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EP-4739547-A2 - DEVICE FOR DETECTING AND EVALUATING THE BEHAVIOR OF A VEHICLE WHILE IT IS UNDER OPERATION, PARTICULARLY IN THE CONTEXT OF SPORTS COMPETITIONS

EP4739547A2EP 4739547 A2EP4739547 A2EP 4739547A2EP-4739547-A2

Abstract

A device for detecting the thrust imparted with the front end by a kart, comprising a pressure sensor means (2) arranged in contact with the nose of the kart, and connected to a control unit (1) positioned on the frame, said control unit being provided with a central processing unit (101) and transmission means (301), being stored in the central processing unit the associated kart and the threshold values of the pressure data detectable by the sensor means, and being activated, when the said threshold values are exceeded, the transmission of the data towards the race direction.

Inventors

  • ZIPOLI, Marco

Assignees

  • Zipoli, Marco

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20240702

Claims (14)

  1. 1 . Device for detecting the thrust imparted with the front end by a kart , comprising a pressure sensor means (2 ) arranged in contact with the nose of the kart , and connected to a control unit ( 1 ) positioned on the frame , said control unit being provided with a central processing unit ( 101 ) and transmission means (301 ) , being stored in the central processing unit the associated kart and the threshold values of the pressure data detectable by the sensor means , and being activated, when the said threshold values are exceeded, the transmission of the data towards the race direction .
  2. 2 . Device according to claim 1 , in which said pressure sensors are compression load cells .
  3. 3. Device according to claim 1 or 2 , in which the transmission of the sensed data takes place of using a communication protocol such as Lo . Ra . or similar protocols , with an appropriate level of security in the protocol .
  4. 4 . Device according to claim 3 , in which the transmission of the detected compression data that exceeds the stored values is carried out several times during the lap , by multiple cycles at a rate ranging from 5 to 30 seconds .
  5. 5 . Device according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 4 , in which the control unit further comprises an accelerometer (211 ) .
  6. 6. Device according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 4 , in which the control unit further comprises an inertial platform (201 ) , in turn comprising at least one accelerometer (211 ) , at least one gyroscope (221 ) , and at least one magnetometer (231 ) , in association with a GPS (401 ) .
  7. 7 . Device according to claim 6 , wherein the control unit (1 ) is connected to at least one image sensing apparatus (3) , being provided for storing the sensed images in an appropriate register ( 171) of memory of the CPU ( 101 ) of the control unit ( 1 ) , and being provided for sending the recorded images to the race direction when an anomaly in the sensed data is detected by the inertial platform (201 ) .
  8. 8 . Device according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 7 , in which an RFID , NFC or similar technology is provided for the recognition and assignment of the kart on which it is placed .
  9. 9. Device according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 8 , in which the CPU logic makes a number , between 4 and 20 , of queries to the compression sensor in a relatively short period of time , between 2 and 10 seconds , detecting both the number of pushes and the intensity of the single push .
  10. 10 . Device according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 9 , in which the data transmitted to the race direction includes all the information necessary for the evaluation of a penalty to be imposed, either fully automatically or through human supervision .
  11. 11 . Apparatus for detecting the behavior of a vehicle while it is operated, particularly in the context of sports competitions , said apparatus comprising : a control unit ( 1 ) located on the chassis of the vehicle and provided with a central processing unit ( 101 ) ; an inertial platform (201 ) for detecting the movements of the vehicle , said inertial platform comprising at least one accelerometer (211 ) , at least one gyroscope (221 ) and at least one magnetometer (231 ) ; a GPS device (401 ) and means of transmission (301) of the detected data ; means of image detection (3) connected to said control unit .
  12. 12 . Apparatus according to claim 11 , in which there is provision for storing the detected images in an appropriate register ( 171 ) of memory of the CPU ( 101 ) of the control unit ( 1 ) , and there is provision for sending the recorded images to the race management when an anomaly in the detected data is detected by the inertial platform (201 ) , which may consist of a bump along the perimeter of the vehicle or exceeding the track limits .
  13. 13. Apparatus according to claim 11 or 12 , in which an RFID , NFC or similar technology is provided for the recognition and assignment of the kart on which it is placed .
  14. 14 . System for monitoring a plurality of vehicles during a sporting competition , each of said vehicles being provided with an apparatus according to the preceding claims 11 to 13 , and each vehicle being provided with unique means of identification of the respective apparatus , said system comprising a remote server capable of communicating with the apparatuses of the vehicles participating in the competition , acquiring the data collected by said apparatuses , and processing said data in accordance with any penalties to be imposed to the participants in the competition .

