Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Construction, the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV 89154, USA.
Sensors (Basel). 2019 Jun 3;19(11):2527. doi: 10.3390/s19112527.
The application of tactile-based wearable devices to assist in navigation for people with low sight/low memory has demonstrated the feasibility of using such devices as a means of communication. Accordingly, a previous study in construction research investigated various parameters of tactile signals to develop a communicable system for potential application in construction hazard communication. However, the nature of construction limits the application of such devices to the body of construction workers, and it is important to understand sensor design parameters for improved communication, which has not been given significant attention yet. Therefore, this study aims to determine key design factors such as the number of motors, spacing between sensors and the layout of a tactile sensory system to be used for communicating construction hazards to workers. For this purpose, this study focused on identifying the number of motors based on extensive literature and the problem of construction safety as to hazard communication, determining the arrangement that allowed for effective delivery and perception of information with minimum effort. The researchers conducted two experimental studies: First, to determine the minimum spacing between vibration motors that allows for the identification of each individual motor with high accuracy; and second, to determine the layout of motors that is suitable for effective communication of multiple types of information. More importantly, the tactile-sensor configuration identified from this study allows the workers to learn the signal patterns easily in order to identify multiple types of information related to hazards. Using such a communication system on construction sites will assist in transmitting hazard-related information to workers, and thus, protect the lives of workers. Such wearable technologies enable the detection of individual-level hazards and prevent worker fatalities and severe injuries.
基于触觉的可穿戴设备在帮助低视力/低记忆力人群进行导航方面的应用，证明了将此类设备用作通信手段的可行性。因此，之前的建筑研究中已经调查了各种触觉信号参数，以开发出一种可用于建筑危险通信的可通信系统。然而，建筑的性质限制了这些设备在建筑工人身上的应用，重要的是要了解传感器设计参数，以提高通信效果，但这尚未得到足够的重视。因此，本研究旨在确定关键设计因素，例如用于向工人传达建筑危险的电机数量、传感器之间的间距和触觉传感器系统的布局。为此，本研究专注于确定基于广泛文献和建筑安全问题的危险通信的电机数量，确定允许以最小的努力有效传递和感知信息的布置。研究人员进行了两项实验研究：首先，确定允许以高精度识别每个单独电机的振动电机的最小间距；其次，确定适合有效传达多种类型信息的电机布局。更重要的是，从这项研究中确定的触觉传感器配置允许工人轻松学习信号模式，以便识别与危险相关的多种类型的信息。在建筑工地使用这种通信系统将有助于向工人传达与危险相关的信息，从而保护工人的生命。这种可穿戴技术能够检测到个体层面的危险，防止工人死亡和重伤。
