Method and Apparatus for Controlling Traffic Flows With Hazardous Goods Transport Vehicles Moving Through a Safety Critical Traffic Area in a Road Network, in Particular Through a Road Tunnel

• US 20100286897A1
• Filed: 09/01/2008
• Published: 11/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Dedic, Igor, Höpfel, Stefan
• Application Number:
  US12/679,342
• Publication Number:
  US 20100286897A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/117
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/015 with provision for distinguishing between two or more types of vehicles, e.g. between motor-cars and cycles
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0175 by photographing vehicles, e.g. when violating traffic rules
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/08 according to detected number or speed of vehicles

Abstract

A method and a device for controlling traffic flows with vehicles transporting hazardous goods, the vehicles moving through a security-critical traffic area of a road network, in particular through a road tunnel. When a vehicle approaches the traffic area it is established whether it is a vehicle transporting hazardous goods, and a traffic signal is output to the vehicle approaching the traffic area. In that a digital image is recorded of a vehicle approaching the traffic area, and in that the recorded image is digitally analyzed to recognize a feature which identifies a vehicle transporting hazardous goods, vehicles transporting hazardous goods may be recognized and controlled simply, reliably, and largely independently of vehicle equipment.

Claims

1-12. -12. (canceled)

13. A method of controlling traffic flows with hazardous-goods transport vehicles moving through a safety-critical traffic area in a road network, which comprises:

determining whether or not a vehicle approaching the safety-critical traffic area is a hazardous-goods transport vehicle, wherein a digital image is recorded of the vehicle approaching the traffic area, and the recorded image is digitally evaluated in order to identify a feature characterizing a hazardous-goods transport vehicle;

transmitting to a control center a feature, a speed, and a time of the hazardous-goods transport vehicle on entry into and on exiting from the safety-critical traffic area;

are

emitting centrally triggered traffic signals to the hazardous-goods transport vehicle in order to prevent the hazardous-goods transport vehicle from passing within the safety-critical traffic area in a safety-endangering manner.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the safety-critical traffic area is a road tunnel.

15. The method according to claim 13, which comprises recording a time series of digital images of the vehicle approaching the traffic area.

16. The method according to claim 13, which comprises determining a detail of a recorded image containing the feature.

17. The method according to claim 13, wherein the feature characterizing a hazardous-goods transport vehicle is formed by a display area, which is arranged on the hazardous-goods transport vehicle, for characters and/or images.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the feature is defined by at least one of a shape, a size, an arrangement position, a coloring, a character content, and an image content of the display area.

20. The method according to claim 17, wherein the display area is in at least one of the following forms:

a large label, a orange-colored identification, and an identification for substances that are conveyed in a heated state.

21. The method according to claim 13, which comprises determining a speed of an approaching vehicle from a position of an optical axis of a video camera recording the digital images, and from a rate of change of a size of the feature.

22. The method according to claim 13, which comprises recording a digital image of a vehicle moving away from the traffic area, and digitally evaluating the recorded image in order to identify a feature characterizing a hazardous-goods transport vehicle.

23. The method according to claim 13, wherein the traffic signals indicate a refusal or a clearance for entry into the traffic area, a directed speed limit, and/or a direction for a lane change.

20-1. The method according to claim 17, wherein the display area carries an official motor-vehicle registration identification.

24. An apparatus for controlling traffic flows with hazardous-goods transport vehicles moving through a safety-critical traffic area in a road network, the apparatus comprising:

a signal transmitter for emitting a traffic signal to a hazardous-goods transport vehicle approaching the safety-critical traffic area;

a video camera disposed at an entrance to the safety-critical traffic area for recording a digital image of the vehicle approaching the safety-critical traffic area and a video camera disposed at an exit from the safety-critical traffic area;

an evaluation device connected to each said video camera and configured for digital evaluation of the digital image for identifying a feature defining a hazardous-goods transport vehicle and, if applicable, for generating a hazardous-goods transport message containing a feature and a speed and a time of a hazardous-goods transport vehicle; and

a control center connected to said evaluation device for receiving the hazardous-goods transport message and for triggering switching commands to said signal transmitter, said control center being configured to trigger traffic signals in order to avoid safety-critical passages of hazardous-goods transport vehicles within the safety-critical traffic area.

25. The apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the safety-critical traffic area in the road network is a road tunnel.