Description

TITLE OF THE INVENTION Device for detecting and evaluating the behavior of a vehicle while it is under operation , particularly in the context of sports competitions . TEXT OF THE DESCRIPTION The present invention relates to a device capable of detecting and evaluating the behavior of a vehicle while it is in operation , and more specifically relates to a device for detecting the front thrust of motor vehicles in sporting competitions ; more specifically, it relates to a device for detecting and evaluating the thrust imparted with the front end by a kart , or similar motor vehicle , during a competition . In kart racing, the international federation bans thrusts , and disciplinary sanctions , usually penalties , are imposed on drivers who make use of them. The aim of the present invention is to provide a device that can detect the thrust applied with the front of the kart and communicate it , in its intensity and time of application , to race judges . It is an object of the present invention to provide a device for detecting the thrust imparted with the front end by a kart comprising a pressure sensor means arranged in contact with the nose of the kart , and connected to a control unit positioned on the kart , said control unit being provided with a central processing unit and transmission means , being stored in the central processing unit the kart association in relation to the system and the threshold values of the pressure data detectable by the sensor means , and being activated, when the said threshold values are exceeded, the transmission of the data towards the race direction . In an embodiment said pressure sensors are compression load cells . The detected data of pressure and duration of pressure applied with the nose is compared with the reference values stored in the CPU . Transmission is preferably carried out using a communication protocol such as Lo . Ra . or similar protocols , with an appropriate level of security in the protocol ; in particular , transmission of the detected compression data that exceeds the stored values is carried out several times during the lap by multiple cycles of 5 to 30 seconds . In an executive variant , the control unit further includes an accelerometer , which allows the evaluation of the thrust component detected by the sensor that results from the possible slowing down and/or braking of the kart in front that is being pushed . In this case , when the thrust data is detected that exceeds the parameters set in the CPU, an additional check is performed with the data detected by the accelerometer , and the thrust data is sent to the race management only where that data is positive . In a further executive variant, the control unit comprises an inertial platform, i . e . , a system comprising at least one accelerometer , at least one gyroscope and at least one magnetometer arranged on the same support , functionally associated with a GPS device ; this system makes it possible to verify the actual movement of the kart regardless of changes in direction , even due to side or rear contacts or impacts . In this way, the detected pressure data is also completely resolved with respect to all external influences , i . e . , possible contacts with other vehicles or deviations from the racetrack . In another executive variant , an image detection apparatus , including at least one 360 ° camera , is associated with the control unit ; the detection is made , stored in a temporary register of the control unit CPU, and erased if no anomalies are reported from the inertial platform. In the event that anomalies have been detected from the inertial platform, such as bumps or appreciable deviations from the racetrack , the stored images are sent via the transmission means to the race management, otherwise they are overwritten . A further object of the present invention is an apparatus for detecting the behavior of a vehicle during its operation , particularly in the context of sports competitions , said apparatus comprising : a control unit located on the vehicle frame and equipped with a central processing unit ; an inertial platform for detecting the movements of the vehicle , said inertial platform comprising at least one accelerometer , at least one gyroscope and at least one magnetometer ; a GPS device and means of transmitting the detected data ; means of detecting images connected to said control unit . Another object of the invention is a system for monitoring a plurality of vehicles during a sports competition , each of said vehicles being provided with apparatus of the type described above , and each vehicle being provided with unique means of identification of the respective apparatus , said system comprising a remote server capable of communicating with the apparatuses of the vehicles participating in the competition , acquiring the data collected by said apparatuses , and processing it according to any penalties to be imposed on the participants in the competitio