Overhead Pedestrian Crossing Viewscreen for Driver Warning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for warning drivers about pedestrians on pedestrian crossings (PCs) are insufficient in raising driver awareness, leading to potential auto-pedestrian accidents, particularly on uncontrolled PCs.
Innovation Solution
A method that uses a detector to identify pedestrians on PCs, a control unit to analyze the information, and a viewscreen installed above the PC to display the pedestrian's position, warning drivers of upcoming vehicles and pedestrians. The viewscreen can include netlike structures with luminous elements to draw attention and provide information to drivers in both directions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traffic signs with light sources are used to warn drivers about pedestrians, then driver awareness is improved, but the level of awareness remains insufficient leading to potential accidents
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from traditional 2D traffic signs to a 3D volumetric light field created by multiple light sources positioned at different heights and angles. This dimensional expansion creates a more immersive and attention-grabbing warning effect that better captures driver attention and improves awareness, directly addressing the insufficiency of conventional traffic signs.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a virtual copy of the pedestrian's position and movement trajectory using light sources that replicate the pedestrian's location in three-dimensional space. This optical copy allows drivers to visually track the pedestrian's position and intended path, enhancing awareness and enabling better decision-making to prevent accidents.
2Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If multiple light sources and illumination devices are activated to improve pedestrian detection, then detection capability is enhanced, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control device activates light sources in advance of pedestrian detection and maintains them active for a predetermined period after detection. This preliminary and extended activation ensures that the warning is visible to approaching drivers before the pedestrian actually reaches the crossing area, improving detection capability while allowing for strategic energy management through timed activation sequences.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the activation state of multiple light sources based on real-time pedestrian detection data. When a pedestrian is detected, specific light sources are activated; when no pedestrian is present, they remain inactive. This dynamic control optimizes energy consumption by activating only the necessary illumination while maintaining high detection capability when needed.
3Area of stationary object
If traffic signs are positioned to cover the entire pedestrian crossing area, then coverage is improved, but the structure becomes more complex and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the pedestrian crossing area into multiple zones, each served by separate traffic signs with their own light sources. This segmentation allows the system to cover the entire crossing area while maintaining modular, manageable units that can be independently controlled and maintained, reducing overall system complexity compared to a single large-scale installation.
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
The solution significantly enhances road safety by improving driver and pedestrian awareness at PC areas, reducing the likelihood of accidents through timely and clear warnings.
Implementation Method 1
detecting the appearance of every pedestrian on the PC by a detector
Implementation Method 2
The viewscreen can include an at least one netlike viewscreen with luminous elements placed at the nodes of the netlike viewscreen
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a method of warning drivers about the presence of pedestrians on a pedestrian crossing. The technical result consists in increasing road safety. The appearance of each pedestrian on the pedestrian crossing is detected by a detector. The information, thus obtained, is analyzed by a control unit, and the location of the pedestrian on the pedestrian crossing is determined. Also provided is a viewscreen mounted above the pedestrian crossing over the entire width of the road, such that traffic is able to pass freely under it, and above sections adjacent to the crossing on both sides of the road. The information about the location of the pedestrian is transmitted from the control unit to the viewscreen in real time and is displayed on the viewscreen as a moving rectangle or a moving silhouette of the pedestrian.