Patent Description:
The disclosure generally relates to a safety system and, more particularly, to situational-awareness controllers and methods to increase situational-awareness for an actor associated with a triggering event by correlating information to a compilation of historical information from a plurality of actors and determining a risk level of the actor. A command is then generated and sent to a controllable device to cause an alert to be issued or an actuator to activate.

One or more actors, such as humans, objects and robots, can move throughout an environment, such as the interior of part or all of a building and/or its surrounding outdoor regions, to perform tasks or otherwise utilize the space. For example, humans, objects and robots can be used together to manufacture complex machinery, such as automobiles, airplanes, machine tools, and even other robots. Other environments may exist where humans, objects and robots can be used together. In manufacturing environments, passive indicators, such as cones, flags or signage, have been employed to alert human actors. Such passive indicators depend upon visual contact from an individual, but when an individual does not perceive the passive indicator the purpose is defeated. Further cut-off switches and proximity sensors have been employed for operator-controlled object actors and automated robot actors, but these are specific to particular applications and are not modular or expandable.

Document <CIT>, according to its abstract, states methods and apparatus for operating robotic actors in a human/robotic environment. A safety controller that is configured to communicate with one or more robotic actors can receive actor information about at least a location of one or more actors. The safety controller can receive robot information comprising at least a location of a particular robotic actor of the one or more robotic actors. The safety controller can determine a command for controlling operation of the particular robotic actor of the one or more robotic actors by applying one or more safety criteria to the actor information and the robot information. The safety controller can generate an output including the command for controlling operation of the particular robotic actor.

According to the present disclosure, a method, a situational-awareness controller and an article of manufacture as defined in the independent claims are provided. Further embodiments of the invention are defined in the dependent claims. Although the invention is only defined by the claims, the below embodiments, examples, and aspects are present for aiding in understanding the background and advantages of the invention.

Examples are described below in conjunction with the appended figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements in the various figures, and wherein:.

The drawings are provided for the purpose of illustrating examples, but it is understood that the examples are not limited to the arrangements and instrumentalities shown in the drawings.

The disclosed examples provide a situational-awareness controller and methods that can evaluate potential risk in an environment to actors that include humans, objects and robots. For example, in a manufacturing environment, human actors (e.g., engineers, technicians, operators) often work with or encounter object actors (e.g., power tools, forklifts, overhead cranes) and robot actors (e.g., stationary and mobile automated systems). These example situational-awareness controllers and methods allow for increased safety of actors in response to triggering events generated by sensors deployed in the environment or by sensors associated with actors in the environment. These sensors have the advantage of being either statically positioned within the environment, modular to allow reconfigurable sensor placement within the environment or mobile such that a sensor moves with an associated actor. A manufacturing operation optionally involves large equipment and parts used and transported overhead, such as those used in the aerospace industry, and sensors may be arranged in the manufacturing environment to provide situational-awareness of these overhead operations to actors in the environment. In addition, information for an actor associated with a triggering event detected by a sensor is beneficially correlated, via a computing device in the form of a situational-awareness controller, with a compilation of historical information from a plurality of actors in the environment to determine a risk level of the actor. A command is then generated and sent to a controllable device based on the risk level of the actor either to increase situational-awareness for an actor by issuing an alert or to increase safety for an actor by causing a controllable device to enter a safe-mode or cease operation.

<FIG> and <FIG> show an environment <NUM> which includes nine areas <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> separated by corridors, in accordance with an example implementation. Environment <NUM> can represent an indoor space, such as a factory or manufacturing facility, and/or an outdoor space, such as an outdoor region divided into areas. Each area can be utilized by one or more actors <NUM>, including human actors <NUM>, object actors <NUM> and robot actors 122R. The object actors <NUM> and robot actors 122R can be stationary or mobile. Areas <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> represent areas with self-contained operations, whereas areas <NUM> and <NUM> represent areas with blind-side operations that may result in a portion of an object actor <NUM> (e.g. drill bit or saw blade) or an output (e.g., nail, laser or flame) of the object actor <NUM> passing through or penetrating one side of a barrier <NUM> located in areas <NUM>, <NUM> and entering an adjacent corridor, as discussed in more detail with respect to <FIG> and <FIG> below. Example barriers <NUM> include, but are not limited to, an airplane skin or a wing, a ship hull or a vehicle panel in manufacturing or maintenance environments and a wall, a roof or a ceiling in a construction zone. Example barriers <NUM> may also include a mesh or have a plurality of openings. Other example barriers <NUM> may include transparent panels that permit visibility but obstruct sound such that a passing actor's auditory perception of an operation may be impaired. In alternative examples, areas <NUM> and <NUM> represent open unconfined spaces for reconfigurable operations. In some examples, actor locations associated with areas <NUM> and <NUM> and surrounding corridors may be assigned a high risk level in the compilation of historical information due to the nature of the blind-side, sound-obstructed and reconfigurable operations. This risk level may be entered manually into data storage <NUM> that stores the compilation of historical information or may be correlated by a computing device <NUM>, such as a situational-awareness controller, based on historical information from a plurality of actors at locations associated with areas <NUM> and <NUM>. The data storage <NUM> and computing device <NUM> are described in detail below with respect to <FIG>.

As shown in <FIG>, environment <NUM> can be utilized by actors <NUM>, including human actors <NUM>, object actors <NUM> and robot actors 122R to perform tasks, such as but not limited to manufacturing, storing, and/or transporting articles of manufacture (e.g., machinery, electronic components, textiles). At least one computing device in the form of a situational-awareness controller is configured to communicate with one or more controllable devices associated with actors <NUM> in the environment <NUM>. To maintain safety in environment <NUM> and perhaps for other reasons, sensors <NUM> may be deployed throughout environment <NUM>. In some implementations, the sensors <NUM> are included in controllable devices such as communication devices <NUM> and response devices <NUM> that are associated with actors <NUM> in the environment <NUM> or a proximity sensor device <NUM>, as described in more detail with respect to <FIG> below. In further example implementations, the sensors <NUM> include sensors <NUM> that are statically positioned or in fixed locations within the environment <NUM>. And in still further example implementations, the sensors <NUM> include sensors <NUM> that are modular such that the sensors <NUM> are reconfigurable within the environment <NUM> on an as-needed basis.

Further, sensors <NUM> may be used alone or in combination within the environment <NUM> to increase situational-awareness and safety of actors <NUM> in the environment <NUM>. In addition, the sensors <NUM> include, or are in communication with a device having, a wireless communication interface to communicate with a computing device <NUM>, such as a situational-awareness controller discussed in more detail below with respect to <FIG>.

