Method for managing the passage of a large vehicle through a two-way tunnel

Abstract

A method for managing the passage of a large vehicle through a two-way tunnel comprises the following steps: receipt (21) of information by a tunnel manager regarding the characteristics of vehicles preparing to enter the tunnel, including the large vehicle; verification (23), based on the information received and the characteristics of the tunnel, of the tunnel's sufficient width to allow the large vehicle to safely pass other vehicles; regulation (31), when the tunnel's width is insufficient, of access to the tunnel by means of traffic lights so that the large vehicle passes through the tunnel without encountering other vehicles. A tunnel crossing management system is also described. Figure to be published with the abbreviation: Fig 2

Description

Title of the invention: Method for managing the crossing of a two-way tunnel by a large vehicle Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for managing the crossing of a two-way traffic tunnel by a large vehicle, a computer program product and a system for managing the crossing of a two-way traffic tunnel by a large vehicle. State of the art

[0002] In the mountains, it often happens that buses and trucks have difficulty moving through tunnels if there is a vehicle present. Indeed, when the tunnels are narrow, two cars can pass at the same time while a bus or truck must be alone in the tunnel. In these cases, the bus or truck flashes its headlights or sounds its horn when entering the tunnel.

[0003] However, this is not always effective and vehicles entering the tunnel must reverse to let the bus or truck pass. This causes difficulties for the driver and for the bus or truck, which is thus stuck in the tunnel. There is therefore a risk of collision between the bus or truck and other road users.

[0004] The applicant's patent FR 3119 922 describes a solution to avoid this problem. The method comprises the following steps: • Receiving information relating to the characteristics of the tunnel that the large vehicle is about to cross; • Verification, based on the information received concerning the tunnel and the characteristics of the large vehicle, of the sufficient width of the tunnel to allow the large vehicle to pass other vehicles safely; • Verification, when the tunnel width is insufficient, of the presence or entry into the tunnel of at least one other vehicle traveling in the opposite direction to the large vehicle; and • Issue, in the event of the presence or entry into the tunnel of at least one other vehicle and to the attention of the driver of the large vehicle, an alert ordering the large vehicle to stop before entering the tunnel.

[0005] The method described in this document partially solves the aforementioned drawback. However, it does not allow for smooth circulation of the large vehicle. Indeed, if many vehicles regularly arrive in the opposite direction, the large vehicle may be unable to pass through the tunnel until the flow of oncoming traffic stops. Furthermore, this process only works for large vehicles equipped with a suitable system.

[0006] There is therefore a real need for a method and a system for managing the crossing of a two-way tunnel by a large vehicle which resolves all or part of the aforementioned drawbacks. Description of the invention

[0007] To resolve one or more of the drawbacks cited above, according to a first embodiment, a method for managing the crossing of a two-way traffic tunnel by a large-gauge vehicle comprises the following steps: • reception of information by a manager of said tunnel of the characteristics of the vehicles preparing to enter said tunnel, including the large-gauge vehicle; • verification, based on the information received and the characteristics of the tunnel, of the sufficient width of the tunnel to allow the large vehicle to pass other vehicles safely; • regulation, when the width of the said tunnel is insufficient, of access to the tunnel by traffic lights so that the large vehicle crosses the tunnel without crossing other vehicles.

[0008] Thus, the tunnel has a global view of incoming traffic and can adapt access according to the vehicles, even if they are not equipped. In addition, it can also prevent vehicles traveling in the opposite direction from entering the tunnel when the large vehicle is there.

[0009] Particular characteristics or embodiments, usable alone or in combination are: • regulation, when the width of said tunnel is insufficient, prohibits large vehicles from entering the tunnel while vehicles traveling in the opposite direction are there; • regulation, when the width of the said tunnel is insufficient, prohibits vehicles traveling in the opposite direction from entering the tunnel while the large vehicle is crossing it; • the lights allow crossing the tunnel by default; • the vehicle characteristics received by the manager include the width of each vehicle; • the check only takes into account vehicles traveling in the opposite direction to the large vehicle; and / or • the check sums the width of the large vehicle, the vehicle(s) traveling in the opposite direction and a safety margin to compare it to the width of the tunnel.

[0010] In a second embodiment, a computer program product downloadable from a communications network and / or recorded on a computer-readable medium and / or executable by a processor, comprises program code instructions for implementing the aforementioned method.

