Service Lane Sensor System for Early Vehicle Queue Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems fail to provide vehicles with relevant information about service availability and wait times at service locations, such as gas stations or toll booths, before they enter the access lane, limiting the driver's ability to make informed decisions about using the service.
Innovation Solution
A method and device that utilize sensor devices, including ground sensors, cameras, radar sensors, light barriers, and induction loops, to detect data values representing service variables like the number of vehicles and service time, and transmit these variables to vehicles outside the access lane via a display or radio link, allowing early decision-making.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If information about service availability and wait times is provided only when the vehicle is already in the access lane, then the system complexity is reduced, but the driver cannot make informed decisions early enough
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor device detects variables (number of vehicles, service time) before the vehicle enters the access lane, and the communication device transmits this information to the vehicle in advance. This preliminary action allows the driver to make informed decisions before entering the access lane, resolving the contradiction by providing information early without requiring complex real-time processing systems.
2Loss of information
If the access lane is designed for single-file service, then the service process is simplified, but the driver cannot see or assess the current queue status
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor device acts as an intermediary, detecting the number of vehicles and service time variables that are not directly visible to the driver. The communication device then transmits this information to the vehicle, serving as a mediator between the access lane conditions and the driver's decision-making process. This resolves the contradiction by providing queue status information without requiring the driver to directly observe the lane.
3Loss of time
If the service location does not provide advance information, then the system is simpler to operate, but vehicles may enter the access lane with unacceptable wait times
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor device continuously monitors the access lane conditions (number of vehicles, service time) and provides feedback to the communication device, which then transmits this information to approaching vehicles. This feedback mechanism allows drivers to receive real-time information about wait times and make informed decisions, reducing unnecessary vehicle entries while maintaining system simplicity.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and a first device for providing variables for obtaining a service at a service location, the service location including an access lane, and at least one sensor device assigned to the access lane being provided, including a step for detecting data values with the aid of the sensor device, the data values representing variables for obtaining the service as a function of at least one part of the access lane, and including a step for providing the variables represented by the data values in such a way that the variables are made accessible to a first vehicle, which is not in the at least one part of the access lane.