In one example, the sensors <NUM> are part of a radio-frequency identification ("RFID") system. The RFID sensor has an RFID interrogator <NUM> that includes an antenna and sends electromagnetic fields to identify and track RFID tags <NUM> associated with actors <NUM>. The RFID tags <NUM> have a microchip containing electronically stored information and an antenna. In operation, the RFID interrogator <NUM> sends out a signal (e.g., electromagnetic waves) and the antenna of the RFID tag <NUM> is tuned to receive this signal. The microchip then processes the signal and the RFID tag <NUM> sends a responsive signal back to the RFID interrogator <NUM> and the RFID interrogator <NUM> processes the responsive signal. In addition, RFID tags <NUM> may be passive or active. Passive RFID tags draw power from a nearby RFID interrogator's electromagnetic radio waves. Active RFID tags, on the other hand, have a local power source, such as a battery, and may be interrogated by the RFID interrogator <NUM> even when the RFID tag <NUM> is hundreds of meters from the RFID interrogator <NUM>. The RFID interrogator's antenna can be programmed to create an adjustable sensor detection zone depending on the location of a given RFID interrogator <NUM> in the environment <NUM>. Both passive and active RFID tags could be utilized in the environment <NUM>. When an RFID interrogator <NUM> reads an RFID tag <NUM> associated with an actor <NUM>, this constitutes a triggering event associated with the actor <NUM>. For example, as shown in <FIG>, RFID interrogators <NUM> are arranged fixed locations throughout the corridors of environment <NUM>. RFID interrogators <NUM> could also be configured as modular and reconfigurable within the environment <NUM>.

The sensors <NUM> may also include inertial measurement unit ("IMU") systems <NUM> associated with an actor <NUM>. IMU systems <NUM> may be worn by human actors <NUM> or coupled to a movable component of an object actor <NUM> or robot actor 122R. IMU systems <NUM> include acceleration and angular velocity sensors, a microcontroller, an antenna and a power source, like a battery. IMU systems <NUM> measure linear and angular motion and output integrated quantities of angular velocity and acceleration in the sensor. An IMU system's microchip may be in communication with a processor programmed to track a specific type of activity by an actor <NUM>. The IMU system's microchip may be further programmed to count repetitive actions of an actor <NUM> to help avoid stress-related injuries, for example. An IMU system's microchip may be configured to perform on-chip analysis of the action count or the functionality may be distributed among more than one physical device in communication with each other, including a controllable device or another computing device <NUM>, such as a situational-awareness controller. Analysis of the IMU system's movement signals may take place in real-time based on a compilation of historical information from a plurality of actors <NUM> accessible by the IMU system <NUM>. This compilation of historical information may include types of activities associated with repetitive actions and action counts of those repetitive actions associated with safety events (e.g., stress-injuries), an alert threshold and an actuator threshold.

A safety event in the form of a stress injury may be correlated with an action count of <NUM> repetitive movements. An IMU system's alert threshold in this example may be correlated to an action count of <NUM> to <NUM> repetitive movements. The action count correlated with the alert threshold may vary depending on the type of activity and the type of actor performing the activity. When the action count for an alert threshold is exceeded, the situational-awareness controller may generate and send a command to a controllable device to activate an alert indicator 136a-c, described below with respect to <FIG>. In this example, activation of the alert indicator may alert a human actor <NUM>, such as human actor 122Hb in area <NUM> associated with IMU system 134b and operator-controlled device 154b as shown in <FIG>, to take a break or that the human actor <NUM> is approaching an ergonomic limit for the shift. In this example, a response device 128b corresponding to object actor 1220b and human actor 122Hb may issue the alert on a visual display, with an audible alarm or recording or with tactile feedback, for example. In this same example, an IMU system's actuator threshold may be correlated to an action count of <NUM> to <NUM> repetitive movements. The action count correlated with the actuator threshold may vary depending on the type of activity and the type of actor performing the activity. If the human actor 122Hb continued the activity after the alert indicator 136a-c was activated and caused the action count to increase to a quantity associated with the actuator threshold, the response device 128b may receive a command to activate an actuator causing object actor 1220b to operate in a safe-mode or cease operation thereby forcing the human actor 122Hb to cease the activity or modify the repetitive action. In one example, a triggering event is detected by an IMU system <NUM> when an action count associated with an activity type reaches a quantity associated with an alert threshold for the activity type.

The sensors <NUM> may also include a global positioning system ("GPS"). In this example, the GPS includes a GPS receiver <NUM> associated with an actor <NUM> in the environment <NUM>. A system of satellites, computers, and receivers is able to determine the latitude and longitude of the GPS receiver <NUM> by calculating the difference in time for signals from different satellites to reach the GPS receiver <NUM>. The GPS receiver <NUM> has a GPS processor and antenna that directly receives the data sent by the satellites and computes the location of the GPS receiver <NUM> in real-time. The GPS receiver <NUM> associated with the actor <NUM> is in communication with a GPS processor that has a wireless communication interface configured to access location information from GPS receivers <NUM> associated with other actors in the environment <NUM>.

The GPS processor is also configured to access a compilation of historical information that includes distances between GPS receivers <NUM> that are associated with safety events (e.g., human actor-object actor contact or near-miss, human actor-robot actor contact or near-miss and object actor-robot actor contact or near-miss), an alert threshold and an actuator threshold. For example, in one implementation a safety event corresponds to a distance between GPS receivers <NUM> ranging from <NUM> to <NUM>, an actuator threshold corresponds to a distance between GPS receivers <NUM> ranging from <NUM> to <NUM> and an alert threshold corresponds to a distance between GPS receivers <NUM> ranging from <NUM> to <NUM>.

The foregoing ranges may vary depending on the type of actor corresponding to each GPS receiver <NUM>. For example, if the GPS receivers <NUM> are all associated with human actors, then an actuator threshold may not be relevant and an alert threshold corresponds to a distance between GPS receivers <NUM> ranging from <NUM> to <NUM>. In another example, where one GPS receiver <NUM> is associated with a static object actor or a static robot actor and the other GPS receiver <NUM> is associated with a human actor, then the actuator threshold corresponds to a distance between GPS receivers <NUM> ranging from <NUM> to <NUM> and an alert threshold corresponds to a distance between GPS receivers <NUM> ranging from <NUM> to <NUM>. In one alternative example, where one GPS receiver <NUM> is associated with a mobile object actor or a mobile robot actor and the other GPS receiver <NUM> is associated with a human actor, then the actuator threshold corresponds to a distance between GPS receivers <NUM> ranging from <NUM> to <NUM> and an alert threshold corresponds to a distance between GPS receivers <NUM> ranging from <NUM> to <NUM>. In one example, a triggering event is detected by a GPS processor when a distance between a first GPS receiver <NUM> associated with a first actor and a second GPS receiver <NUM> associated with a second actor reaches a distance associated with an alert threshold.

The sensors <NUM> may also include proximity sensors <NUM> that have a sensor zone <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>. The proximity sensors <NUM> include, but are not limited to, optical sensors, infrared sensors, ultrasonic sensors, tactile sensors, capacitive sensors, laser-based sensors, through-beam sensors, contact sensors, camera-based sensors and motion sensors. The proximity sensors <NUM> may detect the presence of an actor <NUM> in the sensor zone <NUM>. In another example, the proximity sensors <NUM> are further configured to measure the distance of an actor <NUM> to the proximity sensor <NUM>. In either case, the proximity sensor's detection of the presence of an actor <NUM> in the sensor zone <NUM> constitutes a triggering event associated with the actor <NUM>.

