Patent Application
20090146841
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the field of traffic regulation systems and, more particularly, to a system and method for adapting the traffic light regulation to individual walk speed.
2. Background and Related Art
The management of traffic regulation systems in urban areas, and especially in the crosswalk structures, necessitates the consideration of the speed of motion or walking speed of a pedestrian crossing a roadway.
The role of a traffic control and regulation system is to ensure that road users, and in particular vehicle drivers and pedestrians, can safely move on their infrastructures by reducing the risk of accident, such as through collision.
In developed countries, there exists a number of concepts directed to assisting pedestrians crossing a road at designated points, such as, intersections. These intersections are equipped with safety systems that can be seen by both the drivers and pedestrians, but most of such systems do not allow slower moving pedestrians, like the elderly or people with disabilities, to safely cross the road given the flow of traffic. One well known system allows the pedestrian to change the traffic light for on-coming vehicles from green to red by pressing a button at the crossroad thus creating a “walk” condition. However, there is no way to automatically control the duration of the red traffic light condition once the pedestrian is in the process of crossing the road.
It is known that the aging process causes decline in both musculoskeletal and physical function. For example, common hip and leg impairments, such as arthritis, can limit walking speed comfort and distance. Loss of limb strength, flexibility, sensitivity or range of motion, and reduced ability to rotate the head and neck all can make crossing a road more challenging.
Several research organizations have conducted studies on the safety of the current crossing infrastructures. One such organization is the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Such research has produced data on the safety of crossing infrastructures. Data from NHTSA has shown that walkers over the age of 70 have the highest fatality rate of any pedestrians at intersections. NHTSA data has also shown that many older pedestrians walk more slowly than the Federal Highway Administration estimate, which is of 1.2 meters per second. This estimated time is used for regulating the duration of the “flashing walk/don't walk” signals. Consequently, NHTSA recommends the use of slower walking speeds in setting traffic signal times in areas where older “pedestrians are likely to be walking”.
According to this recommendation of NHSTA, a walking speed of 0.9 meters per second is sufficient to cover nearly all walkers, including the elderly people and people with disabilities. It is understood that NHTSA plans to further review research on this matter and may make recommendations to revise pedestrian signal timing to allow for slower walking speeds. However, not every pedestrian requires accommodation for such slower walking speeds.
Accordingly, there is a need for developing a tool to assist slow moving people when crossing a road. Such a tool should consider both the speed of pedestrians and the speed of vehicles at intersections.
The difficulty with present systems is that the majority of slow moving pedestrian have to self-manage their situation when crossing roads. However, it is clear that self-management is not effective in preventing injuries and fatalities to pedestrians.
In summary, the current traffic regulation systems present several drawbacks for slower moving people. For example, although current systems are appropriate for an overall or general population, it is not appropriate for slower moving people. In this regard, the current system is based on pedestrian speed that is the norm, and does not consider the speed as relates to each individual pedestrian. Moreover, the current system is not flexible in that it does not allow variation beyond the norm of the time duration of the “flashing walk/don't walks” signal. That is so because there is no interactive mechanism to facilitate communication of information as to the presence of a slower moving pedestrian and then adjust the traffic control systems accordingly.
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a system and a method which overcome the above shortcomings in traffic control systems.
In accordance with the present invention there is provided an auto-detection motion solution method and apparatus oriented to urban areas for safely managing crossing structures.
The present invention manages the traffic lights duration allowing slow moving pedestrians to safely cross intersections by automatically adjusting the “walk” state cycle time in accordance with the crossroad environment conditions.
Thus, it is another object of the present invention to provide a method and system by which allows slow moving pedestrians to safely cross a road or street.
The automatic speed detection process and system of the present invention acts to detect pedestrians that move at a pace different from the “norm”, and then acts to adjust the time duration of the “walk” state required for safe crossing.
A further object of the present invention is to provide an automatic speed detection arrangement based on biometrics technology used to authenticate the exact speed of motion or walking speed related to each pedestrian.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an automatic speed detection method and system having additional recognition features including some stored preset pedestrian information, such as, user identification and user preferences, readable by using individual smart card technology.
It is still another object of the present invention to make available to each pedestrian the ability to enable the disclosed method and system so as to establish the desired interaction corresponding to their preferences using wireless network technology.
According to the invention, there is provided a method and system to assist slow moving people, after being authenticated at crossing structures, as described in the appended claims.
