Intersection Assistor Using DSRC to Prevent Spillback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Drivers often attempt to cross intersections during congestion, leading to spillback and potential ticketable offenses due to insufficient space on the other side, causing gridlock and adjacent intersection congestion.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle system utilizing dedicated short-range communications (DSRC) to receive safety messages from other vehicles and infrastructure, determining the likelihood of space availability on the other side of the intersection and providing recommendations to proceed or stop through the intersection based on this analysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If drivers proceed through the intersection during congestion, then they may clear the intersection quickly, but they risk becoming stuck in the middle causing spillback and gridlock
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary assessment of space availability on the far side of the intersection before the vehicle enters. By using DSRC to receive safety messages from other vehicles and infrastructure, the system determines in advance whether there is sufficient space to clear the intersection, allowing the driver to make an informed decision before committing to the crossing.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously receives real-time safety messages from other vehicles and infrastructure via DSRC, providing feedback on current traffic conditions, vehicle positions, and space availability. This feedback loop allows the system to dynamically assess whether it is safe to proceed and update the recommendation as conditions change.
2Reliability
If drivers wait for space availability confirmation, then they avoid causing spillback and gridlock, but they experience increased waiting time and reduced traffic flow efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The system begins assessing space availability as soon as the vehicle approaches the intersection, using DSRC messages to gather information about far-side traffic conditions. This preliminary assessment occurs in parallel with the driver's normal decision-making process, so no additional waiting time is required.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses existing DSRC safety messages broadcast by other vehicles and infrastructure to determine space availability, rather than requiring active querying or additional communication infrastructure. The vehicle serves itself by processing the information already available in the DSRC message stream.
3Ease of operation
If the system provides real-time recommendations based on DSRC messages, then drivers can make informed decisions, but the system complexity and processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The intersection assistor leverages the existing DSRC safety messages that are already being broadcast by other vehicles and infrastructure. Rather than requiring a complex centralized system, each vehicle independently processes the DSRC messages it receives to determine space availability and generate recommendations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system extracts only the necessary information from DSRC safety messages to determine space availability on the far side of the intersection. It focuses on specific parameters such as vehicle positions, speeds, and distances rather than processing all available data, reducing computational complexity.
4Reliability
If the system accurately assesses space availability, then it prevents ticketable offenses and improves safety, but the measurement precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously receives DSRC safety messages that provide real-time feedback on the positions and speeds of other vehicles. By processing this streaming data, the system can dynamically update its assessment of space availability and account for moving targets, maintaining accuracy despite the dynamic nature of traffic conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary calculations of space availability using DSRC message data before the vehicle reaches the critical decision point. This allows sufficient time for multiple measurements and calculations, improving precision through temporal averaging and reducing the impact of measurement noise.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for intersection assistance using dedicated short range communications are disclosed. An example vehicle includes a dedicated short range communication transceiver and an intersection assistor. The example dedicated short range communication transceiver is configured to receive safety messages from other vehicles. The example intersection assistor is configured to, before the vehicle reaches an intersection, determine a likelihood that there will be space for the vehicle on the other side of the intersection, and display a recommendation on whether to proceed through the intersection based on the likelihood.