US 2026/0287737 A1Published application

Method and system for managing by radar secure access to a hazardous environment with restricted access

AssigneeInxpect S.p.A.

InventorAlban MUZAKA

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

In a method for managing secure access to a hazardous environment with restricted access, a radar system detects moving targets in three regions in sequence in a corridor that connects the hazardous environment and an external environment. Starting from the detection of a self-driven load transport vehicle in the first region, in a start phase, an alarm signal for the hazardous environment, which can deactivate a hazardous device, is triggered in case of moving targets in the third region, but not in the first and second regions. When the vehicle is entirely in the second region, the vehicle is requested to stop, and the absence of humans in the corridor is verified. In an arrival phase, the vehicle is authorized to cross the third region without triggering the alarm signal.

Claims11

Dependent claims

Method for managing secure access to a hazardous environment with restricted access, comprising:

arranging a corridor having two access areas that communicate with the hazardous environment and with an external environment,
providing a radar system configured to detect moving targets in three distinct detection regions in the corridor, including a first region and a third region which are located respectively in the two access areas, and a second region between the first and third regions,
monitoring, by a processing system, the occurrence of trigger conditions of an alarm signal for the hazardous environment depending on the detection of targets by the radar system in the first, second and third regions, so that:
starting from the detection of a self-driven load transport vehicle moving in the first region, in a start phase and in a verification phase, after the start phase, the detection of a moving target in the third region determines the triggering of the alarm signal,
in the start phase, the detection of moving targets in the first and second regions does not trigger the alarm signal, until a predetermined intermediate condition is reached in which the vehicle is entirely in the second region,
in the verification phase, starting from the intermediate condition, the vehicle is requested to stop, and while the vehicle is stopped, it is verified whether a predetermined safety condition is met, identified by a combination of target detections in the first, second and third regions indicative of the absence of humans in the corridor,
in an arrival phase, starting from the safety condition, an authorization to cross the third region is communicated and the detection of moving targets in the second and third regions does not trigger the alarm signal.

4 more elements

Control system for managing secure access to a hazardous environment with limited access, comprising:

a radar system, configured to detect moving targets in three distinct detection regions in an access corridor to a hazardous environment, including a first region sized to be an access area of the corridor, a third region sized to be located in another access area of the corridor, and a second region between the first and third regions,
wherein the radar system is further configured to generate a status signal indicating the presence and absence of moving targets detected in each of the first, second, and third regions,
a processing system, having a communication system for receiving the status signal from the radar system, for communicating with a self-driven load transport vehicle, and for communicating with a control unit of at least one automated hazardous device in the hazardous environment,
wherein the processing system is configured to verify if trigger conditions occur for triggering an alarm signal for the hazardous environment, based on pre-determined communications with the vehicle and on target detection in the first, second and third regions, and if positive to send the alarm signal to the control unit of the hazardous device, such that:
starting from the detection of the moving vehicle in the first region, a start phase is initiated,
in the start phase, and in a verification phase following the start phase, the detection of a moving target in the third region triggers the alarm signal,
in the start phase, the status signal is monitored until a predetermined intermediate condition is reached, wherein the status signal is compatible with the presence of the vehicle entirely in the second region,
in the verification phase, starting from the intermediate condition, a stop request is sent to the vehicle, and it is verified whether a predetermined safety condition is met, identified by a condition of the status signal indicative of the absence of humans in the corridor,
in an arrival phase, after the verification phase, starting from the safety condition, an authorization to cross the third region is sent and the detection of moving targets in the second and third region does not trigger the alarm signal.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 19/568,253Filed 16 Mar 2026
Priority: IT 10202500000549318 Mar 2025
Published: 24 Sep 2026
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification14 codes

G01S 13/04
Systems using reflection of radio waves, e.g. primary radar systems; Analogous systems: systems determining presence of a target
G01S 13/91
Radar or analogous systems specially adapted for specific applications: for traffic control
F16P 3/141
The means being photocells or other devices sensitive without mechanical contact: using sound propagation, e.g. sonar
F16P 3/142
The means being photocells or other devices sensitive without mechanical contact: using image capturing devices