System and methods for intersection positioning

• US 9,759,812 B2
• Filed: 10/02/2014
• Issued: 09/12/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trimble Inc.
• Original Assignee: Trimble Inc.
• Inventors: Nichols, Mark Edward, Wallace, Gregory Craig
• Primary Examiner(s): Barker, Matthew M
• Application Number:
  US14/505,187
• Publication Number:
  US 20160097849A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,076 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/726 Multiple target tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/91 for traffic control G01S13/93 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/92 for velocity measurement
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/54 of traffic, e.g. cars on the road, trains or boats
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0116 from roadside infrastructure, e.g. beacons
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0133 for classifying traffic situation
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0141 for traffic information dissemination
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0175 by photographing vehicles, e.g. when violating traffic rules
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/04 using optical or ultrasonic detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096716 where the received information does not generate an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096741 where the source of the transmitted information selects which information to transmit to each vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096783 where the origin of the information is a roadside individual element
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/164 Centralised systems, e.g. external to vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/166 for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes

Abstract

A system and methods are provided for providing intersection positioning data. In one embodiment, a method includes detecting one or more objects by a device, wherein the one or more objects are detected relative to at least a portion of a roadway by an integrated radar sensor of the device, and tracking one or more detected objects by the device to determine tracking data, wherein tracking includes determining a number of detected objects, determining speed of the one or more detected objects and determining position of the one or more detected objects. The method may also include outputting the tracking data by the device. The system and methods may advantageously be employed for transmitting one or more of a collision warning, red light warnings, red light violation warnings and operation characteristics of objects during a traffic incident relative to intersection.

Claims

1. A method for providing intersection positioning data, the method comprising:

detecting a plurality of objects by a device, wherein the plurality of objects comprises a plurality of vehicles and are detected relative to an intersection by an integrated radar sensor of the device;

tracking the plurality of detected objects by the device to determine tracking data, wherein tracking includes determining a number of detected objects and determining speeds and positions of the plurality of detected objects;

transmitting the tracking data to at least one of the plurality of detected objects by the device, the tracking data including the number of detected objects and the speeds and positions of the plurality of detected objects; and

transmitting a collision warning signal to at least one of the plurality of detected objects based on the number of detected objects, the speeds and positions of the plurality of detected objects, a predetermined average travel time through the intersection, and a predetermined number of vehicles that can enter and exit the intersection during a traffic light cycle.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the plurality of objects includes detecting vehicles by at least one of a solid-state radar sensor and chip based radar sensor, wherein the integrated radar sensor of the device is configured to track the plurality of objects simultaneously.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein detected objects relate to one or more of a vehicle, pedestrian, and movable objects in general.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein tracking includes continuous monitoring of object speed, heading, and position relative to objects detected in the intersection.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein tracking includes estimating vehicle dimensions and vehicle path.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of detected objects includes a vehicle and a pedestrian, and the method further comprising transmitting an alert signal to the vehicle about presence of the pedestrian.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein tracking includes receiving data by the device from a scanning device detecting objects at a location different from the intersection.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining traffic control information for the intersection, and outputting data based on the traffic control information.

9. A system for providing intersection positioning data, the system comprising:

an integrated radar sensor configured to detect a plurality of objects relative to an intersection, wherein the plurality of objects comprises a plurality of vehicles;

a memory for storing a predetermined average travel time through the intersection and a predetermined number of vehicles that can enter and exit the intersection during a traffic light cycle; and

a processor configured to;

track the plurality of detected objects to determine tracking data, wherein tracking includes determining a number of detected objects and determining speeds and positions of the plurality of detected objects;

transmit the tracking data to at least one of the plurality of detected objects, the tracking data including the number of detected objects and the speeds and positions of the plurality of detected objects; and

transmit a collision warning signal to at least one of the plurality of detected objects based on the number of detected objects, the speeds and positions of the plurality of detected objects, the predetermined average travel time through the intersection, and the predetermined number of vehicles that can enter and exit the intersection during a traffic light cycle.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the integrated radar sensor is at least one of a solid-state radar sensor and chip based radar, and the integrated radar sensor is configured to detect the plurality of objects and to track the plurality of objects simultaneously.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein detected objects relate to one or more of a vehicle, pedestrian and movable objects in general.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein tracking includes continuous monitoring of object speed, heading, and position relative to objects detected in the intersection.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein tracking includes estimating vehicle dimensions and vehicle path.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the plurality of detected objects includes a vehicle and a pedestrian, and the processor is further configured to transmit an alert signal to the vehicle about presence of the pedestrian.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein tracking includes receiving data from a scanning device detecting objects at a location different from the intersection.

16. The system of claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured to determine traffic control information for the intersection, and to output data based on the traffic control information.

17. A device for providing intersection positioning data, the device comprising:

a positioning module configured to determine position of the device;

an integrated radar sensor configured to detect a plurality of vehicles relative to an intersection;

a memory for storing a predetermined average travel time through the intersection and a predetermined number of vehicles that can enter and exit the intersection during a traffic light cycle; and

a processor configured to

track the plurality of detected vehicles to determine tracking data, wherein tracking includes determining a number of detected vehicles and determining speeds and positions of the plurality of detected vehicles; and

transmit a collision warning signal to at least one of the plurality of vehicles based on the number of detected vehicles, the speeds and positions of the plurality of detected vehicles, the predetermined average travel time through the intersection, and the predetermined number of vehicles that can enter and exit the intersection during a traffic light cycle.