JP7518004B2 - Passenger conveyor, program, and passenger guidance system - Google Patents

Description

The present invention generally relates to guiding the riding posture of passengers when they board a passenger conveyor.

Passenger conveyors such as escalators and moving walkways are used in facilities such as shopping centers and public transportation. Passenger conveyors are equipped with systems to prevent accidents such as tripping, getting pinched, and falling.

In this regard, a passenger conveyor has been disclosed that uses a sensor to detect when a gap between adjacent steps emerges from a comb plate, and in response to the detection signal, causes a lamp attached to the skirt guard at the boarding/alighting entrance to flash (see Patent Document 1).

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 7-157259

The technology described in Patent Document 1 allows passengers on the passenger conveyor to board smoothly, improving safety when boarding. However, with the technology described in Patent Document 1, the boarding timing display is uniform for all passengers, and passengers at high risk of falling may not be able to board in an appropriate manner just by displaying the boarding timing.

The present invention was made in consideration of the above points, and aims to propose a passenger conveyor etc. that can guide passengers at high risk of falling into a riding position.

In order to solve this problem, the present invention provides a detector that detects passengers approaching the boarding entrance of the passenger conveyor, a display that displays guidance to guide the passenger to a specified riding position, a calculation unit that uses detection information detected by the detector to calculate a fall risk to determine whether the passenger will fall when boarding the passenger conveyor, and a control unit that controls the display to display the guidance based on the fall risk calculated by the calculation unit.

In the above configuration, for example, guidance can be displayed to passengers who are likely to fall when boarding the passenger conveyor, and the passengers can visually understand their riding position through the guidance display, thereby reducing the number of incidents of passengers falling when boarding.

The present invention makes it possible to realize a highly safe passenger conveyor.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a passenger conveyor according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a passenger conveyor according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a passenger conveyor according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a step drive mechanism according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration related to functions of a processing unit according to the first embodiment; FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a hardware configuration of a processing unit according to the first embodiment; FIG. 4 illustrates an example of a process executed by a processing unit according to the first embodiment; FIG. 4 illustrates an example of a process executed by a processing unit according to the first embodiment; FIG. 4 illustrates an example of a process executed by a processing unit according to the first embodiment; FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a display mode according to the first embodiment; FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of an image according to the first embodiment;

(I) First Embodiment Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment.

The passenger conveyor according to this embodiment includes a passenger guidance system. The passenger guidance system, for example, determines whether a passenger on the passenger conveyor is a target to be guided (hereinafter referred to as a "guidance target") before boarding, and presents (guides) a posture for the passenger to board in the correct posture (hereinafter referred to as a "riding posture"). As one embodiment, this passenger guidance system includes a detector for acquiring the state of a passenger approaching the boarding entrance, a calculation unit for calculating a fall risk based on a detection signal (detection information) detected by the detector to determine whether the passenger will fall when boarding the passenger conveyor, a display for displaying information to guide the passenger to a predetermined riding posture (hereinafter referred to as a "guidance display"), and a control unit for controlling the guidance display by the display based on the calculation result of the calculation unit.

With the above configuration, for example, passengers who are at high risk of falling while riding on a passenger conveyor can be guided to a safe riding position.

The following describes an embodiment of the present invention with reference to the drawings. In all drawings used to explain the embodiment, parts having the same functions are given the same reference numerals, and repeated explanations are omitted as much as possible. Furthermore, the present invention should not be interpreted as being limited to the description of the embodiment shown below. It will be easily understood by those skilled in the art that the specific configuration can be changed without departing from the concept or spirit of the present invention.

The position, size, shape, range, etc. of each component shown in the drawings, etc. may not represent the actual position, size, shape, range, etc., in order to facilitate understanding of the invention. Therefore, the present invention is not necessarily limited to the position, size, shape, range, etc. disclosed in the drawings, etc.

The publications and patent documents cited in this specification are incorporated herein as part of the description of this specification.

In this specification, elements expressed in the singular include the plural unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

The designations "first," "second," "third," and the like in this specification are used to identify components and do not necessarily limit the number or order. Furthermore, numbers for identifying components are used in different contexts, and a number used in one context does not necessarily indicate the same configuration in another context. Furthermore, this does not prevent a component identified by a certain number from also serving the function of a component identified by another number.

In the following description, when describing elements of the same type without distinction, the common portion (part excluding the branch number) of the reference sign including the branch number is used, and when describing elements of the same type with distinction, the reference sign including the branch number may be used. For example, when describing a display without distinction, it may be written as "display 180", and when describing individual displays with distinction, it may be written as "display 180-1", "display 180-2", etc.

Figures 1 to 3 are diagrams showing an example of a passenger conveyor 100 according to this embodiment. The passenger conveyor 100 may be configured with multiple steps connected in a stepped manner, like an escalator, or may be configured as a horizontal type where the tread surface is not stepped, like a moving walkway. The following explanation will be given using an escalator as a representative example.

The passenger conveyor 100 is installed between the upper and lower floors of a building (not shown). Figures 1 to 3 show the external configuration near the boarding and alighting entrance on the lower floor.

As shown in FIG. 1, the passenger conveyor 100 has a plurality of steps 110. The steps 110 move from the lower floor to the upper floor, or from the upper floor to the lower floor. The passenger conveyor 100 also has a balustrade panel 120, a handrail 130 located around the balustrade panel 120, and a skirt guard 140 on both the left and right sides of the moving direction of the steps 110 (only one side is shown in FIG. 1). The lower parts of the balustrade panel 120 and the handrail 130 are covered by the skirt guard 140. The skirt guard 140 ensures that the drive mechanism of the steps 110 and the structure such as the frame in which the drive mechanism is incorporated are not exposed to the outside between the upper floor and the lower floor, ensuring safety. The handrail 130 moves in the same direction as the moving direction of the steps 110 in synchronization with the movement of the steps 110.

In the following, the structure provided on the side of the passenger conveyor 100 and consisting of the balustrade panel 120, handrail 130, and skirt guard 140 to prevent passengers from falling off the passenger conveyor 100 or getting off midway is referred to as the "balustrade section."

The passenger conveyor 100 also includes a boarding and alighting plate 150 and a comb plate 160. The boarding and alighting plate 150 and the comb plate 160 are installed at the boarding and alighting entrance from inside the building toward the steps 110. The boarding and alighting plate 150 is a cover for the machine room located within the floor surface, and also serves as a passageway for passengers. The comb plate 160 is an entrance and exit for the steps 110 to enter and exit the machine room, and is equipped with comb teeth that mesh with the uneven parts (cleats and grooves) on the surface of the steps 110. Such a comb plate 160 prevents passengers' footwear from getting caught at the entrance and exit area.