With respect to the following discussion of <FIG>, risk levels of actors <NUM> in an environment <NUM>, for example, are determined by a computing device <NUM>, discussed with respect to <FIG>, and the risk levels may range from <NUM>-<NUM>, for example. Risk levels assist the computing device in generating commands for at least one controllable device in environment <NUM>. In one example, a range of <NUM>-<NUM> corresponds to a low risk level, a range of <NUM>-<NUM> corresponds to a medium risk level and a range of <NUM>-<NUM> corresponds to a high risk level. Other ranges are possible. A determination of a low risk level of an actor may correspond to a command to activate an alert indicator. A determination of a medium risk level of an actor <NUM> may correspond to a command to activate an alert indicator 136a-c with two or more types of feedback (e.g., visual, audible and/or tactile) or with an escalation in visual effect, volume and/or strength or pulse of vibration and/or to activate an actuator <NUM> to cause an object actor <NUM> or a robot actor 122R to operate in a safe-mode. And a determination of a high risk level of an actor <NUM> may correspond to a command to activate an alert indicator 136a-c with two or more types of feedback (e.g., visual, audible and/or tactile) and with an escalation in visual effect, volume and/or strength or pulse of vibration and to activate an actuator <NUM> to cause an object actor <NUM> or a robot actor 122R to cease operation. Other combinations and commands are possible and further examples are discussed below.

In one example implementation shown in <FIG>, proximity sensors 142e-g in areas <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> of environment <NUM> are disposed adjacent to robot actors 122Re-g each having a corresponding response device 128e-g. Human actors 122He-g in areas <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> each have a corresponding communication device 126e-g. In this example, sensor zones 145e-g each have a low-risk threshold distance L, a medium-risk threshold distance M and a high-risk threshold distance H from the proximity sensors 142e-g, respectively. In area <NUM>, human actor 122He is shown outside the low-risk threshold distance L of sensor zone 145e for proximity sensor 142e. In an example, the risk level of human actor 122He based on human actor 122He's distance from proximity sensor 142e is correlated to a low risk level of <NUM>-<NUM>, for example, such that a situational-awareness controller may generate a command configured to cause response device 128e communicate with robot actor 122Oe to maintain normal operation of robot actor 122Oe. In area <NUM>, human actor 122Hf is shown at a distance from proximity sensor 142f that exceeds the high-risk threshold distance H but that is less than the medium-risk threshold distance M. The risk level of human actor 122Hf based on human actor 122Hf's distance from proximity sensor 142f is correlated to a medium risk level of <NUM>-<NUM>, for example, such that a situational-awareness controller may generate a command configured to cause response device 128f to activate an alert indicator and/or to cause robot actor 122Of to operate in a safe-mode. In area <NUM>, human actor 122Hg is shown at a distance from proximity sensor <NUM> that is less than the high-risk threshold distance H. Optionally, the risk level of human actor 122Hg based on human actor 122Hg's distance from proximity sensor <NUM> is correlated to a high risk level of <NUM>-<NUM>, for example, such that a situational-awareness controller may generate a command configured to cause response device <NUM> to activate an alert indicator and to cause robot actor 122Og to cease operation.

In a further example, shown in <FIG>, a proximity sensor <NUM> can be configured as a proximity sensor device <NUM> having a transceiver 146a, a proximity sensor <NUM>, an alert indicator 136a and a computing device 148a. In operation, the proximity sensor device <NUM> is configured to be arranged in a non-line-of-sight position relative to an object actor <NUM>, in one example, such that the object actor <NUM> and the proximity sensor device <NUM> are arranged on opposite sides of a barrier <NUM> arranged in areas <NUM>, <NUM>, according to one implementation. The proximity sensor <NUM> is configured for communication with the transceiver 146a of the proximity sensor device <NUM>. In one example, the transceiver 146a of the proximity sensor device <NUM> may be part of the proximity sensor <NUM> and coupled together in a hard-wired, fiber-optic or electromechanical arrangement directly or indirectly. In an alternative example, the proximity sensor <NUM> and the transceiver 146a of the proximity sensor device <NUM> may communicate wirelessly. As used herein, a transceiver 146a-c is a device that can both transmit and receive wireless communications, such as a combined radio transmitter and receiver that share common circuitry or a common housing. In an alternate example, both a transmitter and a receiver that have no common circuitry may be used in place of a transceiver 146a-c. In one example implementation, the transceiver 146a-c is capable of bi-directional wireless communication with at least a computing device <NUM> configured as a situational-awareness controller that is remotely located relative to the proximity sensor device <NUM>.

The computing device 148a of the proximity sensor device <NUM>, described more fully below with respect to the computing device <NUM> shown in <FIG>, has one or more processors <NUM> to receive signals from the proximity sensor <NUM> and to communicate with a situational-awareness controller to facilitate a determination of a risk level of an actor <NUM> associated with a triggering event. The computing device 148a is communicatively coupled to the proximity sensor <NUM>, the transceiver 146a and the alert indicator 136a. In one example, the computing device 148a is directly wired to components of the proximity sensor device <NUM>, including the transceiver 146a, proximity sensor <NUM> and the alert indicator 136a. In another example, the computing device 148a is wirelessly connected to the proximity sensor <NUM>, the transceiver 146a and the alert indicator 136a.

In addition, with respect to <FIG>, some or all of the actors <NUM> in the environment <NUM> are each associated with a controllable device. In one example, the controllable device is a communication device <NUM> having an alert indicator 136b to increase an actor's situational-awareness. Example communication devices <NUM> include, but are not limited to mobile computing devices, tablets, laptops, wearable smart devices (e.g., watches, rings, glasses, necklaces, badges and head-mounted displays). Example alert indicators 136a-c include, but are not limited to, images on an electronic display, LED lights configured to activate in a manner corresponding to different risk levels, i.e., low-, medium- and high-risk levels, (e.g., color-coded green-yellow-red, lighting up one or more status bars, pulsing LED light at different rates), auditory alerts (e.g., different sounds and/or volumes) and tactile alerts (e.g., different types, degrees and pulses of vibration and combinations thereof). The communication device <NUM> may be configured by a human actor <NUM> to include preset alerts. For example, a first human actor <NUM> may configure the communication device <NUM> to issue an alert when a second human actor <NUM> is within a preset distance of the first human actor <NUM>. A communication device <NUM> is associated with human actors <NUM>, with object actors <NUM> that have human actors <NUM> as operators or with robot actors 122R that have human actors 122He-g observing the automated systems 156e-g.