[0011] In a third embodiment, a system for managing the crossing of a two-way tunnel by a large vehicle comprises: • a transmitter adapted to receive information on the characteristics of vehicles preparing to enter said tunnel, including large vehicles; connected to • an access manager adapted to check, based on the said information received and the characteristics of the said tunnel, the sufficient width of the said tunnel to allow the said large vehicle to pass other vehicles in a secure manner; connected to • traffic lights adapted to regulate, on the order of the manager when the width of the said tunnel is insufficient, access to the tunnel so that the large vehicle crosses the tunnel without crossing other vehicles.

[0012] In a particular embodiment, the transmitter comprises two transmission beacons located on each side of the tunnel. Brief description of the figures

[0013] The invention will be better understood on reading the following description, given solely by way of example, and with reference to the appended figures in which: • [Fig.l] represents a top view of a narrow tunnel comprising a management system according to one embodiment; and • [Fig.2] represents a flowchart of an access management process of the tunnel according to one embodiment. Methods of implementation

[0014] With reference to [Fig.l], a section of a two-way road 1 comprises two traffic lanes 2, 3 adjoining each other, and on which a narrow tunnel 4 is arranged.

[0015] A large vehicle 5 traveling on the traffic lane 2 in the direction represented by the arrow F is preparing to enter the tunnel 4 by a first of its ends while a second vehicle 6 traveling in the opposite direction on the traffic lane 3 is crossing this tunnel 4 and a third vehicle 7 traveling in the opposite direction on the traffic lane 3 is approaching the second end of this same tunnel 4. A fourth vehicle 8 is traveling in the same direction as the large vehicle 5 and is crossing the tunnel 4.

[0016] Due to the substantial width of the vehicle 5 and the narrowness of this tunnel 4 along which the traffic lanes 2, 3 have a reduced width, it will not be possible for the two vehicles 5, 6 or 5, 7 to pass each other safely. On the other hand, the vehicles 6, 8 located in the tunnel have a width such that they can pass each other safely.

[0017] The tunnel 4 is equipped with two transmitters 11, 12, on each side of the tunnel, adapted to receive information on the characteristics of the vehicles preparing to enter the tunnel. These transmitters are, for example, connected to cameras positioned to see the vehicles arriving and which include shape analysis software allowing them to determine the external dimensions of the vehicles arriving, in particular their width.

[0018] They can also be connected to beacons adapted to connect to vehicles equipped with a communication system of the type: • An all-vehicle communication system called V2X (for “Vehicle to Everything”), V2v (for “Vehicle to vehicle”), I2V (for “Infrastructure to vehicle”) on board the vehicle; • A 4G or 5G cellular network type communication system; • A wifi type communication system (IEEE 802.11 standard); • A Bluetooth type communication system (registered trademark of Bluetooth SIG Inc.).

[0019] They can thus request information from vehicles when they pass near them and retrieve information on the vehicle's dimensions.

[0020] The two transmitters 11, 12 are connected to an access manager 13 adapted to check, based on the information received and the characteristics of the tunnel 4, the sufficient width of the tunnel to allow the large vehicle 5 to pass other vehicles there in a safe manner.

[0021] The access manager 13 is connected to traffic lights 15, 16 adapted to regulate, on order of the manager 13 when the width of the tunnel 4 is insufficient, access to the tunnel 4 so that the large vehicle 5 crosses the tunnel without crossing other vehicles.

[0022] The general operation of the tunnel access system 4 is as follows, [Fig.2].

[0023] In step 21, the access manager 13 associated with the two transmitters 11, 12 collects the dimension information of the vehicles arriving at the tunnel 4, in particular the maximum width of each vehicle.

[0024] In step 23, the access manager 13 compares the maximum widths of the vehicles with the width of the tunnel 4. In particular, it adds up the width of a vehicle arriving in one direction with the width of a vehicle arriving in the opposite direction and compares it, with a safety margin, to the width of the tunnel.

[0025] If this sum is less than the width of tunnel 4, the two vehicles can pass each other safely, step 25. If this sum is greater, the two vehicles cannot pass each other, step 27.

[0026] If the two vehicles can pass each other, the manager 13 sets, or leaves, step 29, the traffic lights 15, 16 green to authorize the passage of the vehicles.