The space above the boarding and alighting board 150 and between the balustrade panels 120 located on both the left and right sides of the steps 110 is referred to as the "boarding and alighting entrance." Also, at the boarding and alighting entrance, the space where passengers walk just before boarding the steps 110 is referred to as the "boarding entrance," and the space where passengers walk just after disembarking from the steps 110 is referred to as the "disembarking entrance."

The configuration shown in Figure 1 is the same on the opposite side of Figure 1, and is also the same at the boarding and alighting entrance on the upper floor, not shown. This is also true for Figures 2 and 3.

The passenger conveyor 100 also includes a detector 170 that acquires the status of passengers approaching the boarding entrance. The detector 170 is installed so as not to interfere with the passenger's walking path. The detector 170 is installed on the side of the path of travel at the boarding entrance, in a space on the same plane as the balustrade (referred to as the "side of the boarding entrance"). For example, as shown in FIG. 1, the detector 170 is installed near the entrance of the handrail 130. Note that part or all of the detector 170 may be installed inside the balustrade or inside the boarding and alighting board 150. The detector 170 may also be installed on the side of a building (not shown).

As the detector 170, a sensor that performs non-contact sensing using light, radio waves, or sound, such as an infrared distance sensor, ultrasonic sensor, millimeter wave sensor, distance image camera, visible light camera, etc., is used. In addition, the detector 170 may be a pressure distribution sensor that has a pressure distribution sensor inside the boarding/alighting board 150 and determines the state of the passenger based on the pressure distribution. As described below, if skeletal information can be calculated (estimated), the risk of falling can be calculated with higher accuracy. Therefore, as the detector 170, a distance image camera or visible light camera that can calculate skeletal information is preferably used, and a distance image camera that can also measure the distance to an object (e.g., a passenger) is preferably used.

The passenger conveyor 100 also includes one or more displays 180. The display 180-1 indicates the stepping position on the board 150. The stepping position on the board 150 is an indication to assist passengers walking on the board 150, and is displayed in accordance with the passenger's walking. In the following, the display 180-1 will be described using the crossing position 101 (Figure 1) of the board 150 as an example of the stepping position on the board 150. The display 180-2 indicates the stepping position 201 (Figure 2) on the step 110. The display 180-3 indicates the gripping position 301 (Figure 3) of the handrail 130.

The display 180-1 is a projector, LED, etc., and projects, for example, a mark indicating the crossing position 101 onto the boarding and alighting board 150. Note that a portion of the crossing position 101 may also be projected onto the comb board 160. The display 180-1, like the detector 170, is installed on the side of the boarding entrance, inside the balustrade, etc. In FIG. 1, as an example, the display 180-1 is installed inside the balustrade (skirt guard 140).

The display 180-2 is a projector, LED, or the like, and projects, for example, a mark indicating the step position 201 onto the step 110. Like the detector 170, the display 180-2 is installed on the side of the boarding entrance, inside the balustrade, or the like. In FIG. 1, as an example, the display 180-2 is installed inside the balustrade (for example, the skirt guard 140).

The displays 180-1 and 180-2 may be installed on the building side (ceiling, etc.). The displays 180-1 and 180-2 are not limited to image projection, and may be a system in which LEDs embedded in the steps 110 or boarding/alighting boards 150 are lit up. The shapes of the takeoff position 101 and the stepping position 201 may be any shape pattern, for example, a circle mark, a square mark, a foot shape, etc. The shapes of the takeoff position 101 and the stepping position 201 may be text images, etc. The takeoff position 101 and the stepping position 201 may be still images in which the same image is always displayed, or moving images may be projected by a projector, etc.

The display 180-3 is a projector, LED, transparent display, etc., and projects, for example, an arrow indicating the gripping position 301 onto the balustrade panel 120. The display on the balustrade panel 120 may be displayed in a specific location, or may move in accordance with the movement of passengers. The display 180-3 projects an image, for example, by irradiating a light guide plate provided within the balustrade panel 120. Note that the display 180-3 may use other projection methods, such as projecting a mark indicating the gripping position 301 onto the surface of the handrail of the handrail 130.

The display 180 may show one of the crossing position 101 of the boarding/alighting board 150, the stepping position 201 of the steps 110, and the gripping position 301 of the handrail 130, or a combination of multiple displays 180 may show two or more to guide passengers to a more correct riding posture. When multiple displays 180 are combined, the timing of the guidance display may be shifted, for example, to show the crossing position 101 of the boarding/alighting board 150, the stepping position 201 of the steps 110, and the gripping position 301 of the handrail 130 in that order, to guide passengers to focus on the order of foot to hand movements.

The passenger conveyor 100 also includes a processing unit 190. The processing unit 190 is a microcomputer, a computer, a notebook computer, a tablet terminal, or the like. The processing unit 190 is connected to the detector 170, the display 180, the control panel 440 (described below), and the like, via wired or wireless communication. The processing unit 190 calculates the risk of falling based on the detection information obtained by the detector 170, and controls the display content of the display 180 to guide the passenger's riding posture based on the calculated result.

The processing unit 190 may not only control the guidance displayed by the display 180, but may also simultaneously switch the operating speed of the passenger conveyor 100. For example, the processing unit 190 may determine whether or not there are passengers on the passenger conveyor 100 based on load information of an inverter attached to the passenger conveyor 100, and when it determines that there are no passengers, it may control the passenger conveyor 100 to decelerate its operating speed while displaying guidance. By decelerating the operating speed, passengers can ride more safely.

Figure 4 is a diagram showing an example of a drive mechanism for the steps 110. Note that Figure 4 shows the configuration on the upper floor side. The passenger conveyor 100 shown in Figure 4 is for the downward movement, and the steps 110 move from the upper floor to the lower floor on the passenger boarding side. As shown in Figure 4, each step 110 engages with an endless step chain (not shown). When the sprocket 410 around which the step chain is wound is rotated and driven by the drive machine 420 installed in the machine room directly below the boarding and alighting plate 150, the step chain is driven. As a result, each step 110 is guided by the guide rail 430 and driven in a circular motion between the upper floor and the lower floor.

The driving machine 420 is equipped with an AC motor such as an induction machine or a synchronous machine, and when the AC motor is driven by an inverter device stored in the control panel 440, it drives and rotates the sprocket 410. The AC motor may be either a single-phase AC motor or a three-phase AC motor.

