Traffic light control on a section of mountain road

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for controlling traffic lights positioned in clearance zones, each clearance zone being a local widening zone of the road section. The method comprises: - receiving (201) information on a first vehicle from a first collection device at a first entrance to a road section; - receiving (201) information on a second vehicle from a second collection device at a second entrance; - determining (203) the probability that the first and second vehicles will cross paths in a crossing zone of the road section, allowing only the first and second vehicles to pass each other, based on information relating to the first vehicle, information relating to the second vehicle, and descriptive information about the road section; - controlling (204) a traffic light in the stopped state, so as to stop the second vehicle in a clearance zone. FIG. 2

Description

Title of the invention: Traffic light control on a section of mountain road

[0001] The present invention belongs to the field of controlling traffic lights on a road infrastructure, in particular for sections of mountain road.

[0002] The term “vehicle” means any type of vehicle such as a private, utility or heavy goods vehicle, but also a motorcycle or scooter.

[0003] Mountain traffic poses safety and driving comfort issues for vehicle drivers. Indeed, certain sections of the road can be particularly narrow, making it impossible for certain vehicles to pass each other, depending on their respective dimensions.

[0004] Although clearance zones are scattered along some mountain roads, two vehicles may pass each other outside these clearance zones. If mutual crossing is not possible, then one of the vehicles is forced to perform a complex and dangerous maneuver, including reversing to the previous clearance zone.

[0005] In addition, such maneuvers cause slowdowns.

[0006] There is therefore a need to improve the flow of vehicles on mountain roads, in particular to avoid situations in which vehicles cannot pass each other and must undertake long, complex and dangerous maneuvers.

[0007] The present invention improves the situation.

[0008] To this end, a first aspect of the invention relates to a method for controlling traffic lights arranged on a road section, each traffic light being positioned in a clearance zone of the road section and being capable of being controlled in a stopped state or in a passing state, the clearance zone being a local widening zone of the section, at least one first collection device being located at a first entrance to the section and a second collection device being located at a second entrance to the section, the method comprising the following steps: - receipt of information relating to a first vehicle from the first collection device; - following receipt of information relating to the first vehicle, receipt of information relating to a second vehicle from the second collection device; - determination of a probability that the first vehicle and the second vehicle cross in a crossing zone of the section allowing only the first vehicle and the second vehicle to cross, said probability being determined from the information relating to the first vehicle, the information relating to the second vehicle and descriptive information of the section; - depending on the determined probability, controlling a given traffic light to command a change of the traffic light into the stop state, so as to stop one of the first and second vehicles in the clearance zone of the given traffic light.

[0009] Such a method is particularly advantageous for sections of mountain road, which may include narrow sections that do not allow two vehicles to cross each other. Thus, the method makes it possible to anticipate such situations and to cause one of the vehicles to stop near a clearance zone, thus allowing the vehicles to cross each other, without requiring complex and dangerous maneuvers.

[0010] According to embodiments, the information relating to the first vehicle may comprise at least one dimension of said first vehicle, and the information relating to the second vehicle may comprise at least one dimension of said second vehicle.

[0011] Thus, the accuracy associated with the determined probability is improved since the dimension, which may be the width, of each vehicle is taken into account for the determination of the probability.

[0012] According to embodiments, in addition or as a variant, the information relating to the first vehicle may comprise at least one speed of said first vehicle, and the information relating to the second vehicle comprises at least one speed of said second vehicle.

[0013] Thus, it is made possible to determine with greater precision the position of the crossing zone of the vehicles, which then improves the determination of the probability that the first and second vehicles cannot cross in the crossing zone.

[0014] According to embodiments, the descriptive information of the section may comprise a length of the section, respective widths of parts of the section, a number of turns and / or bends of the section, a number of clearance zones greater than or equal to 1, associations between traffic lights and clearance zone identifiers, and / or respective positions of the collection devices in the section.

[0015] Thus, the accuracy associated with determining the crossing zone and the probability that the first and second vehicles cannot cross in the crossing zone is improved.

