Smart Traffic Control Devices for False Green Request Detection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current traffic control systems face challenges in accurately identifying and managing false green requests, true green requests, and vehicle location estimation, leading to inefficient traffic management and potential safety issues.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of smart traffic control devices equipped with processing modules, cameras, radio frequency transceivers, and state-affecting sensors, which utilize a state machine to control traffic and communicate with remote resources to detect and verify green requests, and enable vehicles to estimate distance through phase shift measurements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional traffic control systems are used, then device complexity is low, but measurement precision of vehicle location and false green request detection is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the traffic control functionality into multiple independent modules: processing module for signal handling, camera module for visual verification, RF transceiver for communication, and state-affecting sensors for detection. This modular architecture enables precise measurement capabilities while managing device complexity through functional decomposition.
Solution Approach 2:
The traffic control device is designed as a multi-functional integrated system that simultaneously performs traffic signal control, vehicle location estimation, false green request detection, and communication with remote resources. This universal device consolidates multiple functions into a single system, improving measurement precision without proportionally increasing complexity.
2Reliability
If smart traffic control devices with multiple sensors and cameras are deployed, then false green request identification improves, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where the processing module continuously monitors signals from state-affecting sensors and cameras, verifies green requests against actual traffic conditions, and adjusts traffic control decisions based on detected anomalies. This feedback loop enhances reliability by enabling real-time detection and mitigation of false green requests.
Solution Approach 2:
The traffic control device performs preliminary verification of green requests by analyzing sensor data and camera images before executing traffic signal changes. This preliminary action detects potential false requests in advance, preventing incorrect traffic control actions and improving system reliability.
3Measurement precision
If phase shift measurements are used for distance estimation, then location precision improves, but communication system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces traditional mechanical or geometric distance measurement methods with electromagnetic wave-based phase shift measurements. The RF transceiver emits signals and measures phase differences between transmitted and received signals to calculate vehicle distance, providing high precision without mechanical components.
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes changes in RF signal phase parameters to determine distance. By measuring phase shifts in the electromagnetic signals exchanged between the traffic control device and vehicles, the system achieves precise distance estimation through parameter analysis rather than direct physical measurement.
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
This solution enhances traffic management by accurately identifying and mitigating false requests, improving communication with vehicles, and enabling precise location estimation, leading to more efficient and safe traffic flow.
Implementation Method 1
vehicles and other devices in the vicinity of the traffic control device to estimate distance to the traffic control device by measuring phase shifts of at least three frequencies emitted by the traffic control device
Data Source
AI summary
A smart traffic control device implements a method for detecting faulty sensors that result in false green requests and/or undetected true green requests. The faulty sensors may include inductive loops and pedestrian pushbuttons. The traffic control device may communicate with remote resources, including computer systems connected to human resources, to help identify the faulty sensors. The human resources may be crowdsourced. The traffic control device's communications with the remote resources may go through vehicle computers and smart phones of vehicles' occupants and pedestrians. The traffic control device may emit signals to enable vehicle computers to improve accuracy of position location. The traffic control device may emit its state (e.g., Green/Yellow/Red in various directions) and time to state changes, in real or substantially real time. A vehicle computer may receive the state and/or time to state changes and vary operation of the vehicle's power train in response thereto.