In FIG. 4, the sprocket 410 rotates counterclockwise (see the arrow). This causes the passenger conveyor 100 to operate in the downward direction.

In order to control the timing of the guidance display by the display 180-1 and the display 180-2, it is preferable to provide a step detector that detects the position of the steps 110 of the passenger conveyor 100. In particular, when the display 180-1 or the display 180-2 displays the crossing position 101 of the boarding/alighting board 150 or the step position 201 of the steps 110, it is necessary to precisely control the display timing so that passengers do not board at the boundary between the steps 110. As an example of the step detector, a proximity sensor 450 is provided in a frame in which the steps 110 and their drive mechanism are arranged. The proximity sensor 450 outputs a detection signal when a predetermined part of the step 110 (for example, the step shaft) faces the proximity sensor 450. Note that the proximity sensor 450 can be a non-contact type sensor such as an induction current type (for example, an eddy current type), a capacitance type, or a photoelectric type.

Figure 5 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration related to the functions of the processing unit 190. The processing unit 190 includes a storage unit 510, a calculation unit 520, and a control unit 530.

The memory unit 510 stores detection information 511, skeletal information 512, one or more parameters 513, and a threshold value 514. The memory unit 510 may also store a judgment model 515. The detection information 511 is information detected by the detector 170. The skeletal information 512 is information indicating the skeleton of the passenger, and is calculated from the detection information 511 by the calculation unit 520.

The parameters 513 are information for calculating the risk of falling, and are calculated by the calculation unit 520 from the detection information 511 or the skeletal information 512. The risk of falling may be one or more parameters 513, such as the overall parameter α' described below, or may be a value quantified based on the parameters 513. Hereinafter, the parameters 513 may be referred to as αi. α1 indicates the passenger's stride. α2 indicates the passenger's walking speed. α3 indicates the passenger's walking cycle. α4 indicates the passenger's walking fluctuation. α5 indicates the passenger's waist curvature. α6 indicates the passenger's facial direction. α7 indicates the passenger's estimated age. α8 indicates the presence or absence of the passenger's possessions. α9 indicates the passenger's height. α10 indicates the passenger's stopping time. The parameters 513 are not limited to the above. The threshold value 514 is a judgment value for evaluating whether a passenger falls while riding on the passenger conveyor 100. The threshold value 514 is set corresponding to αi and may be written as αi,h.

The judgment model 515 is a judgment model for judging the guidance target using the parameters 513, which are learned by a machine learning algorithm. Here, the machine learning algorithm is a nearest neighbor method, a naive Bayes method, a decision tree, an SVM (Support Vector Machine), a neural network, or the like. The processing unit 190 may include a learning unit that learns the multiple parameters 513 by a machine learning algorithm and generates a judgment model.

The calculation unit 520 calculates parameters 513 (risk of falling) such as the stride length of the passenger based on the detection information 511 of the passenger detected by the detector 170. If the detector 170 is a distance image sensor, the calculation unit 520 calculates skeletal information 512 from the detection information 511, and calculates the parameters 513 using the skeletal information 512.

The control unit 530 compares the parameters 513 calculated by the calculation unit 520 with the threshold value 514 to determine whether or not the user is a target for guidance. The control unit 530 may also determine whether or not the user is a target for guidance using the parameters 513 and the determination model 515. The control unit 530 then controls the display content of the display 180 based on the result of the determination. In other words, the control unit 530 controls the display 180 to provide guidance based on the risk of falling.

Figure 6 is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the processing unit 190. The processing unit 190 includes a processor 601, a main memory device 602, an auxiliary memory device 603, an input device 604, an output device 605, and a communication device 606.

The processor 601 is a device that performs arithmetic processing. The processor 601 is, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), an MPU (Micro Processing Unit), a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), an AI (Artificial Intelligence) chip, etc.

The main memory device 602 is a device that stores programs, data, etc. The main memory device 602 is, for example, a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), etc. The ROM is, for example, a SRAM (Static Random Access Memory), a NVRAM (Non Volatile RAM), a Mask ROM (Mask Read Only Memory), a PROM (Programmable ROM), etc. The RAM is, for example, a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory).

The auxiliary storage device 603 is a hard disk drive, a flash memory, a solid state drive (SSD), an optical storage device, etc. The optical storage device is a compact disc (CD), a digital versatile disc (DVD), etc. The programs, data, etc. stored in the auxiliary storage device 603 are loaded into the main storage device 602 as needed.

The input device 604 is a user interface that accepts information from a user. The input device 604 is, for example, an optical drive, a card reader, a keyboard, a mouse, a touch panel, etc. Note that the processing unit 190 does not necessarily have to be equipped with the input device 604.

The output device 605 is a user interface that outputs various types of information (display output, print output, etc.). The output device 605 is, for example, a display device that visualizes various types of information, a printer, etc. The display device is an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), a graphics card, etc. Note that the processing unit 190 does not necessarily have to be equipped with the output device 605.

The communication device 606 is a communication interface that communicates with other devices via a communication medium. The communication device 606 is, for example, a network interface card (NIC), a wireless communication module, a universal serial interface (USB) module, a serial communication module, etc. The communication device 606 can also function as an input device that receives information from other devices that are communicatively connected. The communication device 606 can also function as an output device that transmits information to other devices that are communicatively connected.

The functions of the processing unit 190 (memory unit 510, calculation unit 520, control unit 530, etc.) may be realized, for example, by the processor 601 reading a program stored in the auxiliary storage unit 603 into the main storage unit 602 and executing it (software), or may be realized by hardware such as a dedicated circuit, or may be realized by a combination of software and hardware.

Note that one function of the processing unit 190 may be divided into multiple functions, or multiple functions may be combined into one function. Also, some of the functions of the processing unit 190 may be provided as a separate function, or may be included in another function. Also, some of the functions of the processing unit 190 may be realized by another computer that can communicate with the processing unit 190.

The program for controlling the processing unit 190 described above is provided through a recording medium such as a CD-ROM 610 or a data signal such as the Internet. The processing unit 190 receives the program through the CD-ROM 610. The processing unit 190 also has a function of connecting to a communication line 620. The computer 630 is a server computer that provides the above program, and stores the program in a recording medium such as a storage device 640. The communication line 620 is a communication line such as the Internet or personal computer communication, a dedicated communication line, etc. The computer 630 reads the program from the storage device 640 and transmits the program to the processing unit 190 through the communication line 620. That is, the computer 630 transmits the program as a data signal through a carrier wave via the communication line 620. In this way, the program can be supplied as a computer-readable computer program product in various forms such as a recording medium or a data signal (carrier wave).

