Self-configuring traffic signal controller
First Claim
1. A self-configuring traffic signal controller method, the method comprising:
- under control of a traffic controller comprising electronic hardware,receiving sensor data from a trajectory sensor at an intersection, the trajectory sensor optionally including a radar or video camera;
generating trajectory data from the sensor data based on intersection geometric data about the intersection stored in data storage, the trajectory data representing trajectories of a plurality of vehicles at the intersection, said generating comprising updating at least part of the trajectory data corresponding with some of the vehicles with position and speed data from Basic Safety Messages wirelessly received directly from connected vehicles, said updating comprising replacing a first part of the trajectory data corresponding to a first one of the vehicles, generated from the sensor data, with second trajectory data derived from one or more of the Basic Safety Messages wirelessly received directly from a first one of the connected vehicles;
automatically adjusting a signal timing configuration of the traffic controller multiple times per day by analyzing the trajectory data according to an objective function specified by user-defined policies, wherein the user-defined policies comprise the following;
delay of the vehicles, number of stopped ones of the vehicles, a safety factor, and intersection capacity; and
outputting control signals to traffic signal lights according to the adjusted signal timing configuration to cause the traffic signal lights to selectively turn on and off the traffic signals according to the adjusted signal timing configuration.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Embodiments describe new mechanisms for signalized intersection control. Embodiments expand inputs beyond traditional traffic control methods to include awareness of agency policies for signalized control, industry standardized calculations for traffic control parameters, geometric awareness of the roadway and/or intersection, and/or input of vehicle trajectory data relative to this intersection geometry. In certain embodiments, these new inputs facilitate a real-time, future-state trajectory modeling of the phase timing and sequencing options for signalized intersection control. Phase selection and timing can be improved or otherwise optimized based upon modeling the signal'"'"'s future state impact on arriving vehicle trajectories. This improvement or optimization can be performed to reduce or minimize the cost basis of a user definable objective function.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A self-configuring traffic signal controller method, the method comprising:
under control of a traffic controller comprising electronic hardware, receiving sensor data from a trajectory sensor at an intersection, the trajectory sensor optionally including a radar or video camera; generating trajectory data from the sensor data based on intersection geometric data about the intersection stored in data storage, the trajectory data representing trajectories of a plurality of vehicles at the intersection, said generating comprising updating at least part of the trajectory data corresponding with some of the vehicles with position and speed data from Basic Safety Messages wirelessly received directly from connected vehicles, said updating comprising replacing a first part of the trajectory data corresponding to a first one of the vehicles, generated from the sensor data, with second trajectory data derived from one or more of the Basic Safety Messages wirelessly received directly from a first one of the connected vehicles; automatically adjusting a signal timing configuration of the traffic controller multiple times per day by analyzing the trajectory data according to an objective function specified by user-defined policies, wherein the user-defined policies comprise the following;
delay of the vehicles, number of stopped ones of the vehicles, a safety factor, and intersection capacity; andoutputting control signals to traffic signal lights according to the adjusted signal timing configuration to cause the traffic signal lights to selectively turn on and off the traffic signals according to the adjusted signal timing configuration. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 21, 22)
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9. A self-configuring traffic signal controller apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
a traffic controller comprising electronic hardware that; receives sensor data from a trajectory sensor at an intersection, the trajectory sensor optionally including a radar or video camera; generates trajectory data from the sensor data based on intersection geometric data about the intersection stored in data storage, the trajectory data comprising data about vehicles speeds of a plurality of vehicles at the intersection, said generating comprising updating at least part of the trajectory data corresponding with some of the vehicles with one or both of position and speed data from Basic Safety Messages received wirelessly from connected vehicles, said updating comprising replacing a first part of the trajectory data corresponding to a first one of the vehicles, generated from the sensor data, with second trajectory data derived from one or more of the Basic Safety Messages wirelessly received directly from a first one of the connected vehicles; automatically adjusts a signal timing configuration of the traffic controller multiple times per day by analyzing the trajectory data according to user-defined policies, wherein the user-defined policies comprise two or more of the following;
delay of the vehicles, number of stopped ones of the vehicles, a safety factor, and intersection capacity; andoutputs control signals to traffic signal lights according to the adjusted signal timing configuration to cause the traffic signal lights to selectively turn on and off the traffic signals according to the adjusted signal timing configuration. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 23, 24)
Specification