall of the post 13 by means of the securing wire 30 or a separate pull cable 34, so that the post with the warning device can be securely anchored in the ground.
(10) FIG. 4 shows a variant of the warning device in FIG. 3. In this case, the traffic post 113 again has a ground anchor 130, which in the example shown can be operated by means of a rod 131. By rotating the rod 131, one or more (two in the example shown) arms 132 are folded out. After the post 113 has been inserted into the ground, the rod 131 is rotated by means of a twist grip that can be inserted into the post 113, so that the arms can be folded out through openings 134 provided in the outer wall of the post 113 (cf. FIG. 5, which shows a schematic cross section through the wildlife warning device along the line V-V in FIG. 4).