Next, a method for calculating the risk of a passenger falling based on detection information 511 obtained by detector 170 and determining whether or not the passenger is a target for guidance will be described with reference to Figs. 7 to 11. In the following description, it is assumed that the calculation unit 520 calculates the risk of falling, and the control unit 530 determines whether or not the passenger is a target for guidance and controls the display content of the display 180.

Figure 7 shows an example of a process for controlling the display content of the display 180 based on the detection information 511. Here, as an example, a method is described in which a distance image sensor is used as the detector 170.

In step S701, the memory unit 510 acquires a distance image (an example of detection information 511) from the detector 170 and stores it in the auxiliary memory device 603.

In step S702, the calculation unit 520 calculates the parameter 513 (risk of falling) based on the distance image. The calculation unit 520 may calculate the parameter 513 without calculating the skeletal information 512, or may calculate the parameter 513 by calculating the skeletal information 512.

For example, based on the detection information 511 from the detector 170, the calculation unit 520 calculates parameters 513 (αi) such as the passenger's walking behavior (step length, walking speed, walking cycle, etc.), posture (bending of the waist, face direction, body inclination, etc.), estimated age, height, presence or absence of possessions, stopping time before boarding the passenger conveyor 100, etc.

In step S703, the control unit 530 determines whether or not the subject is a guidance target (determines whether or not there is a risk of falling). If the control unit 530 determines that the subject is a guidance target, it proceeds to step S704, and if it determines that the subject is not a guidance target, it ends the process without performing guidance display processing. More specifically, when determining whether or not the subject is a guidance target, the control unit 530 determines whether or not the subject is a guidance target based on the magnitude relationship between the parameter 513 (αi) and the threshold value 514 (αi, h), that is, whether or not the parameter 513 is equal to or greater than the threshold value 514.

In step S704, the control unit 530 performs a prompting display process. The prompting display process will be described later with reference to FIG. 8.

Figure 8 shows an example of the guidance display process.

In step S801, the control unit 530 determines the location (display location) for each display 180 to display guidance. For example, when the detector 170 detects that the passenger is leaning to the left side of the direction of travel, as in the display modes 1020 and 1030 illustrated in FIG. 10, the control unit 530 determines to display the stepping position 201 on the left side of the boarding/alighting board 150, to display the stepping position 201 on the left side of the step 110, and to display the gripping position 301 on the left handrail 130.

The display location may be determined before steps S804 and S806 described below. For example, if the detector 170 detects a movement of extending the right hand toward the handrail 130, the control unit 530 determines that the passenger is leaning to the right side, and determines that the step position 201 is to be displayed on the right side of the step 110. Also, for example, if the detector 170 detects that the passenger's gaze is directed toward the right handrail 130, the control unit 530 determines that the passenger is leaning to the right side, and determines that the grip position 301 is to be displayed on the right handrail 130. In this way, the control unit 530 determines the display location based on at least one of the passenger's approach direction, the passenger's arm movement, and the passenger's gaze, and provides guidance display appropriate to the position of each individual passenger.

In step S802, the control unit 530 displays the takeoff position 101 at the display location determined in step S801 according to the position of the step 110. Note that the relationship between the position of the step 110 and the display of the takeoff position 101 (display timing) will be described later with reference to FIG. 9.

In step S803, the control unit 530 determines whether or not the passenger is approaching the boarding point of the passenger conveyor 100 (e.g., the passenger has reached a predetermined distance from the comb plate 160). If the control unit 530 determines that the passenger is approaching the boarding point of the passenger conveyor 100, it transfers processing to step S804, and if it determines that the passenger is not approaching the boarding point of the passenger conveyor 100, it transfers processing to step S802.

In step S804, the control unit 530 displays the step position 201 at the display location determined in step S801 according to the position of the step 110. Note that the relationship between the position of the step 110 and the display of the step position 201 (display timing) will be described later with reference to FIG. 9.

In step S805, the control unit 530 determines whether or not a passenger has boarded the passenger conveyor 100. If the control unit 530 determines that a passenger has boarded the passenger conveyor 100, it moves the process to step S806. If the control unit 530 determines that a passenger has not boarded the passenger conveyor 100, it moves the process to step S804. Although not shown, the passenger conveyor 100 may be provided with a boarding detector that detects the boarding of a passenger on the passenger conveyor 100. If the boarding detector detects a passenger, the control unit 530 determines that the passenger has boarded the passenger conveyor 100. The boarding detector is a photoelectric sensor, a visible light camera, a vibration sensor, a pressure sensor, etc. The boarding detector is provided on the side of the boarding entrance, inside the balustrade, in the building, etc.

In step S806, the control unit 530 displays the grip position 301 at the display location determined in step S801.

The guidance display process is not limited to the above process. For example, step S806 may be performed before step S805. In this case, the control unit 530 may display the grip position 301 according to the position of the step 110 (for example, when a part of the step 110 emerges from the comb plate 160 just before the step 110 emerges from the comb plate 160).

Figure 9 is a diagram showing an example of a process for explaining the timing of the guidance display. This process is repeatedly executed at a predetermined interval for each of steps S802 and S804.

In step S901, the control unit 530 acquires detection information from the proximity sensor 450 (step detector).

In step S902, the control unit 530 calculates (measures) the position of the step 110 based on the detection information acquired in step S901.

In step S903, the control unit 530 determines whether or not it is time to display the step based on the timing at which the step 110 is detected. If the control unit 530 determines that it is time to display the step, it proceeds to step S904. If the control unit 530 determines that it is not time to display the step, it ends the process without displaying the guidance.

The timing at which the crossing position 101 is displayed is the timing at which all or part of the step 110 emerges from the comb board 160 when the passenger has reached the first point (e.g., 2 m before the comb board 160). The timing at which the step position 201 is displayed is the timing at which all or part of the step 110 emerges from the comb board 160 when the passenger has reached the first point or the second point.

In step S904, the control unit 530 determines whether the display timing determination (the determination result of step S903) and the fall risk determination (the determination result of step S703) are both YES. If the control unit 530 determines that both are YES, it proceeds to step S905, and if it determines that either one is NO, it ends the process.

In step S905, the control unit 530 performs guidance display. Note that in step S802, the control unit 530 displays the crossing position 101, and in step S804, the control unit 530 displays the stepping position 201. For example, the crossing position 101 is displayed for a predetermined time (e.g., 0.3 seconds) each time the step 110 appears after the passenger reaches the first point until the passenger reaches the second point (e.g., a predetermined distance from the comb board 160, one step away from the step 110). Also, for example, the stepping position 201 is displayed for a predetermined time each time the step 110 appears after the passenger reaches the first point or the second point until the passenger steps onto the step 110.

