System Architecture for Modern Traffic Control Cody Browne EE - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

System Architecture for Modern Traffic Control Cody Browne EE Graduate Student

Outline ● Key deficiencies with existing methods ● Key concepts ● Previous and current Smart Signals research ● Implementation ● Going forward

Issues with the Current System ● Static information format. ● More information means more signs.

Issues with the Current System ● Hard wired interface

Issues with the Current System ● Signals unable to keep up with control. Trying to use old signals for new concepts.

Issues with the Current System ● Lack of consideration for mixed mode use has created dangerous situations. ○ Left turns into pedestrians ○ Right turns into pedestrians ○ Bike lanes TriMet is no stranger to left-turn bus accidents such as the one that killed two pedestrians and injured three others in a downtown Portland crosswalk on the night of April 24 [2010] Joseph Rose - Oregon Live

Issues with the Current System ● Driver must look places other than directly ahead for important information such as speed limits, street names, etc. ● There can be too much information in one spot to be consumed.

Issues with the Current System ● Inaccurate countdown on pedestrian signals due to lack of intelligent communication. ● Lack of vehicle or pedestrian countdowns and countups.

Issues with the Current System ● Level of service is different for different users. ○ Pedestrians have to push a button, vehicles don't. ○ Are bicyclists cars or pedestrians?

Key Concepts ● Everyone is involved in traffic.

Key Concepts ● Flexible system is a must. ● Not every intersection is the same.

Key Concepts ● Signals aren't just for drivers.

Smart Signals 2006 - present ● 6 master degree theses ○ 2006-2010 ○ Topics in distributed control and networking. ● Several conference and journal publications ○ Transportation Research Board ○ IEEE Industrial Electronics Society ○ IEEE Intelligent Transportations Systems. ● A lot of undergrads

Smart Signals AAPS ● Advanced Accessible Pedestrian System ● Designed at U of I from start to finish. ● Being manufactured and installed across the US.

Smart Signals IIS ● Intersection ● Providing more Information System information to all users.

Implementation ● Implemented in the AAPS and IIS ● Provides a foundation for many more ideas

Implementation ● Network based system for flexibility. ● New information can use the existing infrastructure. ● Don't need new wires for new signs

Implementation ● Information format is not static ● AAPS - Audio messages can be changed ● IIS - Images can be changed

Implementation ● Information is spread throughout the intersection ● Vehicles can be told there is a pedestrian

Implementation ● Network can be expanded to give information to other entities. ○ Driverless cars ○ Trains/Mass transit ● Network makes more information available at the intersection ○ Environmental conditions ○ Emergency situations

Going Forward ● Speech recognition for pedestrians ○ and other passive detection methods ● Local display for pedestrians ● Smart phone interaction ● Pedestrian tracking

Discussion