In one embodiment, a method comprising: obtaining personal data from a pedestrian crossing an intersection, said personal date including at least the walking speed of said pedestrian; obtaining the current speed of at least one vehicle approaching the intersection; processing said personal data and the current speed of said at least one vehicle to create at least one cross walk indicator; and adjusting a traffic light according to the value of the at least one cross walk indicator.
In a further embodiment, a system, comprising: detection apparatus for obtaining personal data relative to at least one pedestrian crossing an intersection, said personal data including at least the walking speed of said pedestrian; detection apparatus for obtaining the current speed of at least one vehicle approaching said intersection; a data processing apparatus for processing said personal data relative to the walking speed of said at least one pedestrian crossing said intersection and the current vehicle speed of at least one vehicle approaching said intersection to generate traffic control signals; and a traffic light regulator for sending said traffic control signals to a traffic light to control vehicle and pedestrian traffic in accordance with pedestrian and vehicle traffic speed.
Further aspects of the invention are provided by the further embodiments described in the appended description and claims.
The above and other items, features and advantages of the invention will be better understood by reading the following more particular description of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:
Embodiments of the invention as described herein are by way of example with reference to the accompanying figures and drawings.
As shown in
System 100 is designed to regulate crossroad traffic by detecting the walking speed of pedestrians that are about to engage the crosswalk. At the same time, the speed of oncoming vehicles that are within the crosswalk field is determined.
The system comprises Crosswalk Control Apparatus 102 for measuring and controlling pedestrian walking speed. Road Network Control Apparatus 104, for measuring and controlling vehicle speed and Traffic Regulation System 106 that regulates, in real time, control signals to Crossroad and Crosswalk Structures 108. The Crossroad and Crosswalk structures are the physical structures at the intersection including pedestrian and vehicle traffic control signals or lights.
Referring now to
Road Network Control Apparatus 206 evaluates the speed of vehicles using Oncoming Vehicle Speed Detector 212 input when any oncoming car or vehicle is in the field of Crossroad and Crosswalk Structure 108, particularly in case the oncoming vehicle approaches the adjacent corner of the crosswalk section.
The terms car, automobile, truck or vehicle may be used interchangeably to generally refer to a vehicle that travels on a road network.
The term crosswalk generally refers to the pedestrian identified pathway at an intersection, as depicted by Crossroad and Crosswalk Structure 202 in
Full Traffic Light Regulator 208 interfaces and manages, in real time, Crossroad and Crosswalk Structure 202 using the data provided by the Crossroad Supervisor 210. Based on Crossroad Supervisor decisions, Full Traffic Light Regulator 208 enables, or not, the “walk/don't walk” signal (not shown here) via a “flashing signal” command to be applied to Crosswalk Control Apparatus 204.
Similarly, based on Crossroad Supervisor 210 decisions, Full Traffic Light Regulator 208 enables, or not, the adjacent lane “stop” indicator via a “lane indicator” command to be applied to Road Network Control Apparatus 206.
Crossroad Supervisor 210 receives data (Traffic Light_O ‘TL_O’) from Crosswalk Control Apparatus 204 and data (Traffic Control Panel_O ‘TCP_O’) from the Road Network Control Apparatus 206. In addition, referential data (norm) is provided to Crossroad Supervisor 210 by Official Traffic Light Norm Duration Storage Device 218. All the aforementioned data, in combination with the synchronization data signal (“sync_sup” signal), received from Urbanism Infrastructure Coordinator 216 is processed by Full Traffic Light Regulator 208 taking into consideration both the pedestrian walking speed and the vehicle speed.
Crossroad Supervisor 210 monitors and processes, in real time, the time adjustment required in controlling crossroad traffic patterns when a slow moving pedestrian is in the crosswalk field. To avoid any risk of collision between the pedestrian and the vehicle coming from the adjacent corner, an adjacent “lane stop road indicator” (not shown in
A series of Oncoming Vehicles Speed Detectors (only one shown at 212) are mounted all along the road network to capture the speed of the vehicles that are in the field of the Crossroad Structure 202. It is clear that the extent of the field is a matter of choice, depending upon the particular design.
As explained before, the Full Traffic Light Regulator 208 manages the Crossroad Structure 202 activities (to keep traffic light process in step) in regard to the information provided by the Crossroad Supervisor 210.
