BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates generally to the field of control systems and methods, and in particular, to computer vision-based collision avoidance control in drilling operations.

Oil and gas drilling operations have evolved over the years to include multiple automated tool subsystems. Automated tool subsystems, machines, equipment, and the like, aid in executing repetitive tasks on the drill floor including, for example, drilling, tripping, casing, and cementing. Tool automation optimizes the rate of penetration, makes hole quality more consistent, reduces operation time, improves overall drilling performance, and reduces the cost of drilling operations. More importantly, tool automation reduces the number of people required to work in and around the hazardous drill floor environment. The overwhelming majority of drilling operations are not fully automated, therefore some tasks are still performed by humans working alongside heavy drilling machinery. The automated tool subsystems pose new challenges for maintaining a safe workspace for personnel, where people and machines must share the same operating environment.

SUMMARY

According to various aspects of the present disclosure, a computer-implemented method, computer system, and/or a computer program product is provided. In an aspect, the method may include receiving an image that was captured by an optical camera disposed to capture images of a drill rig floor, and conducting image analytics on the image to identify a human within a predefined zone, the predefined zone being associated with a movable machine operable on the drill rig floor. The method may further include receiving a first signal from a time of flight (TOF) sensor or a light detection and ranging (Lidar) sensor, identifying that the human is within the predefined zone based on the first signal, and in response to the identification of the human within the predefined zone from the image analytics or the first signal, sending a second signal to an alert device such that the alert device issues an alert detectable from the predefined zone.

