Speed and landing zone management system
AssigneePrecision Approach LLC
InventorChristopher L. PEDROTTI
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system is configured for approach speed management and landing zone management. A camera and/or lidar system is used to monitor a landing zone area of a terrain park feature such as a jump in a snow sports resort. The approach speed of a user is also determined. A user in a start zone or approaching the feature is given an indication when the landing zone is not clear, and information as to whether the user's approach speed is outside of a target zone indicating risk of undershooting or overshooting the landing zone. Video may be captured and selectively transmitted to a user depending on payment or subscription status of the user.
Claims25
A system enhancing safety in a ski jump feature (112) that includes a run comprising, in a downstream sequence, a starting zone (104) for a skier (102) to start a run, a downwardly sloping zone (110) for the skier to build up speed, a ramp zone (106) from which the skier is to jump off, a flying zone over which the skier is to travel through the air, a landing zone (120) for the skier to land, and a zone (124) for the skier to end the run, and the run further comprises a side area (118) that is to a side of said flying zone, said system comprising;
- a housing (200) mounted at said side area, spaced from said run, and supporting sensors (382, 336, 390) configured to monitor said run and further housing a computer 334 operatively coupled to the sensors;
- wherein said sensors and computer are configured to:
- individually detect the skier's speed in real time at each of multiple points in the run between the start zone and the end of the ramp zone;
- track weather conditions at the run;
- and
- detect the presence or absence of obstructions in said run;
- plural displays (320, 330) positioned to be visible by the skier at least upstream of said flying zone and driven by said computer based on input from said sensors, to indicate to the skier:
- the presence or absence of dangerous conditions at the run (FIG. 5A:
- 320, 320′);
- in real time and at each of plural points in the run:
- whether the skier's speed is within a selected range (330);
- if the skier's speed is outside the selected range:
- whether the speed is too fast or too slow relative to the selected range (FIG. 5B:
- 320, 320′);
- and
- whether the departure of the skier's speed from the selected range exceeds a threshold (FIG. 5B:
- 330);
- and
- a wireless communication facility (160, 164) configured to transmit, to a wireless personal device carried by the skier, at least some of the indications at said plural displays.
A speed and landing zone management system for a facility that includes a run comprising a ramp (106) over which a person (102) speeds and a terminal portion (114) that is at the end of the ramp and from which the person jumps toward a landing zone (120), the system comprising:
- a supporting member (210) extending up from a base (220) supported at a site (118) that is spaced laterally from the terminal portion of the ramp to be outside the run, thereby reducing risks of the person colliding therewith;
- a housing (200) supported by said supporting member;
- sensors (382, 336, 170) at least some of which are at the housing and are configured to detect motion of the person on said ramp and selected parameters at said run;
- a computer (334) operatively coupled with the sensors and configured to respond to inputs from the sensors to:
- individually estimate, based on inputs from the sensors, the speed of the person on the ramp;
- and
- determine the presence or absence of obstructions in the run;
- at least one display operatively connected to the computer and configured to concurrently display to the person on the ramp each of:
- real time indications, based on the estimates of the person's speed and whether the person's speed conforms to a selected speed range;
- and
- real time indication of the presence or absence of obstructions in the run.
A method of enhancing safety at a jump feature at which a person travels over a run that includes a ramp (106) and a landing zone (120), said method comprising:
- individually estimating the person's real time speed at each of multiple points over the ramp by computer processing outputs of sensors that are mounted at a location (118) that is laterally offset from the run, extends higher than a lip (114) at the end of the ramp, and are supported at a base (116) that is vertically spaced from the lip;
- monitoring the landing zone for obstructions in real time;
- concurrently displaying, at one or more locations visible to a person traveling toward the lip:
- indications of the presence of absence of obstructions in the landing zone based on said real time monitoring of the landing zone;
- and
- indications whether the person's speed over the ramp conforms to a selected speed range based on said estimates of the person's real time speed at each of said multiple points over the ramp.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.