[0016] According to embodiments, the given traffic light may be pre-selected according to a predetermined rule depending on an order of arrival in the section between the first vehicle and the second vehicle, and the selected traffic light may be a traffic light positioned so as to command the stopping of the second vehicle.

[0017] Thus, the method makes it possible to advantage the vehicle arriving first on a section, which is not slowed down, since only the second vehicle is stopped in the clearance zone. Furthermore, such a rule is simple to implement.

[0018] In addition, the method may comprise determining the crossing zone prior to determining the probability, based on the information relating to the first vehicle, the information relating to the second vehicle and the descriptive information of the section, and, according to the predetermined rule, the selected traffic light may be the closest to the determined crossing zone among the traffic light(s) located between the determined crossing zone and the second entrance to the section.

[0019] Thus, the control method according to the invention allows the second vehicle to progress as far as possible in the section, before stopping in front of the given traffic light, which reduces the travel time of the second vehicle to cross the section.

[0020] According to embodiments, the method may comprise determining that the first vehicle has passed the second vehicle, and resetting the given traffic signal to the on state at a time subsequent to determining that the first vehicle has passed the second vehicle.

[0021] Thus, the second vehicle can resume the route of the section once the first vehicle has crossed it. The safety associated with the crossing of vehicles is thus ensured, while limiting the stopping time of the second vehicle in the clearance zone.

[0022] According to embodiments, the method may further comprise, subsequent to receiving the information relating to the second vehicle, receiving information relating to a third vehicle from a collection device among the first collection device and the third collection device, and, if the information relating to the third vehicle is received from the first collection device, then resetting the given traffic light to the on state may be subsequent to a determination that the third vehicle has passed the second vehicle.

[0023] Thus, the method ensures safe crossing of the section, even when strictly more than two vehicles are traveling in the section in opposite directions.

[0024] A second aspect of the invention relates to a computer program comprising instructions for implementing the method according to the first aspect of the invention, when these instructions are executed by a processor.

[0025] A third aspect of the invention relates to a device for controlling traffic lights arranged on a road section, each traffic light being positioned in a clearance zone of the road section and being capable of being controlled in a stopped state or in a passing state, the clearance zone being a local widening zone of the section, the control device comprising a processor configured to: - upon receiving information relating to a first vehicle from a first collection device located at a first entrance to the section, via a first interface of the control device, and upon receiving information relating to a second vehicle by a second collection device located at a second entrance to the section, determining a probability that the first vehicle and the second vehicle will cross in a crossing zone of the section allowing only the first vehicle and the second vehicle to cross, said probability being determined from the information relating to the first vehicle, the information relating to the second vehicle and descriptive information of the section; - depending on the determined probability, controlling, via a second interface of the control device, a given traffic light to command a change of the traffic light into the stop state, so as to stop one of the first and second vehicles in the clearance zone of the given traffic light.

[0026] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on examining the detailed description below, and the appended drawings in which:

[0027] [Fig. 1] illustrates a road infrastructure control system for a section of a mountain road, according to embodiments of the invention;

[0028] [Fig.2] is a diagram illustrating the steps of a process according to rea modes lization of the invention;

[0029] [Fig.3] illustrates a control device according to embodiments of the invention.

[0030] [Fig.l] illustrates a control system 100 of a road infrastructure for a section 130 of a mountain road, according to embodiments of the invention.

[0031] The section 130 shown in [Fig.l], comprises, by way of example, three bends, including two hairpin bends, for illustrative purposes. In addition, the section 130 may comprise three clearance zones 131.1 to 131.3 in which the width of the road is widened locally in order to allow two vehicles to pass each other, including large vehicles. No restriction is attached to the number of clearance zones that the section 130 comprises, which is any integer greater than or equal to 1. The example of three clearance zones 131.1 to 131.3 is considered in the following for illustrative purposes.

[0032] The section 130 has a given length, between a first inlet 140.1 and a second entrance 140.2 of section 130. The width of the road may vary along section 130, within the clearance zones but also between clearance zones 131.1 to 131.3.