Note that the process shown in Figures 7 to 9 is just an example, and when adding sensors, various change patterns of the flowchart are possible.

Figure 10 shows how the guidance display to the steps 110 is switched depending on the passenger's condition (one example of a display mode).

Display mode 1010 shows a scene in which a healthy person is boarding the vehicle. For example, the walking speed, etc., is above a threshold, so the control unit 530 determines not to display guidance to this passenger.

Display mode 1020 shows how a passenger to be guided gets on the train. Because the passenger is not confident about getting on the train, he or she is watching the movement of the steps 110, walking with their head down, taking narrow steps, and approaching slowly. For such passengers, the control unit 530 judges that there is a high risk of falling, and displays guidance. The control unit 530 determines who is a target for guidance using the following example method.

Since passengers at high risk of falling have characteristic walking behaviors such as a slow walking speed and a small stride, the control unit 530 determines that a person is a guidance target when the stride length α1 is equal to or less than α1,h (e.g., 35 cm) and the walking speed α2 is equal to or less than α2,h (e.g., 1.0 m/s). Note that the control unit 530 may determine that a person is a guidance target when either the stride length or the walking speed satisfies a condition.

It is also known that the greater the gait variability (changes in stride length, walking speed, walking cycle, etc. per step), the higher the risk of falling while walking. The calculation unit 520 calculates gait variability such as stride length, walking speed, and walking cycle per step using the coefficient of variation (standard deviation/average x 100). It is preferable that the control unit 530 determines that the subject is a target for guidance when α4 (e.g., coefficient of variation) is α4,h (e.g., 3.5%) or more for gait variability. Note that, for example, when one leg is injured, gait variability occurs between the left and right legs. In preparation for such a case, the calculation unit 520 calculates the difference in the average values of stride length, walking speed, walking cycle, etc. between the left and right legs, and the control unit 530 determines that the subject is a target for guidance when the difference is equal to or greater than the standard deviation calculated for each leg.

As shown in display mode 1030, passengers who are not confident about getting on the passenger conveyor 100 may gradually slow down their walking speed, narrow their stride, or stop before getting on the passenger conveyor 100 in order to time their boarding. In order to guide such passengers, the control unit 530 may determine that the passenger is a target for guidance if the average values of stride length, walking speed, walking cycle, etc. measured at a point closer than a predetermined distance to a point more than a predetermined distance away from the start point of the passenger conveyor 100 are smaller than the average values up to a point more than a predetermined distance away (e.g., 2 m) and the difference is equal to or greater than the standard deviation. Alternatively, passengers who have completely stopped before getting on the passenger conveyor 100 to time their boarding should be a target for guidance, and the control unit 530 may determine that the passenger is a target for guidance if α10 is equal to or greater than α10,h (e.g., 0.4 s).

The walking behavior described above is mainly due to leg movements, but the control unit 530 can also make a similar determination based on arm movements. For example, in the case of gait fluctuations, the control unit 530 compares the average values of arm swing width, arm swing speed, arm swing period, etc., and if there is a difference that is equal to or greater than the standard deviation calculated for each arm, it determines that the arm is a target for guidance.

In addition, if a passenger is holding luggage, contact friction occurs when the luggage gets caught between the balustrade panel 120 and the passenger's body, posing a risk of falling. Therefore, the control unit 530 may determine whether the passenger is a target for guidance based on the presence or absence of personal belongings. In particular, if a passenger is holding luggage on the same side of the handrail 130 that the passenger is trying to grab (for example, if a passenger who is trying to grab the handrail 130 on the left side of the direction of travel is holding a bag in their left hand), it is preferable for the control unit 530 to determine that the passenger is a target for guidance. Furthermore, since passengers holding walking sticks are at particularly high risk of falling, the control unit 530 determines that the passenger is a target for guidance.

Regarding posture, it is also known that the inclination of the trunk due to bending of the waist, etc., correlates with the risk of falling. If the inclination of the trunk or upper body is equal to or greater than a predetermined angle (e.g., 5°), the control unit 530 determines that the person is a target for guidance.

The risk of falling is known to be particularly high for elderly people and depends on age. Therefore, for example, when α7 calculated by face and posture estimation of a visible image is equal to or greater than α7,h (e.g., 65 years old), the control unit 530 determines that the person is a guidance target.

In the above description, a specific numerical value is used as a criterion for determining the risk of falling, but it goes without saying that a threshold value 514 other than the above may be used. In addition, in the above description, a method for determining the guidance target using one parameter 513 has been described, but the calculation unit 520 may calculate a comprehensive parameter α' (fall risk) by performing an operation (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, etc.) on multiple parameters 513 (αi), and the control unit 530 may determine the guidance target based on the magnitude relationship with the threshold value 514 (αi, h') stored in the storage unit 510. The control unit 530 can determine the guidance target with high accuracy by using multiple parameters 513 (indicators). In addition, the control unit 530 may determine the guidance target using a determination model 515 or the like to enable more accurate determination.

Here, one threshold 514 is prepared, and the presence or absence of guidance display is switched by threshold judgment, but multiple thresholds 514 may be prepared, and the display content may be switched in multiple stages. For example, the display may be only displayed on the steps 110 for passengers with small strides, and the display may be displayed not only on the steps 110 but also on the handrail 130 for passengers who stop just before the boarding entrance.

As described above, the calculation unit 520 calculates each parameter 513 (risk of falling) based on the detection information 511 of the detector 170. At this time, if the passenger's skeletal information 512 can be extracted using a range image sensor or the like, the above-mentioned multiple parameters 513 can be calculated simultaneously. A method for calculating the parameters 513 indicating the passenger's condition based on the skeletal information 512 will be described using FIG. 11 as an example.

Figure 11 shows an example of an image in which the skeletal position of a passenger approaching the passenger conveyor 100 is calculated, captured by a detector 170 (range image camera or visible light camera) installed near the boarding entrance. In images 1110, 1120, and 1130 shown in Figure 11, a joint position "." is shown in the passenger video 1101. The joint position shows the result of calculating a person's skeleton using deep learning or the like based on the range image, visible image, or video of these.

As shown in FIG. 11, the names of the joint positions are indicated by L: Leg, A: Arm, H: Head, and C: Center. The subscripts of the names of the joint positions indicate the skeleton number, l: Left, r: Right. For example, the left hand is indicated as Al1, and the right knee is indicated as Lr2. When a range image camera is used as the detector 170, the calculation unit 520 can calculate the X, Y, and Z coordinates of each skeleton position, and can calculate the skeleton position with high accuracy.