The Crossroad Supervisor 210 is part of an Urban Coordinated Infrastructure, wherein changes in one traffic light imply a number of other traffic lights are to be changed all along the road network. By using the Crossroad Supervisor 210, the likelihood of damaging traffic flow across the urbanism area is therefore evaluated, and traffic light control is assessed with respect to the broader implications. To ensure that the urbanism road network is correctly re-synchronized, the Crossroad Supervisor 210 generates the correct re-synchronizing “sync_infra” signal to be provided to the Urbanism Infrastructure Coordinator 216.
Crosswalk Control Apparatus 204 is composed of Video-Based Motion Detection Camera 304, a Pedestrian Speed Detection Sensor 306, a Wireless Apparatus 308 for user preferences and Processor 310 for data processing which may be a local processor.
Crosswalk Control Apparatus 204 receives the “flashing signal” command on line 305, coming from the Full Traffic Light Regulator 208 in
The Video-Based Motion Detection Camera 304 processes the images of the pedestrian physical movement identified by the Pedestrian Analysis Apparatus 302. The principle employed is based on trajectory analysis and detects motion, like pedestrian motion, within the field of view of the camera included in the Video-Based Motion Detection Camera 304. As an example, pedestrian images can be taken as the individual approaches the street corner.
It is important to mention that slow moving pedestrians symptoms are not exclusive conditions for people with disability of older people, and can be relevant conditions for people who take more than normal time to cross a street for whatever reasons. Accordingly, the present invention is directed to slow moving pedestrians for which the speed of motion is below the official “norm” or a standard threshold speed, as described above.
The Pedestrian Speed Detection Sensor 306 detects the speed and the direction of the pedestrian that moves within the field of view of the camera included in the Video-Based Motion Detection Camera 304 system.
As shown in
Both the Video-Based Motion Detection Camera 304 and the Pedestrian Speed Detection Sensor 306 form an efficient auto-detection motion mechanism based, for example, on biometrics technology that provides the real time data that Processor 310 requires to control Crosswalk Supervision 210. The Video-Based Motor Detection Camera and the Pedestrian Speed Detection Sensor are detection apparatus known in the art. However, other known apparatus used in biometrics technology and, in particular, biometrics as relates to walking speed and gait may readily be employed.
In this regard, biometrics technology has been described in a plethora of documents and articles that may readily be found, for example, through the internet. Much of this technology is directed to biometrics as relates to various ways of implementing detection apparatus and processes for determining individual walking speed and gait and determining a standard for such characteristics. These processes typically use standard methods of signal/image processing, quantization, and the like.
A series of Crosswalk Control Apparatus for controlling traffic lights can provide data to Processor 310 resulting in the output computation of TL_o up to TL_n which is sent to the Crossroad Supervisor 210, as shown in
A typical traffic light regulation arrangement consists of one or more traffic lights, one being placed closely to the pedestrian, another one located to the opposite corner and other ones located at the adjacent corners.
The Road Network Traffic Control Apparatus 206 includes a Road Vehicle Speed Detection Sensor 404 and a Processor 406 for processing information as to vehicle speed and location, signal status, and the like. In this regard, Road Network Traffic Control Apparatus 206 receives a “lane indicator” status command on input line 405 coming from the Full Traffic Light Regulator 208 in
The Road Vehicle Speed Detection Sensor 404 determines the real time speed of the vehicles that are detected within the field of the Crosswalk Structure (
A series of Road Network Traffic Control Apparatus 206 may be placed all along the road network and transmit resulting data computation (TCP_O up to TCP_n) from Processor 406, to the Crossroad Supervisor 210. Then, Crossroad Supervisor 210 sends signals to Full Traffic Light Regulator 208, in
Returning now to
At the same time, the Road Vehicle Speed Detection Sensor 404 detects the real time speed of oncoming vehicles in the area of the crosswalk.
Processor 406 processes the speed data from the Road-Vehicle Speed Detection Sensor 404 and transmits same to Crossroad Supervisor 210. Crossroad Supervisor 210 compares the data originating from the pedestrian with those coming from the oncoming vehicles and determines the level of risk of collision between pedestrian and vehicle and initiates required action to the corresponding traffic lights, as arranged in the Crossroad and Crosswalk Structure 202. Detection of high level of risk of collision initiates signals to cause the appropriate traffic lights to switch from a green light to “stop” light position.