[0033] According to the invention, the control system 100 comprises: - a control device 101; - at least one first collection device 111.1 or 111.2 located at the first entrance 140.1 of the section 130 and at least one second collection device 112.1 or 112.2 located at the second entrance 140.2 of the section 130; - at least one traffic light in a clearance zone, and capable of being controlled by the control device 101. In the example of [Fig.l], a pair of traffic lights is provided for each of the three clearance zones 131.1 to 131.3. A first pair of traffic lights 151.1 and 151.2 is provided for the first clearance zone 131.1, a second pair of traffic lights 152.1 and 152.2 is provided for the second clearance zone 131.2 and a third pair of traffic lights 153.1 and 153.2 is provided for the third clearance zone 131.3. Each light of a pair is oriented in a given direction of the road, so as to stop or let pass vehicles arriving in the given direction, the other light of the pair being dedicated to the opposite direction.

[0034] Each collection device is capable of obtaining information representative of a vehicle passing in front of the collection device, in particular a speed of the vehicle and at least one dimension of the vehicle. Each collection device may be capable of obtaining such information for a vehicle passing in front of the collection device, regardless of its direction of travel. Alternatively, and as shown in [Fig.l], a collection device is capable of obtaining information relating to a vehicle passing in front of the collection device in a given direction only.

[0035] Thus, for the first entrance 140.1, a first collection device 111.1 is able to obtain information relating to a vehicle leaving the section 130 while another first collection device 111.2, located on the other side of the road, is able to obtain information relating to a vehicle entering the section 130 via the first entrance 140.1.

[0036] Similarly, for the second entrance 140.2, a second collection device 112.1 is able to obtain information relating to a vehicle entering the section 130 while another second collection device 112.2, located on the other side of the road, is able to obtain information relating to a vehicle leaving the section 130 via the second entrance 140.2.

[0037] Alternatively, as mentioned above, the first input 140.1 may comprise a single first collection device capable of obtaining information relating to vehicles entering the section 130 and to vehicles leaving the section 130. Similarly according to this variant, the second input 140.1 may comprise a single second collection device capable of obtaining information relating to vehicles entering the section 130 and to vehicles leaving the section 130.

[0038] In the following, pairs of collection devices at different positions of the section 130 are considered for illustrative purposes, namely at least at the first inlet 140.1 and at the second inlet 140.2.

[0039] Optionally, the control system 100 may comprise other pairs of collection devices at different intermediate positions of the section 130, in particular two third collection devices 113.1 and 113.2 at a third position of the section and two fourth collection devices 114.1 and 114.2 at a fourth position of the section. The third and fourth positions are longitudinal positions of the section 130, intermediate between the first inlet 140.1 and the second inlet 140.2.

[0040] According to the invention, each collection device is capable of obtaining information relating to a vehicle which crosses, or passes in front of, the collection device, and is capable of transmitting the information thus obtained to the control device 101. The information transmitted also includes a time taken for the vehicle to pass in front of the collection device.

[0041] No restriction is attached to the manner in which each collection device obtains information relating to the vehicle. In a first example, each collection device is able to interrogate a vehicle passing in front of it via wireless communication, by sending a request for information to the vehicle, and the vehicle returns the information concerning it, in particular its current speed and said at least one dimension. In addition, the vehicle can return as more complete information concerning it: a model of the vehicle and / or all of the dimensions of the vehicle.

[0042] No restrictions are attached to wireless communication between a collection device and a vehicle, which may be: - all-vehicle communication, also called V2X, vehicle-to-vehicle V2V communication, or I2V vehicle infrastructure; - communication via a cellular network, such as a 3G, 4G, 5G network or any other cellular technology; - communication using the Wifi protocol; or - communication using the Bluetooth protocol.

[0043] According to a second example, the collection device is able to obtain the information from the vehicle in a transparent manner for the vehicle, for example by means of a sensor of the collection device able to determine the speed of the vehicle and at least one dimension of the vehicle. The sensor can for example be a camera and / or a radar. For example, a camera of the collection device can be associated with a module for determining the speed and size of a vehicle identified in a series of images acquired by the camera.