The controllable device is a response device <NUM> having an actuator <NUM> to cause an operator-controlled device <NUM>, such as an object actor <NUM>, or an automated system <NUM>, such as a robot actor 122R, to enter a safe-mode or cease operation. Example actuators <NUM>, include, but are not limited to, (i) software code containing instructions executable by computing device 148c to control hardware for an associated object actor <NUM> or robot actor 122R, (ii) circuit breakers, relays or electrically operated switches that are coupled directly to circuitry for an electric motor or brake system, for example, of an object actor <NUM> or robot actor 122R or (iii) a pneumatic release valve coupled to one of a pneumatic switch box or in-line with an air hose coupled to an object actor <NUM> or robot actor 122R. In some examples, the response device <NUM> may also have an alert indicator 136c for a human actor <NUM>, such as human actors 122Hb, 122Hd operating an operator-controlled device 154a and 154b, shown for example in areas <NUM> and <NUM> of <FIG>, or human actors 122He, 122Hf, 122Hg observing a robot actor 122Re, 122Rf, 122Rg, shown for example in areas <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> of <FIG>. A response device <NUM> is associated with object actors <NUM> (e.g., power tools, forklifts, overhead cranes) or robot actors 122R having automated systems that are configured to respond to activation of the actuator <NUM>. Example response devices <NUM> having an alert indicator 136c include free-standing electronic displays or electronic displays integrated with or mounted on object actors <NUM> and robot actors 122R.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the controllable devices each have one or more sensors <NUM>, such as RFID tags <NUM>, proximity sensors <NUM>, GPS receivers <NUM> and IMU systems <NUM>, as discussed above. The controllable devices also each have transceivers 146a-c and computing devices 148a-c, respectively. As noted, the computing devices 148a-c are described more fully below with reference to <FIG>. The computing device 148b of the communication device <NUM> has one or more processors <NUM> to receive signals to activate the alert indicator 136b, and the computing device 148b is communicatively coupled to the sensors <NUM>, the transceiver 146b and the alert indicator 136b. The computing device 148c of the response device <NUM> has one or more processors <NUM> to receive signals to either activate the alert indicator 136c or the actuator <NUM>, and the computing device 148c is communicatively coupled to the sensors <NUM>, the transceiver 146c, the alert indicator 136c and the actuator <NUM>.

In <FIG> and <FIG>, areas <NUM> and <NUM> represent areas with blind-side operations that may result in a portion of an object actor 122Oa, b (e.g. drill bit or saw blade) or an output (e.g., nail, laser or flame) of the object actor 122Oa,b passing through or penetrating one side of a barrier <NUM> and entering a working field of the object actor 122Oa,b in an adjacent corridor. In other words, operational paths 123a,b of object actors 122Oa,b in areas <NUM>, <NUM> include the route or footprint that a portion of the object actors 122Oa,b and any output of the object actors 122Oa,b follows during operation. As shown in <FIG>, object actors 122Oa,b in areas <NUM>, <NUM> are arranged on one side of barriers 120a,b and proximity sensor devices 144a,b are arranged on the opposite side such that the sensor zone 145a,b surrounds the operational paths 123a,b of the object actors 122Oa,b. In this example, proximity sensor devices 144a and 144b are modular and reconfigurable within environment <NUM>. The object actor 122Oa in area <NUM> is associated with response device 128a. Human actor 122Ha in the corridor between area <NUM> and area <NUM> is associated with a communication device 126a. In addition, the object actor 122Ob in area <NUM> is associated with response device 128b and the object actor 122Oc in the corridor between area <NUM> and <NUM> is associated with response device 128c. In one example, the proximity sensor device 144a, communication device 126a and response device 128a are all controllable devices that may be in communication with each other via network <NUM> and each may receive one or more commands from the situational-awareness controller in response to the same triggering event generated by proximity sensor device 144a detecting the presence of human actor 122Ha. The proximity sensor device 144b and the response devices 128b, 128c are all controllable devices that may be in communication with each other via network <NUM> and each may receive commands generated and sent from the situational-awareness controller in response to the same triggering event generated by proximity sensor device 144b detecting the presence of object actor 122Oc.

Communication devices <NUM> and response devices <NUM> are in communication with a remote computing device, such as computing device <NUM> discussed below in the context of <FIG>, that can be configured to perform the herein-described features of a herein-described situational-awareness controller. In alternative example implementations, the computing device 148a of the proximity sensor device <NUM>, the computing device 148b of the communication device <NUM> and the computing device 148c of the response device <NUM> may each perform the functions of a situational-awareness controller. Communication between the sensors <NUM>, the controllable devices and the computing device <NUM> occur via a network <NUM> discussed below in the context of <FIG>.

<FIG> depicts scenarios that may take place in the environment <NUM> depicted in <FIG>, in accordance with example implementations. <FIG> illustrates aspects of a system that can integrate a plurality of sensors <NUM> to increase situational-awareness of actors in the environment <NUM>. As indicated above, the system can include at least one situational-awareness controller, in the form of computing device <NUM>, in wireless (or wired) communication with one or more sensors <NUM> and one or more controllable devices. The situational-awareness controller can be configured to obtain information from the sensors <NUM>, controllable devices and from other data sources accessible via network <NUM>. For example, the situational-awareness controller may include a processor <NUM> that is in communication with one or more controllable devices and sensors <NUM> associated with actors <NUM>, where the processor <NUM> is configured to receive actor information comprising an identification of an actor <NUM> associated with a triggering event, a location of the actor <NUM> in the environment <NUM> and an associated date and time of the triggering event. In one example, the identification of the actor <NUM> is optional information that may not be provided to the processor <NUM>.

Actor information identifying human actors <NUM> may include names, ID numbers or employee numbers. Actor information identifying an object actor <NUM> or a robot actor 122R may include an identification number, a serial number, an identification string or name of the object actor <NUM> or robot actor 122R, manufacturer and model information about the object actor <NUM> or robot actor 122R. Other information about the actors <NUM> can be used by the computing device <NUM>, as well, including, but not limited to, roles, job classifications or seniority (i.e., novice or experienced) of human actors <NUM>, information about one or more biological indicators of human actors <NUM>, and biomechanic information about the human actors <NUM>, information about capabilities of an object actor <NUM> or a robot actor 122R, tasks or roles being performed by the object actor <NUM> or robot actor 122R, and configuration information of the object actor <NUM> or robot actor 122R (e.g., size, weight, lifting, and/or other capacity information, mobility information, information about actuators of the object or robotic platform).

Actor information is sent to the computing device <NUM> in response to a triggering event detected by a sensor <NUM> in environment <NUM>. In addition, in one example implementation, the computing device <NUM> can poll or otherwise receive information from one or more sensors <NUM> in the environment <NUM> on a periodic basis. Such information can include, but is not limited to, the location of actors <NUM> in the environment <NUM> from GPS receivers <NUM> associated with the actors <NUM> and kinematic information about actors <NUM>. Other data sources can be accessed by or provide information to the computing device <NUM>, such as a data storage <NUM> containing a compilation of historical information from a plurality of actors <NUM> in the environment <NUM>. Data storage <NUM> is described more fully below with respect to <FIG>.