[0027] If the two vehicles cannot pass each other, the manager 13 will, in step 31, set one of the traffic lights 15, 16 to red to prevent one of the two vehicles from entering the tunnel. Several scenarios are then possible: • Large vehicle 5 is not in the tunnel and a vehicle 6 is in the tunnel. The access light on the side of vehicle 5 is set to red to prevent large vehicle 5 from entering the tunnel while vehicle 6 is in the tunnel. • Large vehicle 5 is in the tunnel and a vehicle 7 is approaching, but not in the tunnel. The access light on the side of vehicle 7 is set to red to prevent vehicle 7 from entering the tunnel while large vehicle 5 is inside. • Large vehicle 5 and vehicle 7 are not yet in tunnel 4. No other vehicles are in the tunnel. Manager 13 will give priority access to one of the two vehicles by turning the traffic light associated with the other vehicle to red.

[0028] When the large vehicle 5 has passed, both traffic lights are turned green, by default, step 33.

[0029] It should be noted that when several vehicles arrive on each side of the tunnel, this access management is carried out for all combinations of vehicles that are likely to cross.

[0030] [Fig.l] illustrates a system according to certain embodiments. The breakdown presented has an educational purpose to highlight the different functions. However, it is understood that each block can be implemented using different means or their combinations, such as hardware components, software, one or more computers and / or electronic circuits. Each of the components can include at least one computer or a control-command unit. At least one memory can be included in each component. The memory can include computer program instructions or software code.

[0031] The computers can be implemented by any type of data processing device, such as a central computing unit, a signal processing processor, an application-specific integrated circuit, a gate array, or a data processing device. grammable, etc. The calculators can be implemented as a single controller, or a plurality of controllers or calculators.

[0032] The different modules are connected to each other by data links adapted to the environment. These can be wired or wireless.

[0033] For software, the implementation may include modules or units distributed in the form of procedures, functions, etc. The memories may be any type of storage circuit. They may be part of the processor circuit, or separate from it and connected via electrical data links. These may be non-volatile type memories, hard disks, random access memories, flash memories, etc.

[0034] Furthermore, the program instructions stored in the memory and processed by the computers can be any type of program code, for example, a compiled or interpreted program written in a suitable programming language.

[0035] The computer program instructions stored in the memory are such that, when executed by the computer, the latter performs one or more of the steps of the methods described above.

[0036] The invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and the preceding description. This should be considered as illustrative and given by way of example and not as limiting the invention to this description alone. Numerous alternative embodiments are possible.

[0037] For example, if during the crossing of the tunnel by the large vehicle, a two-wheeler appears which can cross the large vehicle due to its narrow width, the manager can let the two-wheeler pass while blocking the four-wheeled vehicles, for example, by organizing queues differentiated by type of vehicle.

Claims

Claims

1. Method for managing the crossing of a two-way tunnel by a large-gauge vehicle comprising the following steps: • reception (21) of information by a manager of said tunnel of the characteristics of the vehicles preparing to enter said tunnel, including the large-gauge vehicle; • verification (23), as a function of said information received and of the characteristics of said tunnel, of the sufficient width of said tunnel to allow said large-gauge vehicle to pass other vehicles therein safely; • regulation (31), when the width of said tunnel is insufficient, of access to the tunnel by traffic lights so that the large-gauge vehicle passes through the tunnel without passing other vehicles.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the regulation, when the width of said tunnel is insufficient, prohibits the large vehicle from entering the tunnel as long as vehicles traveling in the opposite direction are there.

3. A method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the regulation, when the width of said tunnel is insufficient, prevents vehicles traveling in the opposite direction from entering the tunnel while the large vehicle is passing through it.

4. A method according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the lights allow passage through the tunnel by default.

5. A method according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein the characteristics of the vehicles received by the manager include the width of each vehicle.

6. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the verification only takes into account vehicles traveling in the opposite direction to the large vehicle.

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein the check sums the width of the large vehicle, the vehicle(s) traveling in the opposite direction and a safety margin to compare it to the width of the tunnel.

8. Computer program product downloadable from a network communication and / or recorded on a computer-readable medium and / or executable by a processor, characterized in that it comprises program code instructions for implementing the method according to at least one of claims 1 to 7.

9. System for managing the crossing of a two-way tunnel by a large-gauge vehicle comprising: • a transmitter (11, 12) adapted to receive information on the characteristics of the vehicles preparing to enter said tunnel, including the large-gauge vehicle; connected to • an access manager (13) adapted to check, as a function of said information received and the characteristics of said tunnel, the sufficient width of said tunnel to allow said large-gauge vehicle to cross other vehicles therein safely; connected to • traffic lights (15, 16) adapted to regulate, on the order of the manager when the width of said tunnel is insufficient, access to the tunnel so that the large-gauge vehicle crosses the tunnel without crossing other vehicles.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the transmitter comprises two transmitting beacons located on either side of the tunnel.

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