[0044] As detailed in the following, the control device 101 is capable of receiving the vehicle-related information from several collection devices, is capable of storing descriptive information of the section 130, and is capable of controlling the traffic lights of the control system 101, on the basis of the vehicle-related information and the descriptive information of the section 130.

[0045] The descriptive information of the section 130 may include: - a length of the section; - respective widths of parts of the section 130. In the example of [Fig.l], the part of the section between the first clearance zone 131.1 and the second clearance zone 131.2 is wider than the part of the section between the second clearance zone 131.2 and the third clearance zone 131.3; - a number of turns and / or bends in section 130, i.e. three turns including two bends in the example in [Fig.l]; - a number of clearance zones, three in the example in [Fig.l], as well as the respective positions of the clearance zones in the section; - associations between traffic lights and clearance zone identifiers; and / or - the respective positions of the collection devices in the section.

[0046] The descriptive information of the section 130 also includes respective positions of each of the collection devices and each of the traffic lights.

[0047] No restrictions are attached to the means of communication: - between the collection devices and the control device 101 on the one hand; nor - between the control device 101 and said at least one traffic light on the other hand.

[0048] These means of communication include any means of wired or wireless communication. The means of wireless communication may be communication by satellite, by cellular network or by Wifi for example, depending on the distance in particular between the different elements of the control system 100 according to the invention.

[0049] [Fig.2] is a diagram illustrating the steps of a method for controlling traffic lights of a road infrastructure in a section of road, in particular a mountain road, according to embodiments of the invention.

[0050] The method can be implemented by the control system 100 described with reference to [Fig.l], in particular by the control device 101.

[0051] At a step 200, the control device 100 controls the traffic lights in a default situation, or initial situation, in which all the traffic lights lization are green.

[0052] In the initial situation, no vehicle is engaged in the section 130. As described below, the initial situation also applies to cases where only one vehicle is traveling in the section, or in the case where several vehicles are traveling in the same direction.

[0053] In a first iteration of step 201, the control device 101 receives information relating to a first vehicle from a collection device, located at the first entrance 140.1 or at the second entrance 140.2 of the section. In the example of [Fig.l], the first vehicle is a vehicle 120.1 arriving first in the vicinity of the section 130, via the first entrance 140.1. The first vehicle 120.1 is detected by the first collection device 111.2 capable of detecting vehicles entering the section 130 via the first entrance 140.1. The first collection device 111.2 obtains the information relating to the first vehicle 120.1 and transmits it to the control device 101 during the first iteration of step 201.

[0054] At a step 202 following step 201, the control device 101 determines whether at least two vehicles are traveling in opposite directions in the section 130.

[0055] If this is not the case, i.e. if only one vehicle is engaged in the section, or if several vehicles are in the section, but all traveling in the same direction, the method returns to step 201 until a new vehicle is detected. If this is the case, i.e. if at least two vehicles are traveling in opposite directions in the section 130, the method goes to step 203 described below.

[0056] In the context of the example of [Fig.l], following the reception of the information relating to the first vehicle 120.1 during the first iteration of step 201, the first vehicle 120.1 is the only one to be engaged in the section, and the method therefore returns to step 201 for a second iteration.

[0057] During the second iteration of step 201, the control device 101 receives information relating to a second vehicle from a collection device, located at the first entrance 140.1 or at the second entrance 140.2. The collection device of the second iteration may be identical to the collection device of the first iteration of step 201, in which case the two detected vehicles travel in the same direction.

[0058] In the example of [Fig.l] however, the second vehicle is a vehicle 120.2 arriving on the section 130 via the second entrance 140.2. The second vehicle 120.2 is thus detected by the second collection device 112.1 capable of detecting vehicles entering the section via the second entrance 140.2.

[0059] Step 202 is repeated following the second iteration of step 201. Again, the control device 101 determines whether at least two vehicles are traveling on the section 130 in opposite directions.

[0060] In the example of [Fig.l], following the second iteration of step 201, the first vehicle 120.1 and the second vehicle 120.2 are indeed engaged in the section in opposite directions, so the method proceeds to step 203. However, if the second vehicle 120.2 arrives at the first entrance 140.1 and not at the second entrance 140.2, the method proceeds to a third iteration of step 201, until a third vehicle is detected at the first entrance 140.1 or at the second entrance 140.2.