Data storage <NUM>, and in particular the compilation of historical information of the plurality of actors stored therein, may be supplemented on an ongoing basis based on information received from the sensors <NUM>, the controllable devices and the computing device <NUM> that pertains to the environment <NUM> and actors <NUM> therein. The data storage <NUM> can be further supplemented based on information that is manually supplied, for example, on an ad hoc basis as safety events occur or as part of a periodic system update via one or more computing devices (e.g., tablet 216a, personal computer 216b, laptop computer 216c or mobile computing device 216d) in wired or wireless communication with the data storage <NUM> via network <NUM>. For example, the data storage <NUM> may receive and store, as part of the compilation of historical information, information regarding safety events, including, but not limited to, (i) the type of contact between actors <NUM> and the type of injury or damage resulting therefrom, (ii) the type of non-contact exposure of an actor <NUM> to environmental elements affecting safety such as light, lasers, sound, temperature, atmospheric pressure changes, wind, radiation, chemicals or biohazards and the type of injury or damage resulting therefrom, (iii) near-misses between actors <NUM> (e.g., certain types of actors <NUM> were within a threshold distance of each other such that injury or damage to one or both actors <NUM> was imminent, for example) and (iv) confirmation of and type of stress-related injuries to an actor <NUM> and the associated activities and action counts resulting in the stress-related injuries.

Data storage <NUM> may also receive and store, as part of the compilation of historical information, locations of new fixed sensors <NUM> in environment <NUM> and locations of new static object actors <NUM> or static robot actors 122R in environment <NUM> and the actors' associated capabilities. In other example implementations, the data storage <NUM> may receive and store, as part of the compilation of historical information, information regarding schedules for the environment <NUM> (e.g., shift changes, lunch breaks, weekly meetings, fire drills, scheduled maintenance, chemical transport between areas <NUM>-<NUM> in the environment <NUM> etc.) that may be analyzed and correlated to safety events such as increased actor traffic or the presence of hazardous materials at specific locations and times within the environment <NUM>.

After receiving notification of a triggering event generated by at least one sensor <NUM> in the environment <NUM> and accessing information for an actor <NUM> associated with the triggering event, the computing device <NUM> correlates that actor information to the compilation of historical information from a plurality of actors <NUM>. In an example in which the computing device <NUM> determines that the location of the actor <NUM> is associated with one or more safety events stored as part of the compilation of historical information, then the computing device <NUM> determines a risk level of the actor <NUM> based on whether the one or more associated safety events occurred within a predetermined range of time from the time associated with the triggering event. In one example, the risk level may range from <NUM> to <NUM>, with a risk level of <NUM>-<NUM> corresponding to a low-risk scenario, a risk level of <NUM>-<NUM> corresponding to a medium-risk scenario and a risk level of <NUM>-<NUM> corresponding to a high-risk scenario. Optionally, the computing device <NUM> may further determine the risk level based on additional types of information, including but not limited to, a type of the one or more safety events (e.g., increased actor traffic, human actor-human actor contact, human actor-object actor contact, human actor-robot actor contact, object actor-robot actor contact, robot actor-robot actor contact, object actor-object actor contact, a near-miss between actors, transport of chemical or biohazardous materials, etc.), the type of actor <NUM> (i.e., human actor <NUM>, object actor <NUM> or robot actor 122R) that is associated with the triggering event, the type of activity an actor <NUM> associated with the triggering event is engaged in, motion information for the actor <NUM> associated with the triggering event and other actors <NUM> in the environment <NUM>. One or more software components of the situational-awareness controller may determine the weight afforded to the foregoing information in order to determine the risk level of the actor <NUM> associated with the triggering event. Each type of information may be ranked in the compilation of historical information according to impact on actor safety, for example, and weighted accordingly in the risk level determination. Further, categories within each type of information may be likewise ranked to further refine the determination of the risk level. Different combinations of these types of information and the categories within each type of information may be used to determine the risk level of the actor <NUM>.

After determining the risk level, the computing device <NUM> then generates a command based on the result of correlating and sends the command to at least one controllable device. In one example, if the risk level is determined to fall in the range of <NUM>-<NUM>, for example, such that the actor is in a low-risk scenario, then the command sent by the computing device <NUM> (e.g., situational-awareness controller) may be configured to cause a communication device <NUM> to activate the alert indicator 136b and issue an alert corresponding to a low-risk level. For example, the low-risk alert may be in the form of a visual display such as a message on an electronic display, a green-colored LED, illumination of less than a third of a plurality of status bars or stable illumination of an LED. The command may be configured to cause a proximity sensor device <NUM> to issue an auditory alert corresponding to a low-risk level to a human actor <NUM>, for example. Alternatively, for a low-risk scenario, the command may be configured to cause a response device <NUM> to operate an object actor <NUM> or a robot actor 122R in a low-risk mode that may include, but is not limited to, increased operational speeds and increased range of movement relative to medium- and high-risk modes. Other commands in response to a determination of a low-risk level are possible, including combinations of visual, auditory and tactile alerts.

If the risk level is determined to fall in the range of <NUM>-<NUM>, for example, such that the actor is in a medium-risk scenario, then the command may be configured to cause one or more of a communication device <NUM>, a response device <NUM> or a proximity sensor device <NUM> to issue an alert via the alert indicators 136a-c, corresponding to a medium-risk level. In one example, the medium-risk alert may be in the form of a visual display such as a message on an electronic display, illumination of a yellow-colored LED, illumination of one to two thirds of a plurality of status bars, slow-pulsing illumination of an LED, for example. In addition to or instead of the visual display, the medium-risk alert is an auditory or tactile alert issued by a communication device <NUM>, a response device <NUM> or a proximity sensor device <NUM>. The command may be configured to cause a response device <NUM> to operate an object actor <NUM> or a robot actor 122R in a medium-risk mode that may include, but is not limited to, decreased operational speeds relative to a low-risk mode, decreased range of motion for one or more movable components relative to a low-risk mode, or a changed direction of movement of the object actor <NUM> or robot actor 122R or one or more components thereof.

If the risk level is determined to fall in the range of <NUM>-<NUM>, for example, such that the actor <NUM> is in a high-risk scenario, then the command may be configured to cause one or more of a communication device <NUM>, a response device <NUM> or a proximity sensor device <NUM> to issue an alert via the alert indicators 136a-c, corresponding to a high-risk level. The high-risk alert may be in the form of a visual display such as a message on an electronic display, illumination of a red-colored LED, illumination of two thirds or more of a plurality of status bars, or fast-pulsing illumination of an LED, for example. In addition to or instead of the visually displayed alert, the high-risk alert is an auditory alert or a tactile alert or both issued by one or more of a communication device <NUM>, a response device <NUM> or a proximity sensor device <NUM>. In one example, the auditory alert has a different sound and/or volume for the high-risk alert than for the medium- or low-risk alerts. In another example, the tactile alert has a different type, degree and/or pulse of vibration for the high-risk alert than for the medium- or low-risk alerts. The command may be configured to cause a response device <NUM> to operate an object actor <NUM> or a robot actor 122R in a high-risk mode that may include, but is not limited to, decreased operational speeds relative to a medium-risk mode, decreased range of motion for one or more movable components relative to a medium-risk mode, ceased motion of one or more movable components, a changed direction of movement of the object actor <NUM> or robot actor 122R or one or more components thereof, or ceased operation of the object actor <NUM> or robot actor 122R. These commands generated based on the determined risk level of an actor <NUM> may increase an actor's situational-awareness and safety in environment <NUM>.

