Railroad Crossing Preemption System for Traffic Flow Optimization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing railroad crossing detection and notification systems disrupt and delay vehicular traffic flow at adjacent intersections due to reliance on railroad systems and equipment, increasing maintenance and liability concerns for railroad organizations.

Innovation Solution

A traffic control preemption system that provides advanced train detection and crossing status information to traffic controllers without requiring direct interfaces with railroad systems or equipment, using independent sensors and controllers to manage traffic flow efficiently and safely.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If railroad crossing detection systems are used to control adjacent traffic intersections, then traffic safety at the crossing is improved, but vehicular traffic flow at adjacent intersections is disrupted and delayed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetraffic safety at crossingVSAvoidvehicular traffic flow

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the traffic control function by separating the railroad crossing detection system from the adjacent intersection traffic control system. The crossing detection system activates crossing gates and signals, while a separate preemption system receives this information and independently controls the adjacent intersection signals, allowing optimized traffic flow management without compromising crossing safety.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The preemption system activates adjacent intersection traffic signals in advance based on detected train approach. When a train is detected approaching the crossing, the system proactively changes adjacent intersection signals to green before the train arrives, enabling vehicles to clear the crossing area early and resume normal traffic flow without unnecessary delays.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If railroad systems and equipment are used for train detection, then detection capability is established, but maintenance and liability concerns increase for railroad organizations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetrain detection capabilityVSAvoidmaintenance and liability exposure

Core Design Contradiction:

Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The system introduces an intermediary preemption system that receives train detection information from the railroad crossing detection system but operates independently to control adjacent intersection traffic signals. This intermediary layer allows the railroad organization to maintain their existing detection equipment without assuming additional maintenance responsibilities or liability for traffic control operations at adjacent intersections.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The traffic control function is extracted from the railroad crossing detection system and placed into a separate preemption system. The railroad system solely performs train detection and activates crossing gates, while the extracted preemption system handles adjacent intersection signal control, thereby removing maintenance and liability burden from the railroad organization while preserving detection capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Reliability

If traditional crossing gate systems are used, then crossing safety is maintained, but traffic flow efficiency at adjacent intersections is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecrossing safetyVSAvoidtraffic delay at adjacent intersections

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring the status of crossing gates and train detection signals, and using this information to dynamically adjust adjacent intersection traffic signal timing. This feedback mechanism ensures that traffic signals are optimized based on real-time crossing conditions, minimizing unnecessary delays while maintaining safety.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS11967242B2Railroad crossing and adjacent signalized intersection vehicular traffic control preemption systems and methods

Publication Date: 2024.04.23 AJ TECHNOLOGIES LLC

AI summary

A traffic control preemption system monitors an operating state of a railroad crossing, without requiring an interface with railroad crossing equipment, and communicates information to a traffic controller of an adjacent signalized roadway intersection to improve vehicular traffic flow at the railroad crossing. The traffic control preemption system is configured to make real time health assessments of preemption system functionality and provide a degree of redundancy and failsafe operation to the traffic control system.