[0061] During step 203 following the detection of at least two vehicles traveling in opposite directions in the section 130, the control device 101 determines a probability that the first vehicle and the second vehicle will cross in a crossing zone of the section that does not allow the vehicles to cross each other. The determination of the probability according to the invention is based on: - at least one of the information relating to the first vehicle obtained during the first iteration of step 201; - at least one of the information relating to the second vehicle obtained during the second iteration of step 201; - the descriptive information of section 130 stored by the device.

[0062] In particular, the determination of the probability during step 203 can be implemented by the control device 101 as a function of: - the time of detection of the first vehicle when entering the section, the speed of the first vehicle when it is detected, at least one dimension of the first vehicle; - the time of detection of the second vehicle when entering the section, the speed of the second vehicle when it is detected, at least one dimension of the second vehicle; - the descriptive information for section 130 defined previously.

[0063] In particular, from the detection times and the speeds, as well as the number of bends in the section, the control device 101 can determine a crossing zone of the first vehicle and the second vehicle. If the width of the section in the crossing zone is greater than the sum of the dimensions of the first vehicle and the second vehicle, then the probability that the vehicles cannot cross in the crossing zone is low. On the contrary, if the width of the section in the crossing zone is greater than the sum of the dimensions of the first vehicle and the second vehicle, then the probability that the vehicles cannot cross in the crossing zone is high.

[0064] Taking into account the speed of vehicles when they enter the section is optional, a fixed speed can be assigned to vehicles, by default.

[0065] The crossover zone can be determined with greater precision when the control system 100 comprises collection devices in an intermediate position between the first inlet and the second inlet. This is particularly the case in the example of [Fig.l], wherein the third collection devices 113.1 and 113.2 and the fourth collection devices 114.1 and 114.2 are in intermediate positions between the first input 140.1 and the second input 140.2. In this case, if the information relating to the second vehicle 120.2 is received from the second collection device 112.1 while the collection device has previously received the information relating to the first vehicle 120.1 not only from the first collection device 111.2, but also from the fourth collection device 114.2, then the crossing zone is necessarily between the position of the second input 140.2 and the fourth position of the fourth collection device 114.2. The determination of the crossing zone is thus improved. This results in a better determination of the probability in step 203.

[0066] If the probability determined in step 203 is greater than a given threshold, i.e. the risk of crossing requiring a maneuver is high, the method goes to step 204. Otherwise, if the probability determined in step 203 is less than the given threshold, i.e. the risk of crossing requiring a maneuver is low, the method returns to step 201 until information relating to a new vehicle is received.

[0067] Note that as a variant, the probability is binary, and can take a first value indicating a high risk and a second value indicating a low risk: if the first value is determined, the method goes to step 204, and if the second value is determined, the method returns to step 201 for a new iteration.

[0068] It should also be noted that during step 201, the control device 101 can receive information about a vehicle from a collection device, indicating that the vehicle is leaving the section, via the first input 140.1 or via the second input 140.2. Indeed, if the information relating to the vehicle received during step 201 is received from the first collection device 111.1, then the vehicle is leaving the section via the first input 140.1: it is therefore a vehicle that was previously detected by the second collection device 112.1 when it entered the section via the second input 140.2. In the event of detection of the exit of a vehicle, the collection device can erase the information relating to the vehicle that has left, which is then no longer taken into account during steps 202 and following.

[0069] During step 204, the collection device 101 controls the change to red of one of the traffic lights, in order to cause the first vehicle or the second vehicle to stop near the clearance zone of the traffic light that has changed to red. Note that in general, each traffic light can be controlled between a stop state, red for example, and a passing state, green for example. Step 204 thus comprises sending a signal command to a traffic light selected from among the several traffic lights in the control system.

[0070] The control device 101 can select the traffic light to be controlled for a change to red, according to at least one predetermined rule.

[0071] The predetermined rule may depend on the last vehicle entering the section 130.