Commands sent from the situational-awareness controller to the controllable device can be sent to other actors <NUM> in the environment <NUM> or to tablet 216a, personal computer 216b, laptop computer 216c or mobile computing device 216d in communication with network <NUM>, as well. For example, a computing device <NUM> can send a command to a robot actor 122R, for example in area <NUM> shown in <FIG>, to operate in a high-risk mode and send a command to a communication device <NUM> worn or carried by a human actor <NUM> that is also located in area <NUM> to activate an alert regarding the high-risk mode status of nearby robot actor 122R. Upon receipt of the command, the communication device <NUM> can change a display, issue an audible or a tactile alert, and/or otherwise indicate that robot actor 122R in area <NUM> is now in the high-risk mode. Many other examples of commands sent from the computing device <NUM> to other actors <NUM> are possible as well. In some example implementations, situational-awareness controllers can send commands so that any computing device capable of receiving the commands can receive and process them. For example, a system-wide notification sent to all computing devices in network <NUM> may be advantageous in the event of a fire drill or chemical spill, for example.

Once the information has been processed by the situational-awareness controller and appropriate commands generated and sent from the situational-awareness controller to the controllable device, then the situational-awareness controller can obtain additional information about actors <NUM> and the environment <NUM>, determine risk levels of actors <NUM> in the environment <NUM> based on the additional information, and send appropriate commands to the controllable devices associated with those actors <NUM> or to other computing devices <NUM>, 216a-d in the environment <NUM> or in communication with network <NUM>.

<FIG> is a block diagram illustrating an example of the computing device <NUM>, according to an example implementation. The computing device <NUM> may be used to perform functions of methods shown in <FIG>. In particular, computing device <NUM> can be configured to perform one or more functions, including situational-awareness functions, related to herein-described controllable devices associated with actors <NUM>, proximity sensor device <NUM>, sensors <NUM> and situational-awareness controllers, for example. The computing device <NUM> has a processor(s) <NUM>, and also a communication interface <NUM>, data storage <NUM>, an output interface <NUM>, and a display <NUM> each connected to a communication bus <NUM>. The computing device <NUM> may also include hardware to enable communication within the computing device <NUM> and between the computing device <NUM> and other devices (e.g. not shown). The hardware may include transmitters, receivers, and antennas, for example.

The communication interface <NUM> may be a wireless interface and/or one or more wired interfaces that allow for both short-range communication and long-range communication to one or more networks <NUM> or to one or more remote computing devices (e.g., a tablet 216a, a personal computer 216b, a laptop computer 216c and a mobile computing device 216d, for example). Such wireless interfaces may provide for communication under one or more wireless communication protocols, such as Bluetooth, WiFi (e.g., an institute of electrical and electronic engineers (IEEE) <NUM> protocol), Long-Term Evolution (LTE), cellular communications, near-field communication (NFC), and/or other wireless communication protocols. Such wired interfaces may include Ethernet interface, a Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface, or similar interface to communicate via a wire, a twisted pair of wires, a coaxial cable, an optical link, a fiber-optic link, or other physical connection to a wired network. Thus, the communication interface <NUM> may be configured to receive input data from one or more devices, and may also be configured to send output data to other devices.

The communication interface <NUM> may also include a user-input device, such as a keyboard, a keypad, a touch screen, a touch pad, a computer mouse, a track ball and/or other similar devices, for example.

The data storage <NUM> may include or take the form of one or more computer-readable storage media that can be read or accessed by the processor(s) <NUM>. The computer-readable storage media can include volatile and/or non-volatile storage components, such as optical, magnetic, organic or other memory or disc storage, which can be integrated in whole or in part with the processor(s) <NUM>. The data storage <NUM> is considered non-transitory computer readable media. In some examples, the data storage <NUM> can be implemented using a single physical device (e.g., one optical, magnetic, organic or other memory or disc storage unit), while in other examples, the data storage <NUM> can be implemented using two or more physical devices.

The data storage <NUM> thus is a non-transitory computer readable storage medium, and executable instructions <NUM> are stored thereon. The instructions <NUM> include computer executable code. When the instructions <NUM> are executed by the processor(s) <NUM>, the processor(s) <NUM> are caused to perform functions. Such functions include receiving signals from the sensors <NUM> or controllable devices and determining whether a location of an actor <NUM> is associated with one or more safety events stored as part of the compilation of historical information and responsively determining a risk level of the actor based on whether the one or more associated safety events occurred within a predetermined range of time from the time associated with the triggering event.

The processor(s) <NUM> may be a general-purpose processor or a special purpose processor (e.g., digital signal processors, application specific integrated circuits, etc.). The processor(s) <NUM> may receive inputs from the communication interface <NUM>, and process the inputs to generate outputs that are stored in the data storage <NUM> and output to the display <NUM>. The processor(s) <NUM> can be configured to execute the executable instructions <NUM> (e.g., computer-readable program instructions) that are stored in the data storage <NUM> and are executable to provide the functionality of the computing device <NUM> described herein.

The output interface <NUM> outputs information to the display <NUM> or to other components as well. Thus, the output interface <NUM> may be similar to the communication interface <NUM> and can be a wireless interface (e.g., transmitter) or a wired interface as well. The output interface <NUM> may send commands to one or more controllable devices, for example.

The computing device <NUM> shown in <FIG> may also be representative of the computing devices 148a-c, for example.

<FIG> shows a flowchart of an example method <NUM> for increasing situational awareness for an actor <NUM>, according to an example implementation. Method <NUM> shown in <FIG> presents an example of a method that could be used with the situational-awareness controller of <FIG>, for example. Further, devices or systems may be used or configured to perform logical functions presented in <FIG>. In some instances, components of the devices and/or systems may be configured to perform the functions such that the components are configured and structured with hardware and/or software to enable such performance. Components of the devices and/or systems may be arranged to be adapted to, capable of, or suited for performing the functions, such as when operated in a specific manner. Method <NUM> may include one or more operations, functions, or actions as illustrated by one or more of blocks <NUM>-<NUM>. Although the blocks are illustrated in a sequential order, some of these blocks may also be performed in parallel, and/or in a different order than those described herein. Also, the various blocks may be combined into fewer blocks, divided into additional blocks, and/or removed based upon the desired implementation.

