Virtual Lane Barriers for Reserved Corridor Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for creating reserved corridors on roadways using physical barriers are challenging to deploy and remove safely and efficiently, especially in urban environments where space is limited, and can disrupt traffic flow.
Innovation Solution
The use of virtual barriers, which are digitally represented on roadways and communicated to vehicles through sensors and data systems, to separate dedicated lanes from general-purpose lanes, allowing for the prediction and prevention of lateral movements between them.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If physical barriers are deployed to create reserved corridors, then lane separation and safety are improved, but deployment complexity and traffic disruption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces physical mechanical barriers with virtual barrier representations displayed on vehicle displays and roadside signs. The system uses sensor data processing and digital communication to create virtual lane separation instead of physical dividers, eliminating the need to deploy and remove physical infrastructure while maintaining lane separation safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates virtual copies of physical barriers through digital representations displayed on vehicle screens and roadside displays. These virtual barrier images replicate the function of physical barriers by visually guiding drivers and preventing lateral movements, without requiring actual physical structures to be installed on the roadway.
2Productivity
If physical barriers are removed from roadways, then traffic flow efficiency is improved, but lane separation safety deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system substitutes physical barrier mechanisms with digital visualization systems. Roadside sensors detect vehicle positions and communicate this data to vehicle displays and roadside signs, which render virtual barrier images to guide drivers, maintaining safety without physical infrastructure that would impede traffic flow.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the state of barrier representation from physical presence to digital visualization. By transforming the barrier concept into visual information displayed on screens and signs, the system maintains the protective function while eliminating the physical obstruction to traffic flow.
3Productivity
If virtual barriers are used instead of physical barriers, then deployment efficiency is improved, but measurement precision of vehicle state deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces physical barrier deployment with digital sensor networks. Roadside sensors continuously monitor vehicle positions, speeds, and trajectories, processing this data to generate accurate real-time representations of vehicle states, which are then used to control virtual barrier displays for precise guidance.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for sending data indicating a plurality of virtual barriers to an agent traveling on a roadway, wherein the plurality of virtual barriers separate the roadway into a first corridor of the roadway and a second corridor of the roadway, obtaining sensor data captured by one or more sensors installed on the roadway, wherein the sensor data characterizes a state of the agent traveling on the roadway, predicting, from the sensor data, lateral movement of the agent from the first corridor of the roadway towards the second corridor of the roadway, and sending a signal based on the lateral movement.