[0072] The rule may be to select the traffic light closest to the entrance through which the last vehicle entering the section passed, when two vehicles are in the section in opposite directions. In the example of [Fig.l], the second vehicle 120.2 entered the section 130 after the first vehicle 120.1. Thus, following the second iteration of step 201, and steps 202 and 203, the application of the above rule by the control device 101 indicates to select the traffic light 153.1 of the third pair of lights, because the traffic light 153.1 is closest to the second entrance 140.2 through which the second vehicle 120.2 arrived and is oriented to face the direction of travel of the second vehicle 120.2.

[0073] Thus, the traffic light 153.1 turning red forces the second vehicle 120.2 to stop in the third clearance zone 131.3, upstream of the traffic light 153.1 in the direction of travel of the second vehicle 120.2, and consequently the first vehicle 120.1 can pass the second vehicle 120.2 stopped in the third clearance zone 131.3.

[0074] Other predetermined rules may be applied for selecting the traffic light to be switched to the stop state. For example, the selected traffic light may be the traffic light closest to the determined crossing zone, and between the determined crossing zone and the entrance through which the last vehicle entering the section passed. In this case, in the example of [Fig.l], if the crossing zone determined by the control device 100 is between the first clearance zone 131.1 and the second clearance zone 131.2, then the control device selects the traffic light 152.1 of the second pair and controls its switching to red. Thus, the second vehicle 120.2 can proceed as close as possible to the crossing zone, then stop in the second clearance zone 131.2, in order to let the first vehicle 120.1 pass.Such a rule makes it possible to limit the duration of the selected traffic light passing through red and thus to limit the duration of the journey of the second vehicle 120.2. .

[0075] At a step 205, the control device 101 determines whether or not the crossing of the vehicles traveling in the opposite direction in the section 130 has occurred. For this purpose, the control device 101 can: - receive information relating to the first vehicle 120.1 from a collection device located at the entrance through which the second vehicle 120.2 entered the section, that is to say by the second collection device 112.2 capable of detecting vehicles leaving the section 130 via the second entrance 140.2. Such information indicates that the first vehicle 120.1 has left the section 130; - receive information relating to the first vehicle 120.1 from a collection device located closest to the red traffic light, between the red traffic light and the entrance through which the second vehicle 120.2 entered the section, i.e. from the third collection device 113.2 capable of detecting vehicles traveling from the first entrance 140.1 to the second entrance 140.2. This information indicates that the first vehicle 120.1 is still in the section, but has already passed the second vehicle 120.2; - delay a determined duration after detecting the entry of the first vehicle 120.1 into the section, at the end of which the control device 101 determines that the crossing has occurred. The determined duration may be predetermined, and may depend on the descriptive information of the section, or may be determined from the speed of the first vehicle 120.1 detected as entering the section first.

[0076] As long as the control device 101 determines that the crossing has not occurred, the method remains at step 204, i.e. the selected traffic light remains in the stopped state.

[0077] When the control device 101 determines that the crossing has occurred, the method returns to the initial step 200, and the control device 101 indicates to the selected traffic light to switch back to the on state.

[0078] In a complementary manner, the method according to the invention can be applied to situations in which more than three vehicles are engaged in the section 130. If the three vehicles are traveling in the same direction, then step 202 systematically returns to step 201 insofar as the control device 101 does not detect several vehicles traveling in opposite directions.

[0079] However, if information relating to a third vehicle is received by the control device 101, while two vehicles are already engaged in the section in opposite directions, the control device 101 applies steps 202 to 205 to the third vehicle and to the vehicle traveling in the opposite direction relative to the third vehicle among the vehicles already present in the section 130.

[0080] In particular, if the third vehicle 120.3 is traveling in the same direction as the first vehicle 120.1 that arrived first in the section, then the control device keeps the selected traffic light in the stopped state as long as the control device 101 determines that the third vehicle 120.3 has not passed the second vehicle 120.2. Thus, the method does not return to step 200 following the determination that the first vehicle has passed the second vehicle, if the information from the third vehicle has been received in the meantime at a third iteration of step 201.