It should be understood that for this and other processes and methods disclosed herein, flowcharts show functionality and operation of one possible implementation of the present examples. In this regard, each block may represent a module, a segment, or a portion of program code, which includes one or more instructions executable by a processor for implementing specific logical functions or steps in the process. The program code may be stored on any type of computer readable medium or data storage, for example, such as a storage device including a disk or hard drive. Further, the program code can be encoded on a computer-readable storage media in a machine-readable format, or on other non-transitory media or articles of manufacture. The computer readable medium may include non-transitory computer readable medium or memory, for example, such as computer-readable media that stores data for short periods of time such as register memory, processor cache and Random Access Memory (RAM). The computer readable medium may also include non-transitory media, such as secondary or persistent long term storage, like read only memory (ROM), optical or magnetic disks, compact-disc read only memory (CD-ROM), for example. The computer readable media may also be any other volatile or non-volatile storage systems. The computer readable medium may be considered a tangible computer readable storage medium, for example.

In addition, each block in <FIG>, and within other processes and methods disclosed herein, may represent circuitry that is wired to perform the specific logical functions in the process. Alternative implementations are included within the scope of the examples of the present disclosure in which functions may be executed out of order from that shown or discussed, including substantially concurrent or in reverse order, depending on the functionality involved, as would be understood by those reasonably skilled in the art.

Referring now to <FIG>, a method <NUM> is illustrated using the system of <FIG>. Method <NUM> includes, at block <NUM>, in response to a computing device <NUM> receiving a notification of a triggering event generated by at least one sensor <NUM>, the computing device <NUM> accessing information. The information includes an identification of an actor <NUM> associated with the triggering event, a location of the actor <NUM>, and an associated date and a time of the triggering event. Example triggering events may include, but are not limited to, detection of the presence of an actor <NUM> by a proximity sensor <NUM>, proximity sensor device <NUM>, GPS receiver <NUM> or RFID interrogator <NUM> or determination by an IMU system <NUM> associated with an actor <NUM> that a predetermined action count has been met. Then, at block <NUM>, the computing device <NUM> correlates the information to a compilation of historical information from a plurality of actors by (i) determining whether the location of the actor <NUM> is associated with one or more safety events stored as part of the compilation of historical information and (ii) in response to determining that the location of the actor <NUM> is associated with one or more safety events, determining a risk level of the actor based on whether the one or more associated safety events occurred within a predetermined range of time from the time associated with the triggering event. And, at block <NUM>, the computing device <NUM> generates a command based on a result of the correlating and sends the command to at least one controllable device.

One example scenario in environment <NUM> is provided in <FIG> showing human actor 122Hh approaching fixed sensor 124a (e.g., RFID interrogator <NUM> or proximity sensor <NUM>) arranged in the longitudinal corridor between area <NUM> and area <NUM>. A triggering event occurs once sensor 124a detects human actor 122Hh, and a notification is generated by sensor 124a and sent to the computing device <NUM> (i.e., situational-awareness controller). In response, the computing device <NUM> accesses information associated with the human actor 122Hh, as described above, including the location of the human actor 122Hh and the date and time of the triggering event. The computing device <NUM> correlates this information to a compilation of historical information from a plurality of actors and in this example scenario may determine that the location of the human actor 122Hh is associated with multiple safety events in the form of increased human actor traffic in the lateral cross-corridor between areas <NUM> and <NUM> that occurs, for example, within a range of <NUM> minutes to <NUM> minutes from the time of the triggering event on the same day of the week. The computing device <NUM> may determine that the risk level of the human actor 122Hh based on this information corresponds to a medium-risk scenario having a risk level of <NUM>-<NUM>. Based on a risk level of <NUM>-<NUM>, the computing device <NUM> may generate and send a command to the communication device <NUM> configured to cause the communication device <NUM> to activate an alert indicator and issue visual and tactile alerts. In an alternative example, the multiple safety events from the compilation of historical information are determined to have occurred within <NUM> minutes to <NUM> minutes of the triggering event and the computing device <NUM> may determine the risk level of the human actor 122Hh based on this information corresponds to a low-risk scenario having a risk level of <NUM>-<NUM>, for example. Based on a risk level of <NUM>-<NUM>, the computing device <NUM> may generate and send a command to the communication device <NUM> configured to cause the communication device <NUM> to activate an alert indicator and issue a visual alert. In addition, the command sent by the computing device <NUM> may also be configured to cause the communication device <NUM> to communicate a reason for the alert to the actor 122Hh.

As an alternative, or in addition to the foregoing, the multiple safety events from the compilation of historical information are determined to have occurred within <NUM> seconds to <NUM> minute of the triggering event and the computing device <NUM> may determine the risk level of the human actor 122Hh based on this information corresponds to a high-risk scenario having a risk level of <NUM>-<NUM>. Based on a risk level of <NUM>-<NUM>, the computing device <NUM> may generate and send a command to the communication device <NUM> configured to cause the communication device <NUM> to activate an alert indicator and issue visual, auditory and tactile alerts. The computing device <NUM> may also generate and send a second command configured to cause all communication devices <NUM> and response devices <NUM> in environment <NUM> to activate an alert indicator 136b, 136c and display a visual message regarding a location of increased traffic within the environment <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, at block <NUM>, method <NUM> includes the computing device <NUM> determining the risk level of the actor <NUM> further based on a previously-assigned risk level for each of the one or more associated safety events. The previously-assigned risk level for the associated safety events may be based on safety information that includes (i) the type of contact between actors <NUM> and the type of injury or damage resulting therefrom, (ii) the type of non-contact exposure of an actor <NUM> to environmental elements affecting safety such as light, lasers, sound, temperature, atmospheric pressure changes, wind, radiation, chemicals, gases (e.g., high levels of CO or CO<NUM> or low levels of O<NUM>), dust, pollen, mold, low or high humidity levels or biohazards and the type of injury or damage resulting therefrom, (iii) the amount of time an actor <NUM> has been exposed to an environmental element, (iv) near-misses between actors <NUM> (e.g., certain types of actors <NUM> were within a threshold distance of each other such that injury or damage to one or both actors <NUM> was imminent, for example) and (v) confirmation of and type of stress-related injuries to an actor <NUM> and the associated activities and action counts resulting in the fatigue and stress-related injuries.

As shown in <FIG>, optionally method <NUM> includes, at block <NUM>, in response to determining the risk level of the actor, the computing device <NUM> determines whether the risk level of the actor <NUM> exceeds an alert threshold. In one optional example, the risk level of the actor <NUM> ranges from <NUM>-<NUM>, and the alert threshold corresponds to a risk level of <NUM>. At block <NUM>, after determining that the risk level of the actor <NUM> exceeds the alert threshold, the computing device <NUM> determines whether the risk level of the actor exceeds an actuator threshold. In an optional example, the risk level of the actor <NUM> ranges from <NUM>-<NUM>, and the actuator threshold corresponds to a risk level of <NUM>. And, at block <NUM>, in response to a determination that the risk level of the actor does not exceed an actuator threshold, the computing device <NUM> determines that the command comprises a command to activate an alert indicator of a communication device <NUM> configured to be carried, worn or associated with the actor <NUM>. Next, at block <NUM>, in response to a determination that the risk level of the actor <NUM> exceeds an actuator threshold, the computing device determines that the command comprises a command (i) to activate the alert indicator of the communication device configured to be carried, worn or associated with the actor and (ii) to activate an alert indicator and an actuator of a response device in communication with an operator-controlled device.

