Method for observation of a person in an industrial environment

US8154590B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Pilz GmbH & Co. KG · DE

Inventors

• Ulrich Kressel · Ulm, DE
• Lars Krueger · Ulm, DE
• Werner Progscha · Herrenberg, DE
• Christian Woehler · Darmstadt, DE
• Franz Kummert · Bielefeld, DE
• Joachim Schmidt · Schlangen, DE
• Rainer Ott · Volkesfeld, DE
• Gerhard Sagerer · Bielefeld, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jan 30, 2009
• Grant date: Apr 10, 2012
• Expiry date: Nov 26, 2030

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G05B2219/40202
• WIPO field: Computer technology
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

A method for observing a person in an industrial environment using a multicamera system to acquire image data about the position and alignment of a person, including a person's body parts. These image data are then examined with regard to the imaging of a person so that whenever a person has been detected in the image data, an articulated virtual 3D model of the human body is matched to this person hypothesis. Subsequently, this virtual body model is continuously matched to the movement behavior of the person detected in the image data. A hazard potential is determined using knowledge of the position and the movement behavior of the virtual body model in space. The hazard potential thus determined is subjected to a threshold value comparison in order to act upon the movement control of the machine or the machine part in the event of this threshold value being exceeded.