[0081] Otherwise, if the third vehicle 120.3 is traveling in the same direction as the second vehicle 120.2, then the change to red of the traffic light selected to stop the second vehicle already makes it possible to stop the third vehicle with the second vehicle in the clearance zone. However, if the control device 101 determines that the crossing zone between the first vehicle and the third vehicle is located on the path of the third vehicle before the third vehicle reaches the clearance zone in which the second vehicle is stopped, then the control device 101 can command, at a new step 204, the change to red of another traffic light located closest to the entrance through which the third vehicle entered the section 130.

[0082] In a situation corresponding to the initial configuration shown in [Fig. 1], a third vehicle 120.3 arrives on the section 130 via the first entrance 140.1, after the first vehicle 120.1 and after the second vehicle 120.2. Thus, during an implementation of the method preceding the detection of the third vehicle 120.3, the control device 101 may have controlled, in step 204, the change to red of a traffic light to stop the second vehicle 120.2 near a clearance zone.

[0083] In this case, following the detection of the third vehicle 120.3 during a third iteration of step 201, the control device 101 can maintain the selected traffic light at red, until the control device 101 determines that the third vehicle 120.2 has passed the first vehicle 120.1. For this purpose, to determine that the third vehicle 120.2 has passed the first vehicle 120.1, the control device 101 can: - receive information relating to the third vehicle 120.3 from the second collection device 112.2 located at the second entrance 140.2, indicating that the third vehicle 120.3 has exited the section; - receive information relating to the third vehicle 120.3 from a collection device in an intermediate position located between the clearance zone in which the second vehicle is stopped, and the second entrance 140.2, indicating that the third vehicle 120.3 has passed the second vehicle 120.2; or - delay a determined period of time after receiving the information relating to the third vehicle from the first collection device 111.2 located at the first entrance 140.1, the determined period of time being an estimate of the travel time in the section from the first entrance 140.1 to the second entrance 140.2, or an estimate of the time of the travel time from the first entrance 140.1 to the clearance zone in which the traffic light selected to block the second vehicle 120.2 is located.

[0084] [Fig.3] shows the structure of a control device 101 according to modes of realization of the invention.

[0085] The control device 101 comprises a processor 301 configured to communicate unidirectionally or bidirectionally, via one or more buses or via a direct wired connection, with a memory 302 such as a memory of the “Random Access Memory” type, RAM, or a memory of the “Read Ordy Memory” type, ROM, or any other type of memory (Flash, EEPROM, etc.). Alternatively, the memory 302 comprises several memories of the aforementioned types.

[0086] The memory 302 is capable of storing, permanently or temporarily, at least some of the data used and / or resulting from the implementation of the method described with reference to [Fig.2].

[0087] In particular, the memory 302 can temporarily store the information relating to the vehicles received in the steps 201 described previously. When the information relating to a vehicle comes from a collection device capable of detecting an exit from the section 130, the information relating to the vehicles can be deleted from the memory 302. The memory 302 can thus store a list of the vehicles currently present in the section, each vehicle being stored in association with the last collection device having transmitted information relating to this vehicle.

[0088] The memory further permanently stores the descriptive information of the section 130, as described previously.

[0089] The processor 301 is capable of executing instructions, stored in the memory 302, for implementing the steps of the method according to the invention, described with reference to [Fig. 2]. Alternatively, the processor 301 can be replaced by a microcontroller designed and configured to carry out the steps of the method according to the invention, described with reference to [Fig. 2].

[0090] The control device 101 comprises a first interface 303 capable of receiving information relating to the vehicles from the collection devices of the control system 100. As previously described, the first interface 303 may be a wired interface or a wireless communication interface.

[0091] The control device 101 comprises a second interface 304 capable of sending control signals to the signal lights of the control system 100. As previously described, the second interface 304 may be a wired interface or a wireless communication interface.

[0092] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above as examples; it extends to other variants.