Figure 11 shows an image captured at an angle to the direction of travel, but the direction of travel on the screen will of course differ depending on the installation position and angle of the detector 170. For simplicity's sake, the following explanation will be given on the assumption that the image is captured from the front in the direction of travel. That is, the detector 170 is installed facing the passenger, and the distance that the passenger moves in the direction of travel per unit time will be equal to the reduction in distance from the detector 170 to the person.

Image 1110 in FIG. 11 shows a passenger walking in a normal manner. We will explain how to calculate walking dynamics such as stride length, walking speed, walking cycle (cadence), and arm swing using image 1110.

The calculation unit 520 calculates the stride length from, for example, the time-series changes in the leg coordinates Lr1 and Ll1. For example, when the calculation unit 520 checks the time change in the distance to the detector 170, it can see how Lr1 and Ll1 alternately shorten the distance. If the distance of the landing point of the right leg in the first step on a certain walking path is Lr1(1) and the distance of the landing point of the left leg in the second step is Ll1(2), the calculation unit 520 calculates the stride length from |Lr1(1)-Ll1(2)|. The calculation unit 520 may also calculate the stride length from the average stride length of several steps, such as |Lr1(1)-Lr1(3)|/2.

The calculation unit 520 calculates the walking speed based on time series changes in the C1 coordinate indicating the center of the trunk, the average value of multiple coordinates, etc. As an example, the calculation unit 520 measures the time t required to pass through a specified section (section length D) and calculates the walking speed by D/t.

The calculation unit 520 calculates the walking cycle from the time-series changes in the coordinates Ll1 to Lr3, which indicate the legs. Because the left and right legs move alternately while walking, the movements of Ll1 to Ll3 and the movements of Lr1 to Lr3 appear alternately on the graph of time-series changes. Therefore, the calculation unit 520 can calculate the walking cycle from the appearance cycle of the movements of each coordinate.

The calculation unit 520 can calculate the arm swing period and arm swing width by applying the above-mentioned calculation procedure for the legs to the arms as well. In this case, the calculation unit 520 performs calculations using the time-series changes in the arm coordinates Al1 to Ar2. The calculation unit 520 may also calculate gait variation based on the walking behavior described above.

Image 1120 shows a passenger walking with a cane. Using image 1120, we will explain how to estimate posture while walking, such as bending of the waist, face direction, and body inclination, as well as how to estimate the passenger's height and possessions.

When the waist is bent, the upper body leans forward, and this appears as a difference in distance between the upper body coordinates and the lower body coordinates. For example, when walking a specified section, the calculation unit 520 calculates a first distance from the detector 170 to the body center C1 and a second distance to the bases of the left and right legs Lr3 and Ll3. When the first distance is shorter than the second distance, this indicates that the person is walking with a bent waist, as this is a forward-leaning posture.

The same applies to the orientation of the face, where the calculation unit 520 calculates a first distance from the detector 170 to the body center C1 and a second distance from the detector 170 to the face center C2. The calculation unit 520 can calculate the up-down angle of the face from the difference between the first distance and the second distance. The calculation unit 520 calculates the left-right angle from, for example, the horizontal positional deviation between the body center C1 and the face center C2. The calculation unit 520 may also calculate the left-right angle from the distance from the detector 170 to the sides of the face Hr1 to Hl2, and calculate the left-right angle from the difference between the left part of the face (Hl1, Hl2) and the right part of the face (Hr1, Hr2).

Regarding the inclination of the body, for example, the person in image 1120 is walking with a tilt to the right, and in this case, the height of the base of the right leg Lr3 is different from the height of the base of the left leg Ll3. This can also be seen in the difference in height between the left arm (Al1, Al2) and the right arm (Ar1, Ar2). The calculation unit 520 can calculate the inclination of the body based on these differences.

The calculation unit 520 calculates height based on, for example, the height of the body center C1 or the head center C2.

When holding an item with one arm, differences appear in the arm swing period, arm swing width, etc. of the left and right arms, so the calculation unit 520 performs calculations based on the time-series changes in the left and right arms Al1 to Ar2. In addition, when touching the ground with a cane, one arm is thrust forward as a characteristic movement when stepping out, so the calculation unit 520 may perform calculations based on such arm movements.

As an example of a case in which a passenger is carrying another possession, image 1130 shows a passenger walking with a bag, and the passenger is holding the bag by bending the right elbow joint. In this example, the passenger walks with one arm at a bent joint angle while walking for a few steps, so calculation unit 520 can also calculate the presence or absence of a possession by calculating the joint angle.

The calculation method of the parameters 513 described above is an example, and is not necessarily limited to the above-mentioned calculation method. The calculation unit 520 may calculate walking behavior, posture, etc. from multiple types of parameters 513. For example, the calculation unit 520 may calculate the stride length from the movements of Ll2 to Lr3, and by combining it with the time-series change data of Ll1 and Lr1, the calculation can be performed with higher accuracy.

In addition, when the parameters 513 are correlated with each other, the calculation unit 520 may calculate one parameter 513 from the other parameter 513. For example, since the walking speed, walking cycle, and stride length have a relationship of stride length (m) = walking speed (m/s) x walking cycle (s), the calculation unit 520 can calculate the remaining parameter 513 based on two parameters 513. In another example, since the walking cycle and the arm swing cycle are correlated, the calculation unit 520 can calculate one value from the other value. The calculation unit 520 may also calculate the passenger's age from the angle of bending of the waist and height.

In the above explanation, it is assumed that the passenger is photographed from the front, but the calculation method will naturally differ depending on the installation position and installation angle of the detector 170. For example, in FIG. 11, the calculation unit 520 calculates the walking speed of the passenger moving in the direction of travel from the depth distance from the detector 170 to the person, but when photographing the passenger from the side, the passenger crosses the detector 170 in the horizontal direction, so the calculation is made from the horizontal movement distance. In addition, the calculation unit 520 may calculate the state of the passenger with higher accuracy by combining multiple types of detectors 170. In addition, since the viewing angle that can be captured by a single detector 170 is limited, it is preferable to install the detectors 170 on both sides to reduce blind spots.