Where a moderate level of risk is of collision involved in crossing the road, the timing duration of “flashing walk/don't walk” and the status of vehicle traffic lights are adjusted to respond to the pedestrian walking speed as previously defined. Again, this allows slow moving pedestrian to cross the street safely. It is clear that, in addition to pedestrian walking speed, the width of the street or road is factored into controlling the time duration of “flashing walk/don't walk and vehicle traffic light status.
Depending of the width of the street, the intersection configuration and the crossroad traffic, Crossroad Supervisor 210 acts to segment the crosswalk process in two or more crosswalk sub-processes that allow slow moving pedestrians to safely cross the street in a two or more step approach. Each crosswalk sub-process is associated with a unique traffic lane direction in which individual modification of traffic patterns may be applied.
In this regard, the traffic lights associated with each crosswalk sub-process is asynchronous. Crossroad Supervisor 210 in
An extension of the present invention is to employ smart card technology or similar technology in which is stored the pedestrian user's preferences. The information stored in the smart card is automatically identified using the wireless technology. This is shown by Wireless Apparatus block 308 in
With reference to
The query of step 504 (Is pedestrian cross walking?) detects the pedestrian cross-walking events given by the combination of signals “TL_O up to TL_n” (only TL_O is shown). All “TL” signals originate from the Pedestrian Analysis Apparatus 214, shown in
Where step 504 determines there is a pedestrian cross walking, the process is divided in two actions that work simultaneously. The first action is entering into step 506 as described above. The second action is to determine whether any pedestrian crossing the street has a potential risk of having collision with any oncoming car that is in the crosswalk field independent of the question of pedestrian speed. To determine if a risk exists, the process branches to the query of step 520 “Is there adjacent car on the crosswalk field?” shown in
Step 520 in
Step 522 computes the likelihood that the detected vehicle will collide with the pedestrian in the crosswalk. In the present invention, the collision risk is computed based upon whether the vehicle approaching from the adjacent corner exceeds the speed limit as determined by the Road Network Control Apparatus 206 in
Where step 526 acts to reset the “adjacent lane stop indicator” to off, it is clear that there exists no risk of collision because the distance between the car and pedestrian is sufficient to stop as determined by step 522. The process of step 526 is also initiated when the pedestrian crossing the crosswalk is out of the crosswalk, as detected in step 512 in
The adjacent lane stop road indicator signal structure (not shown in
Step 506 (Is pedestrian walking speed <“norm” ?) in
Where the pedestrian walking speed is below the “norm”, traffic light timing control is adjusted accordingly and, to do this, the “Adjust traffic light process accordingly” step is carried out, as represented by block step 510. In the case of matching the “norm”, the traffic light regulation maintains the original process as defined in the “Proceed traffic light as usual of step 508.
Once the “Adjust traffic light process accordingly” of step 510 has been initiated, the pedestrian's cross walking position is monitored all along the crosswalk.
As can be seen, step 512 (Is pedestrian cross walking complete?) determines the pedestrian position as the pedestrian is slowly moving all along the crosswalk, and evaluates the pedestrian distance left to the destination crosswalk spot. Step 512 loops back to step 510 until the completion of the pedestrian cross walking occurs at branch “Yes” of query 512.
When the pedestrian is still cross-walking, the “flashing signal” command swaps from the “walk” to “don't walk” position enabling the turn on flashing signal “don't walk” step 514. The flashing signal “don't walk” informs pedestrians that no additional pedestrians are authorized to cross the street or road in the current cycle. Enabling the flashing signal to the “don't walk” position reduces the additional cross walking delay that potentially deteriorates the global urban traffic light regulation system.
Once the completion of a pedestrian cross walking is detected as given by “branch Yes of query 512, the urbanism road network is readjusted to minimize the impact due to the additional slow moving pedestrian delay. The re-synchronizing “sync_infra” signal is applied to the “Adjust Infrastructure Coordinator accordingly” process step 516 that initiates instructions to the Urbanism Infrastructure Coordinator 216 of
Finally, in step 516, the “Adjust Infrastructure Coordinator accordingly” process acknowledges the re-synchronous action by using the “sync_sup” signal that initiates the original “Proceed with traffic light control as usual process” step of block 508.
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of all means or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended to include any structure, material, or act for performing the function in combination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. The description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and explanation, but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 07301541.4 | Dec 2007 | FR | national |