Correlating the information to a compilation of historical information from a plurality of actors includes determining that a predetermined number of safety events associated with the location of the actor <NUM> have occurred within the predetermined range of time from the time of the triggering event over a predetermined number of days. In one optional example, the predetermined number of safety events may range from <NUM> to <NUM> events, the predetermined range of time from the time of the triggering event may range from <NUM> seconds to <NUM> minutes and the predetermined number of days may range from <NUM> days to <NUM> days. Then, in response, a previously-assigned risk level is increased in the compilation of historical information for each of the one or more associated safety events. This is an example of the computing device <NUM> identifying trends within the compilation of historical information and correlating risk levels in real time or on a periodic basis.

Optionally, as shown in <FIG>, at block <NUM>, method <NUM> includes the computing device <NUM> determining the risk level of the actor <NUM> further based on one or more of a type of the one or more associated safety events, a type of the actor <NUM> associated with the triggering event and a type of activity the actor <NUM> associated with the triggering event is engaged in. Types of safety events may include, but are not limited to, increased actor traffic, human actor-human actor contact, human actor-object actor contact, human actor-robot actor contact, object actor-robot actor contact, robot actor-robot actor contact, object actor-object actor contact, a near-miss between actors, transport of chemical or biohazardous materials, etc. The types of actors <NUM> include human actors <NUM>, object actors <NUM> and robot actors 122R.

In response to determining the risk level of the actor, the computing device determines that the command comprises a command to display the risk level of the actor <NUM> on an alert indicator 136a-c. Display of the risk level to the actor <NUM> increases situational-awareness within environment <NUM>.

Correlating the information to a compilation of historical information from a plurality of actors includes, in response to receiving the notification of the triggering event generated by the at least one sensor <NUM>, accessing information to identify any other actors <NUM> within a predetermined distance of the location of the actor <NUM> associated with the triggering event. Then, in response to identifying at least one other actor <NUM> within the predetermined distance of the location of the actor <NUM> associated with the triggering event, the computing device <NUM> sending the command to a controllable device corresponding to the actor <NUM> associated with the triggering event and to a controllable device corresponding to the at least one other actor <NUM> within the predetermined distance of the location of the actor <NUM> associated with the triggering event. The technical effect of this operation is to increase situational awareness for actors at or near a location who may not have been detected by a sensor <NUM> but who may be near a medium- or high-risk activity, for example.

Optionally, correlating the information to a compilation of historical information from a plurality of actors includes, in response to receiving the notification of the triggering event generated by the at least one sensor, accessing information that includes an identification of the at least one sensor and a location of the at least one sensor. Then, the computing device <NUM> determines whether a distance between the location of the at least one sensor <NUM> and the location of the actor <NUM> is less than a high-risk threshold distance H. In one example, the high-risk threshold distance H corresponds to a distance from a sensor to be maintained in order to avoid contact between actors <NUM> in the environment <NUM>. Next, in response to determining the distance between the location of the at least one sensor <NUM> and the location of the actor <NUM> is less than the high-risk threshold distance H, the information associated with the triggering event is assigned as a safety event in the compilation of historical information.

Optionally, correlating the information to a compilation of historical information from a plurality of actors includes, in response to the computing device receiving the notification of the triggering event generated by the at least one sensor, the computing device <NUM> accesses information that includes an action count of an activity for the actor <NUM> associated with the triggering event. As discussed above, such an action count can be measured and tracked by an accelerometer or IMU system <NUM>. Then, the computing device <NUM> determines whether the action count of the activity for the actor associated with the triggering event exceeds a quantity associated with a high-risk threshold. In one example, the quantity associate with the high-risk threshold corresponds to an action count within <NUM> to <NUM> actions, for example, of an action count at which stress-related injuries have occurred for the same activity for other actors <NUM>. Then, in response to determining the action count of the activity for the actor associated with the triggering event exceeds the quantity associated the high-risk threshold, the information associated with the triggering event is assigned as a safety event in the compilation of historical information.

Optionally, as shown in <FIG>, method <NUM> includes, at block <NUM>, the computing device <NUM> determines the risk level of the actor further based on an action count of an activity for the actor <NUM> associated with the triggering event. To make this determination, in one example, the computing device may determine whether the action count has exceeded one or more of the quantities associated with a low-risk threshold, medium-risk threshold and high-risk threshold.

Optionally, as shown in <FIG>, at block <NUM>, method <NUM> includes configuring the command to cause the controllable device to activate an alert indicator 136b. In this example, the controllable device is a communication device <NUM> including the alert indicator 136b and configured to be carried, worn or associated with the actor <NUM>. In a further optional example shown in <FIG>, method <NUM> includes at block <NUM> the communication device <NUM> receives the command from the computing device and, at block <NUM>, in response to receiving the command, activates the alert indicator 136b of the communication device <NUM>. In one example, the communication device <NUM> activating the alert indicator 136b includes the alert indicator 136b issuing a visual, an auditory, or a tactile alert.

Optionally, as shown in <FIG>, at block <NUM>, configuring the command to cause the controllable device to activate an actuator <NUM> to cause an automated system <NUM> to either cease operation or to operate in a safe-mode, where the controllable device is a response device <NUM> in communication with the automated system, and the response device <NUM> comprises the actuator <NUM>.

Further, as optionally shown in <FIG>, at block <NUM>, configuring the command to cause the controllable device to activate at least one of the alert indicator 136b-c and the actuator <NUM>. The controllable device is a response device <NUM> in communication with an operator-controlled device <NUM>. The response device <NUM> includes the alert indicator 136b-c and the actuator <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A method, comprising:
in response to receiving, by a computing device (<NUM>), a notification of a triggering event generated by at least one sensor (<NUM>), accessing (<NUM>) information comprising an identification of an actor (<NUM>) associated with the triggering event, a location of the actor (<NUM>), and an associated date and a time of the triggering event;
correlating (<NUM>), via the computing device, the information to a compilation of historical information from a plurality of actors by (i) determining whether the location of the actor is associated with one or more safety events stored as part of the compilation of historical information and (ii) in response to determining that the location of the actor is associated with one or more safety events, determining a risk level of the actor based on whether the one or more associated safety events occurred within a predetermined range of time from the time associated with the triggering event, wherein correlating the information to the compilation of historical information from the plurality of actors (<NUM>) further comprises:
determining that a predetermined number of safety events associated with the location of the actor have occurred within the predetermined range of time from the time of the triggering event over a predetermined number of days, and
in response to determining that a predetermined number of safety events associated with the location of the actor have occurred within the predetermined range of time from the time of the triggering event over a predetermined number of days, increasing a previously-assigned risk level for each of the one or more associated safety events; and
determining (<NUM>) the risk level of the actor further based on the previously-assigned risk level for each of the one or more associated safety events; and
generating (<NUM>), via the computing device (<NUM>), a command, based on a result of the correlating, and sending the command to at least one controllable device.