Claims

Claims

1. A method for controlling traffic lights (151.1; 151.2; 152.1; 152.2; 153.1; 153.2) arranged on a road section (130), each traffic light being positioned in a clearance zone (131.1; 131.2; 131.3) of the road section and being capable of being controlled in a stopped state or in a passing state, the clearance zone being a local widening zone of the section, at least one first collection device (111.2) being located at a first entrance (140.1) of the section and a second collection device (112.1) being located at a second entrance (140.2) of the section, the method comprising the following steps: - receiving (201) information relating to a first vehicle (120.1) from the first collection device; - following the reception of information relating to the first vehicle, reception (201) of information relating to a second vehicle (120.2) from the second collection device; - determining (203) a probability that the first vehicle and the second vehicle will cross in a crossing zone of the section allowing only the first vehicle and the second vehicle to cross, said probability being determined from the information relating to the first vehicle, the information relating to the second vehicle and descriptive information of the section; - depending on the determined probability, controlling (204) a given traffic light to command a passage of the traffic light into the stop state, so as to stop one of the first and second vehicles in the clearance zone of the given traffic light.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the information relating to the first vehicle (120.1) comprises at least one dimension of said first vehicle, and wherein the information relating to the second vehicle (120.2) comprises at least one dimension of said second vehicle.

3. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the information relating to the first vehicle (120.1) comprises at least one speed of said first vehicle, and wherein the information relating to the second vehicle (120.2) comprises at least one speed of said second vehicle.

4. Method according to one of the preceding claims, in which the descriptive information of the section (130) comprises a length of the section, respective widths of parts of the section, a number of turns and / or bends in the section, a number of clearance zones (131.1; 131.2; 131.3) greater than or equal to 1, associations between traffic lights (151.1; 151.2; 152.1; 152.2; 153.1; 153.2) and clearance zone identifiers, and / or respective positions of collection devices (111.1; 111.2; 112.1; 112.2; 113.1; 113.2; 114.1; 114.2) in the section.

5. Method according to one of the preceding claims, in which the given traffic light is previously selected according to a predetermined rule depending on an order of arrival in the section between the first vehicle (120.1) and the second vehicle (120.2), and in which the selected traffic light is a traffic light positioned so as to command the stopping of the second vehicle.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the method comprises determining the crossing zone prior to determining (203) the probability, based on the information relating to the first vehicle (120.1), the information relating to the second vehicle (120.2) and the descriptive information of the section (130), and wherein, according to the predetermined rule, the selected traffic light is the closest to the determined crossing zone among the traffic light(s) located between the determined crossing zone and the second entrance (140.2) of the section.

7. A method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the method comprises determining that the first vehicle (120.1) has passed the second vehicle (120.2), and resetting (200) the given traffic light to the passing state at a time subsequent to determining that the first vehicle has passed the second vehicle.

8. A method according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising, subsequent to receiving (201) the information relating to the second vehicle (120.2), receiving (201) information relating to a third vehicle (120.3) from one of the first collection device (111.2) and the third collection device (112.1), wherein, if the information relating to the third vehicle is received from the first collection device, then resetting (200) the given traffic light to the on state is subsequent to a determination that the third vehicle has passed the second vehicle.

9. Computer program comprising instructions for implementing implementation of the method according to one of the preceding claims, when these instructions are executed by a processor (301).

10. Control device (101) for traffic lights arranged (151.1; 151.2; 152.1; 152.2; 153.1; 153.2) on a road section (130), each traffic light being positioned in a clearance zone (131.1; 131.2; 131.3) of the road section and being capable of being controlled in a stopped state or in a passing state, the clearance zone being a local widening zone of the section, the control device comprising a processor configured to: - upon receiving (201) information relating to a first vehicle (120.1) from a first collection device (111.2) located at a first entrance (140.1) of the section, by a first interface (303) of the control device, and upon receiving information relating to a second vehicle (120.2) by a second collection device (112.1) located at a second entrance (140.2) of the section, determining a probability that the first vehicle and the second vehicle will cross in a crossing zone of the section allowing only the first vehicle and the second vehicle to cross, said probability being determined from the information relating to the first vehicle, the information relating to the second vehicle and descriptive information of the section; - depending on the determined probability, controlling, via a second interface (304) of the control device, a given traffic light to command a passage of the traffic light into the stop state, so as to stop one of the first and second vehicles in the clearance zone of the given traffic light.

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