Traffic Speed Limit Database Update via Onboard Vehicle Sensors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for updating traffic speed limit databases on road networks are expensive and unreliable, with only main roads being regularly updated, leading to obsolete data on secondary roads.
Innovation Solution
A system that automatically updates traffic speed limit databases using a remote server and on-board vehicle systems with GPS, communication, and data processing capabilities, calculating statistical maximum vehicle speeds and adjusting speed limits based on differences from recorded values, ensuring accurate and timely updates across all road sections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If mapping companies use vehicles with cameras to record speed limits in situ, then the data can be encoded into databases, but the operation becomes particularly expensive and only main roads are monitored regularly
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables vehicles to automatically update speed limit databases using their own onboard sensors and communication systems. Each vehicle acts as its own data collection device, eliminating the need for specialized mapping companies and their expensive camera equipment. The vehicles self-organize to collectively cover the entire road network through statistical sampling.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical camera-based recording system with an electronic sensor-based system. Instead of using cameras to visually record speed limit signs, the system uses onboard sensors to detect speed limits and automatically transmit this data to the database, eliminating the need for manual encoding and reducing operational costs.
2Productivity
If only main roads are updated regularly with specialized offices, then the updating process can be managed, but secondary roads are only updated irregularly resulting in obsolete and erroneous data
Solution Approach 1:
The system makes every vehicle on the road network a potential data collection unit for speed limit updates. Instead of having specialized offices exclusively update main roads, any vehicle equipped with the necessary sensors and communication capabilities can contribute to updating speed limit data for any road section it traverses, including secondary roads.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses statistical sampling where a sufficient number of vehicles traverse each road section to collect speed limit data. Rather than requiring complete coverage of every road section by dedicated teams, the system accepts that some sections will be sampled more frequently than others, but ensures that over time, all sections receive adequate updates through the aggregated data from multiple vehicle passes.
3Extent of automation
If a statistical maximum value method is used to update speed limits automatically, then the database can be continuously updated, but the system requires coordination between on-board systems and remote servers
Solution Approach 1:
The remote server acts as an intermediary that coordinates between multiple on-board vehicle systems. Instead of requiring direct peer-to-peer communication between vehicles, the server collects data from various vehicles, processes the statistical information, and manages the database updates centrally, simplifying the overall system architecture while maintaining high automation.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for updating a database of authorized traffic speed limits (VLt) for vehicles on at least one section (tn) concerned of a road network, including a remote server and an on-board system in each vehicle. A system and method capable of constituting a database of the average traffic speeds of vehicles on the sections with a view to implementing the aforementioned system.