Drone-Based Traffic Signal Deployment for Disaster Resilience
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traffic signals fail to function during disasters due to power outages or structural damage, leading to increased congestion and accidents, and existing solutions do not allow for quick restoration.
Innovation Solution
A traffic signal system comprising multiple drones equipped with flight control and light control units, communicating with a server to quickly deploy and synchronize traffic signals at target locations, using organic electro-luminescence sheets for lightweight and efficient signaling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traffic signals are equipped with batteries or use natural energy, then power supply reliability is improved, but structural vulnerability remains when support pillars tilt or collapse
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical support system (support pillars) with an aerial deployment system using drones. The traffic signals are suspended in the air using cables or tethered flight, eliminating the need for ground-based mechanical structures that are vulnerable to earthquakes and structural damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions traffic signals from ground-level deployment to aerial deployment in the third dimension. By positioning traffic signals in the air space above intersections rather than on the ground, the system avoids structural damage from disasters while maintaining traffic control functionality.
2Reliability
If traditional traffic signals are restored after disaster, then service is resumed, but restoration takes a lot of time due to setup procedures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent prepares traffic signals in advance by pre-charging batteries and positioning drones at ready-station locations near intersections. When disasters occur, the pre-positioned drones can immediately deploy traffic signals without requiring time-consuming setup procedures, achieving rapid service restoration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables autonomous deployment where drones automatically navigate to target intersections, position themselves, and deploy traffic signals without human intervention. The system performs self-deployment and self-positioning, eliminating the need for manual setup by rescue workers or technicians.
3Productivity
If multiple drones deploy traffic signals, then deployment speed is improved, but coordination and synchronization become more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a centralized management server that receives real-time status information from multiple drones, calculates optimal deployment targets and timing, and provides feedback commands to coordinate drone actions. This feedback loop enables synchronized deployment of multiple drones while maintaining simple individual drone operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal coordination platform that manages multiple drones with different capabilities. The management server provides unified control for various drone types, handling task allocation, path planning, and synchronization through a single multi-functional system rather than requiring complex peer-to-peer coordination between drones.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables rapid deployment and synchronization of traffic signals at critical points, ensuring continuous operation even during power failures or structural damage, with backup drones ensuring uninterrupted service by replacing low-battery drones.
Implementation Method 1
using organic electro-luminescence sheets for lightweight and efficient signaling
Data Source
AI summary
A traffic signal system and a traffic signal deployment method that enable a traffic signal to be disposed quickly are provided. A traffic signal system includes multiple drones each of which can hold a traffic signal, and a server that can communicate with the multiple drones, in which the server includes a position information acquisition unit that acquires position information of a target point, the target point being a place where it is necessary to dispose the traffic signal, and the drone includes: a flight control unit that controls flight of the drone holding the traffic signal so that it moves to the target point and hovers at the target point based on the position information; and a light control unit that controls lighting of the traffic signal so that timings of the lighting of the multiple traffic signals are synchronized with each other.