Pedestrian Warning Lights with Human-Sensing Detection at Intersections
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current traffic signals do not effectively indicate the presence of pedestrians in crosswalks, leading to potential collisions due to obstructed views or adverse weather conditions, and sudden braking by drivers.
Innovation Solution
Implement a system with human body sensing devices, such as passive infrared sensors or millimeter wave radar, to detect pedestrian movement and control pedestrian warning lights at intersections, ensuring drivers are alerted to pedestrians through illuminated warning lights.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional traffic signals are used without pedestrian detection, then the device complexity is low, but the reliability of pedestrian safety is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of pedestrians using human body sensing devices before the pedestrian actually enters the crosswalk. The controller activates warning lights in advance when pedestrians are detected in the detection area, allowing drivers to be warned before the pedestrian reaches the dangerous zone, thus improving safety without requiring complex real-time reaction systems
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary warning light system that mediates between the pedestrian detection system and the drivers. The warning lights serve as an intermediate communication channel to convey pedestrian presence information to drivers, avoiding the need for direct complex interaction between detection systems and vehicle control systems
2Reliability
If pedestrian warning lights are added to traffic signals, then the reliability of pedestrian detection improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The human body sensing devices automatically detect pedestrians and generate detection signals without requiring manual operation. The controller automatically processes these signals and controls the warning lights based on the detection results, creating a self-service system that reduces operational complexity while maintaining high detection reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical visual observation by drivers with automated human body sensing devices using infrared or millimeter wave technology. This substitution of mechanical systems with automated sensing systems improves detection reliability while the standardized control logic keeps the overall system complexity manageable
3Loss of information
If drivers rely on visual observation only, then the ease of operation is high, but the loss of information about pedestrians in blind spots increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides feedback to drivers about pedestrian presence through warning lights that activate when pedestrians are detected. This feedback mechanism compensates for the information loss in blind spots by providing additional sensory information to drivers, allowing them to maintain simple operation while gaining critical safety information
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds another dimension of information perception by introducing warning lights that provide spatial and temporal information about pedestrian presence. This additional dimension of information (visual warning signals) complements the driver's direct visual observation, compensating for blind spot limitations without complicating the driving operation
4Reliability
If sudden braking is used to stop for pedestrians, then the reliability of stopping in time improves, but the object-generated harmful factors increase due to rear-end collisions
Solution Approach 1:
The warning lights activate in advance before the pedestrian actually enters the vehicle's path, providing early warning to drivers. This preliminary action allows drivers to prepare for stopping gradually rather than making sudden emergency brakes, reducing the risk of rear-end collisions while still ensuring timely stopping
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides beforehand cushioning by warning drivers of impending pedestrian crossings through illuminated warning lights. This advance warning acts as a cushion against sudden stopping needs, allowing drivers to modulate their braking more smoothly and reducing the harmful effects of sudden braking on following vehicles
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
Enhances driver awareness of pedestrians, reducing accidents and rear-end collisions by providing timely warnings, especially in obstructed or adverse conditions.
Implementation Method 1
The human body sensing device 101 may be a passive infrared sensor
Implementation Method 2
The human body sensing device 101 may be a passive infrared sensor or a millimeter wave radar
Data Source
AI summary
A method and a system for indicating a presence of a pedestrian using traffic lights at a traffic intersection, the method comprising: setting a human body sensing device to detect whether a pedestrian is present in a pedestrian waiting area. When detecting that there are pedestrians in the pedestrian waiting area, controlling the operation state of a pedestrian warning light among the traffic lights in accordance with the setting position of the human body sensing device and the state information of the driving signal lights of the traffic lights. The method and the system could reduce the likelihood of traffic accidents while protecting the priority right of pedestrians.