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From Tech Transfer Newsletter, Winter 2006
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Intelligent Transportation Systems:
How Researchers are Making The Future of Transportation a Reality, Today.
At the University of California Berkeley's Partners for Advanced Transit and
Highways Program (PATH), researchers are working to develop innovative solutions
for some very real problems experienced by growing transportation systems
worldwide.
PATH research emphasizes areas that offer potentially dramatic improvements in
the operation of the transportation system, focusing on both finding the
ultimate long term solution and the progressive incremental near term steps
necessary to bring a long term solution to pass.
The following are a few examples of common transportation system problems and
the creative solutions PATH is developing. Chances are these projects will make
a dramatic impact on our transportation infrastructure in the not-too-distant
future.
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Problem:
Drivers frequently do not realize they are approaching dangerous conditions
further ahead on roads, such as crashes, speed limit changes, slow traffic, work
zones, or curves in the road.
Solution:
PATH's Vehicle Infrastructure Integration (VII California)
project has created a system of "smart" vehicles and roadways that can "talk" by
exchanging information about roadway conditions through advanced communications.
This provides a driver with immediate notice of a speed limit change or slowing
traffic ahead.
The project has so far developed several vehicles equipped with traffic probes
called VII on-board units (OBUs). The OBUs can send location, time, speed, and
direction information to pieces of VII Roadside Equipment (RSEs). The RSEs can
then send the information to a central processing center (511/TravInfo™),
where it is electronically compiled and displayed on a map.
The map generates accurate and up-to-date travel times and then sends them back
through the RSEs to the vehicles for use in real-time dynamic routing. Signals
that are displayed on roadside signage can also be sent directly to a vehicle
equipped with an OBU from the RSE. The signals are then displayed on in-vehicle
signage equipment to alert drivers to conditions on the roadway.
This technology provides a foundation that PATH engineers can build on to
develop other features such as warnings of work zones, crashes, and excessive
speed when approaching curves. Development of the project is continuing, with
the project team working to install up to 40s RSEs south of San Francisco along
I-280, US 101, and El Camino Real.
To Learn More:
www.its.berkeley.edu/ newsbits/ intersectionsupport.html
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Problem:
Each year, approximately 1.34 million crashes occur at intersections when left
turning drivers fail to accurately judge the time and space they have in which
to make their turn based on the closing speeds of approaching traffic, or when a
driver's view of an approaching vehicle is obstructed by turning vehicles, or
when a driver fails even to see the approaching vehicle.
Solution:
Researchers are working to create a device that will reduce intersection crashes
by warning drivers when it is unsafe to make a left turn in the presence of an
oncoming vehicle. Unlike traditional traffic signals, the Intersection
Decision Support (IDS) project's alerts are only activated when needed,
which will allow traffic to proceed as usual when safe.
The system consists of several pieces, including in-vehicle GPS, a signal
controller, and a radar. All of these devices transmit vehicle data to a central
processing unit (CPU), which contains a decision-making algorithm that triggers
the infrastructure warning. When the CPU system determines that conditions are
unsafe to make a permissive left turn, a pulsing or looming "no left turn" sign
that is mounted in conjunction with the traffic signal will display a warning to
the driver.
The first phase of the project, in which researchers examined turning behavior
in general and the safety problems it creates, is near completion. Researchers
developed intelligent crash countermeasures and measurements of driver responses
during this phase. Further research will focus on experimental verification and
field testing of the new systems.
To Learn More:
www.path.berkeley.edu/ PATH/ Research/ current/ safety/ 5600.html
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Problem:
Bus crashes can result in property damage, service interruptions, human injuries
(or deaths), and an increase in traffic congestion, not to mention a tremendous
cost to transit operators. A study of 35 California transit agencies revealed
that between 1997 and 2001, nearly 10,000 crashes and incidents occurred,
costing the agencies analyzed nearly $36 million.
Solution:
The Integrated Collision Warning System alerts bus drivers to
situations that typically have potential for causing crashes in urban and
highway environments, thereby reducing the costs of damage, injuries, deaths,
congestion, and service interruption.
The system consists of a frontal and side collision warning system. The Forward
Collision Warning uses radar and lidar sensors, obstacle detection and collision
warning algorithms, and a Driver Vehicle Interface to address imminent crashes
and warning needs for smoother maneuvering. The Side Collision Warning detects
pedestrians and assesses their movements using sensors on the side of the bus.
The project was completed by California PATH in collaboration with several
partners, including Carnegie Mellon University, the Federal Transit
Administration, San Mateo Transit (Samtrans), Port Authority of Allegheny
County, Caltrans, and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.
Prototypes of the integrated forward and side collision systems have been tested
in the Bay Area and Pittsburgh to collect data on field operation and driver
response. The test models use one transit operator interface that can
effectively display warnings from both frontal and side collision warning
systems, sending signals to the driver to avoid potential crashes.
To Learn More:
www.path.berkeley.edu/ PATH/ Research/ current/ transit/ 65A0150.html
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Problem:
Snow plow operators have grappled for years with the problem of removing snow
without destroying guardrails. To clear the roadway completely, an operator must
drive with his rotary blade scraping on or near the guardrail. This often leads
to guardrail damage that requires frequent and expensive repairs.
Solution:
The Advanced Rotary Plow (or "snowblower") being developed by
PATH with Caltrans uses a magnetic sensor system to alert plow operators of the
presence of a guardrail, and can then be switched into automatic steering to
safely blow away snow to within four inches of the rail. The plow is equipped
with both a plow blade and a snow blower.
The sensors, or "magnetometers," mounted underneath the plow detect magnets that
are embedded on the road near the guardrail, providing lateral position
measurement relative to the guardrail and yaw angle estimate. Binary coding of
the magnetic markers when installed also provides plow operators with
information about specific characteristics of the guardrail, such as where the
end of the rail is located.
Once the plow is positioned correctly, the driver can switch to automated
steering for the length of the guardrail. To put the plow into automated
steering, the operator flips a transition switch located under the radio. Light
and audible displays guide the operator through the plow's automated movements.
Guidance lights display the plow's position relative to the guardrail, and
status lights display the system's functions.
The automated plow has been tested along I-80 at Donner Summit, where several
miles of magnets have been installed at an altitude of 7,239 feet.
To Learn More:
www.path.berkeley.edu/PATH/Research/blower/
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The PATH Program is a collaboration between the University of California and the
California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), together with other public
and private institutions and private industry. About 40 researchers, 40
Professors, and 80 graduate students from UC Berkeley's Institute of
Transportation Studies and other universities throughout the state are currently
working on Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) projects that apply advanced
technology to improve highway capacity and safety.
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