Connected Vehicle Wrong-Way Warning System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current connected vehicle systems are inadequate in preventing collisions with wrong-way drivers, despite existing signage and barriers, as they fail to effectively predict and avoid such crashes in real-time.
Innovation Solution
A connected vehicle traffic safety system that uses a traffic signal controller and roadside unit to configure one-way traffic lanes as signalized intersections, where a wrong-way approach is programmed to remain in a permanent red signal phase, and a vehicle's Onboard Unit calculates red light violations based on location, direction, and speed data to provide warnings to drivers, potentially triggering barriers or signs to prevent collisions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional signage and barriers are used to warn wrong-way drivers, then the system is simple and cost-effective, but it fails to effectively predict and avoid crashes in real-time
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of wrong-way drivers by monitoring vehicle trajectories and calculating red light violations before crashes occur. The Onboard Unit continuously calculates potential red light violations based on vehicle location, direction heading, and speed data, enabling proactive warning before the actual collision hazard materializes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary calculation mechanism that determines red light violation status by comparing vehicle data with traffic signal phase information. This intermediary calculation layer enables automated detection of wrong-way drivers without requiring complex direct detection systems, resolving the contradiction between reliability improvement and system complexity.
2Reliability
If real-time detection and warning systems are implemented, then crash prediction capability improves, but the system complexity and computational requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The Onboard Unit performs self-service by autonomously calculating red light violation status using its own vehicle data (location, direction heading, speed) without requiring external processing. The unit independently compares its trajectory data with traffic signal information and generates warnings autonomously, reducing the complexity of external detection systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the detection parameters from complex direct trajectory analysis to a simplified red light violation calculation framework. By transforming the detection problem into a comparison of vehicle parameters with traffic signal phase parameters, the system achieves accurate wrong-way driver detection with reduced computational complexity.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If barriers and signage are deployed at highway exit ramps, then wrong-way drivers are blocked or warned, but hundreds of fatalities still occur per year
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements continuous feedback by monitoring vehicle trajectories in real-time and providing ongoing warnings to drivers who exhibit wrong-way behavior. The Onboard Unit continuously calculates red light violation status and provides feedback warnings, creating a dynamic safety system that adapts to driver behavior rather than relying on static barriers and signage.
Solution Approach 2:
The system takes preliminary action by detecting and warning wrong-way drivers before they reach critical hazard zones. By calculating potential red light violations in advance based on current vehicle trajectory and speed, the system provides early warning that gives drivers time to correct their behavior before encountering physical barriers or other vehicles.
Data Source
AI summary
A connected vehicle traffic safety system comprises a traffic signal controller and a roadside unit (RSU) located at a one-way traffic lane for avoiding crashes with vehicles of wrong-way drivers by issuing warnings for wrong-way violations. The traffic signal controller is configured to operate a traffic signal. The traffic signal is facing a wrong-way traffic and is set to dwell permanently in a RED signal phase. The one-way traffic lane is configured as a signalized intersection with a wrong-way approach that is programmed as a traffic signal phase dwelling in RED. The roadside unit (RSU) is configured to transmit a Signal Phase and Timing (SPaT) indication for the RED signal phase. A first Onboard Unit (OBU)-equipped vehicle having an Onboard Unit (OBU) that is configured to calculate a RED light violation based on at least one of vehicle location data, direction heading data, and speed data provided from the first OBU-equipped vehicle and the SPaT indication of the RED signal phase to detect the first Onboard Unit (OBU)-equipped vehicle as a wrong-way vehicle.