In addition, in the above-described method, the skeletal information 512 is calculated using a distance image sensor, and each parameter 513 is calculated from the skeletal information 512. However, the type of detector 170 used is not limited to a distance image sensor. For example, when a millimeter wave sensor is used as the detector 170, the distance and moving speed of the measurement object can be detected, and the calculation unit 520 can calculate the stride length, walking speed, walking cycle, arm swing speed, arm swing cycle, etc. In addition, an ultrasonic sensor, a distance measuring sensor, etc. may be used as the detector 170 to detect the position of the passenger, and the calculation unit 520 may calculate the walking speed and the stopping time. By using multiple types of detectors 170, it is possible to reduce blind spots and perform robust measurements even in the face of changes in the usage environment. In addition, by acquiring a face image using a visible light camera as the detector 170, the calculation unit 520 can estimate the age with higher accuracy. As for possessions, the calculation unit 520 can calculate the type of possessions, such as a cane, a bag, etc., with high accuracy by using deep learning, etc. from the visible image.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, but includes various modified examples. For example, the above-described embodiments have been described in detail to clearly explain the present invention, and are not necessarily limited to those having all of the configurations described. It is also possible to replace part of the configuration of one embodiment with the configuration of another embodiment, and it is also possible to add the configuration of another embodiment to the configuration of one embodiment. It is also possible to add, delete, or replace part of the configuration of each embodiment with other configurations.

The passenger guidance system described above can be applied not only to escalators but also to moving walkways.

This embodiment allows passengers at high risk of falling to be guided into a riding position.

(II) Supplementary Notes The above-described embodiment includes, for example, the following contents.

In the above embodiment, the present invention has been described as being applied to a passenger conveyor, but the present invention is not limited to this and can be widely applied to a variety of other systems, devices, methods, and programs.

In addition, in the above description, information such as programs, tables, and files that realize each function can be stored in a storage device such as a memory, a hard disk, or an SSD (Solid State Drive), or in a recording medium such as an IC card, an SD card, or a DVD.

The above-described embodiment has the following characteristic configurations:

(1)
The passenger conveyor (e.g., passenger conveyor 100) includes a detector (e.g., detector 170) that detects a passenger approaching the boarding entrance of the passenger conveyor, a display (e.g., display 180) that displays guidance to guide the passenger to a predetermined riding posture, a calculation unit that uses detection information (e.g., detection information 511) detected by the detector to calculate a fall risk (e.g., one or more parameters 513, overall parameter α') to determine whether the passenger will fall when boarding the passenger conveyor, and a control unit (e.g., control unit 530) that controls the display to display the guidance based on the fall risk calculated by the calculation unit (e.g., when the parameter 513 is equal to or greater than the threshold 514 by comparing the parameter 513 with a threshold 514, or when it is determined that the passenger is a guidance target based on the parameter 513 and the determination model 515).

The point where a passenger boards the passenger conveyor is a point related to boarding the passenger conveyor. For example, the point may be the point where the passenger moves from the boarding/alighting board to the step, or may be within a specified distance from a specified location on the passenger conveyor (for example, in front of the comb plate, behind the comb plate, or 1 m before or after the comb plate), or may be some other point.

In the above configuration, for example, guidance can be displayed to passengers who are likely to fall when boarding the passenger conveyor, and the passengers can visually understand their riding position through the guidance display, thereby reducing the number of incidents of passengers falling when boarding.

For example, passengers who are unlikely to fall while riding on the passenger conveyor may find the guidance display annoying. In this regard, the above configuration can provide guidance to passengers who are likely to fall while riding on the passenger conveyor, thereby providing a highly convenient passenger conveyor.

(2)
When the control unit determines that the fall risk calculated by the calculation unit is equal to or greater than a threshold value, the control unit controls the display unit to provide the guidance display (for example, steps S703 and S704).

In the above configuration, guidance is displayed to passengers whose risk of falling is equal to or greater than a threshold. For example, the passenger conveyor manager can set a threshold to determine which passengers are eligible for guidance, making it possible to operate the passenger conveyor even without actual data on the conveyor.

(3)
The calculation unit calculates skeletal information (e.g., skeletal information 512) indicating the skeleton of the passenger using the detection information detected by the detector, and calculates the risk of the passenger falling based on the calculated skeletal information.

In the above configuration, skeletal information is calculated, so various parameters related to fall risk, such as stride length, walking speed, and walking cycle, can be obtained.

(4)
The calculation unit calculates at least one of the following as the risk of the passenger falling: the passenger's walking behavior, the passenger's posture, the passenger's height, whether the passenger has any personal belongings, and the time the passenger stops when riding on the passenger conveyor (see, for example, Figure 5).

The walking behavior, posture, height, and possessions of passengers, as well as the time that passengers stop when boarding the passenger conveyor, are all characteristics that tend to indicate when a passenger falls, so the above configuration makes it possible to calculate the risk of falling with a high degree of accuracy.

(5)
The display displays, as the guidance display, at least one of the stepping position on the board of the passenger conveyor (e.g., the crossing position 101, the stepping position on the board 150), the stepping position on the step of the passenger conveyor (e.g., the stepping position 201), and the gripping position of the handrail of the passenger conveyor (e.g., the gripping position 301).

In the above configuration, at least one of the stepping position on the board, the stepping position on the step, and the gripping position on the handrail is displayed, allowing appropriate guidance of the riding posture.

(6)
The passenger conveyor includes a plurality of steps (e.g., step 110) that circulates between the boarding entrance and the disembarking entrance, and a step detector (e.g., proximity sensor 450) that detects a step among the plurality of steps that appears at the boarding entrance, and the control unit controls the display to provide the guidance display when the step is detected by the step detector (e.g., see Figure 9).

In the above configuration, guidance is displayed when a step is detected, which can reduce the number of cases where passengers board at the boundary between steps, for example.

(7)
The passenger conveyor is equipped with a boarding detector (photoelectric sensor, visible light camera, vibration sensor, pressure sensor, etc.) that detects that the passenger has boarded the passenger conveyor, and when the boarding detector detects that the passenger has boarded the passenger conveyor, the control unit controls the display to display the gripping position on the handrail of the passenger conveyor as the guidance display (e.g., see steps S805 and S806).

In the above configuration, the gripping position is displayed after the passenger boards the passenger conveyor, so that, for example, when a passenger is paying attention to their feet when boarding, the gripping position is displayed, which can avoid a situation where the passenger's attention is diverted.

(8)
When there are no passengers on the passenger conveyor (for example, when it is determined that there are no passengers on board based on detection information detected by a passenger detector, when it is determined that there are no passengers on board based on load information of an inverter attached to the passenger conveyor, etc.), the control unit controls the passenger conveyor to slow down the operating speed of the passenger conveyor based on the risk of falling calculated by the calculation unit.

In the above configuration, for example, when there are no passengers on the passenger conveyor and a passenger who is likely to fall when boarding the passenger conveyor is approaching the boarding entrance, the operating speed of the passenger conveyor is slowed down, thereby reducing the risk of the passenger falling when boarding.

(9)
The control unit determines a display location of the guidance display based on at least one of the approach direction of the passenger, the way the passenger moves his/her arms, and the line of sight of the passenger (see, for example, step S801).

In the above configuration, the display location of the guidance display is appropriately determined based on at least one of the passenger's approach direction, the passenger's arm movement, and the passenger's line of sight, making it possible to appropriately guide the passenger's riding posture.

(10)
A balustrade is provided on the side of the passenger conveyor, and at least one of the detector and the indicator is provided inside the balustrade (see, for example, Figures 1 to 3).

According to the above configuration, for example, if the detector is provided inside the balustrade, the risk of falling can be calculated without interfering with passengers' walking. Also, for example, according to the above configuration, if the display is provided inside the balustrade, guidance can be displayed without interfering with passengers' walking.

(11)
At least one of the detector and the indicator is provided on a side of the boarding entrance (see, for example, FIGS. 1 to 3).

According to the above configuration, for example, if the detector is provided on the side of the boarding entrance, the risk of falling can be calculated without interfering with passengers' walking. Also, for example, according to the above configuration, if the display is provided on the side of the boarding entrance, guidance can be displayed without interfering with passengers' walking.

(12)
When the control unit determines that the passenger is a target for the guidance display using the fall risk calculated by the calculation unit and a judgment model learned by a machine learning algorithm, it controls the display to display the guidance.

In the above configuration, guidance display is based on a judgment model learned by a machine learning algorithm, so guidance display can be performed with greater accuracy, for example.

(13)
A plurality of the detectors are provided.

In the above configuration, multiple detectors are provided, which makes it possible, for example, to reduce the blind spots of the detectors and perform measurements robustly even in the face of changes in the usage environment, enabling more accurate guidance display.

Furthermore, the above-mentioned configurations may be modified, rearranged, combined, or omitted as appropriate without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

It should be understood that an item in a list in the format "at least one of A, B, and C" can mean (A), (B), (C), (A and B), (A and C), (B and C), or (A, B, and C). Similarly, an item in a list in the format "at least one of A, B, or C" can mean (A), (B), (C), (A and B), (A and C), (B and C), or (A, B, and C).

100: passenger conveyor, 170: detector, 180: display, 190: processing unit.

Claims (14)

A detector for detecting a passenger approaching an entrance of the passenger conveyor;
A display that displays guidance to guide the passenger to a predetermined riding posture;
a calculation unit that calculates a fall risk to determine whether the passenger will fall when riding on the passenger conveyor, using detection information detected by the detector;
A control unit that controls the display device to provide the guidance display based on the fall risk calculated by the calculation unit;
Equipped with
the calculation unit calculates skeletal information indicating X, Y, and Z coordinates of positions of each joint in a skeleton of the entire body of the passenger using the detection information detected by the detector, and calculates a fall risk of the passenger based on the calculated skeletal information.
Passenger conveyor. The control unit controls the display device to display the guidance when it is determined that the fall risk calculated by the calculation unit is equal to or greater than a threshold value.
2. A passenger conveyor as claimed in claim 1. the calculation unit calculates, as the risk of the passenger falling, at least one of the following: a walking behavior of the passenger, a posture of the passenger, a height of the passenger, the presence or absence of possessions of the passenger, and a stopping time of the passenger when riding on the passenger conveyor;
2. A passenger conveyor as claimed in claim 1. The display device displays, as the guidance display, at least one of a stepping position on a board of the passenger conveyor, a stepping position on a step of the passenger conveyor, and a gripping position of a handrail of the passenger conveyor.
2. A passenger conveyor as claimed in claim 1. A plurality of steps that are driven in a circulating manner between the boarding entrance and the disembarking entrance;
a step detector that detects a step that appears at the boarding entrance among the plurality of steps,
The control unit controls the display device to display the guidance at a timing when the step is detected by the step detector.
2. A passenger conveyor as claimed in claim 1. a boarding detector for detecting when the passenger boards the passenger conveyor;
When the boarding detector detects that the passenger has boarded the passenger conveyor, the control unit controls the display device to display a gripping position on a handrail of the passenger conveyor as the guidance display.
2. A passenger conveyor as claimed in claim 1. The control unit controls the passenger conveyor to reduce an operating speed of the passenger conveyor based on the fall risk calculated by the calculation unit when there is no passenger riding on the passenger conveyor.
2. A passenger conveyor as claimed in claim 1. the control unit determines a display location of the guidance display based on at least one of an approaching direction of the passenger, a manner of moving the arm of the passenger, and a line of sight direction of the passenger.
2. A passenger conveyor as claimed in claim 1. A parapet is provided on the side of the passenger conveyor,
At least one of the detector and the indicator is provided inside the balustrade.
2. A passenger conveyor as claimed in claim 1. At least one of the detector and the indicator is provided on a side of the boarding entrance.
2. A passenger conveyor as claimed in claim 1. When the control unit determines that the passenger is a target of the guidance display using the fall risk calculated by the calculation unit and a determination model trained by a machine learning algorithm, the control unit controls the display device to display the guidance.
2. A passenger conveyor as claimed in claim 1. The detector is provided in plurality.
2. A passenger conveyor as claimed in claim 1. On the computer,
(A) calculating a fall risk to determine whether a passenger will fall when boarding the passenger conveyor using detection information detected by a detector that detects a passenger approaching an entrance of the passenger conveyor;
(B) controlling a display to display guidance for guiding the passenger to a predetermined riding posture based on the fall risk calculated in the step (A);
A program for executing
the step of calculating the risk of falling includes a process of calculating skeletal information indicating X, Y, and Z coordinates of positions of each joint in a skeleton of the entire body of the passenger using detection information detected by the detector, and calculating the risk of falling of the passenger based on the calculated skeletal information.
program . A detector for detecting a passenger approaching an entrance of the passenger conveyor;
A display that displays guidance to guide the passenger to a predetermined riding position;
a calculation unit that calculates a fall risk to determine whether the passenger will fall when riding on the passenger conveyor, using detection information detected by the detector;
A control unit that controls the display device to provide the guidance display based on the fall risk calculated by the calculation unit;
Equipped with
the calculation unit calculates skeletal information indicating X, Y, and Z coordinates of positions of each joint in a skeleton of the entire body of the passenger using the detection information detected by the detector, and calculates a fall risk of the passenger based on the calculated skeletal information.
Passenger guidance system.

Images