Connected vehicle traffic safety system and a method of warning drivers of a wrong-way travel

• US 9,911,334 B2
• Filed: 07/12/2016
• Issued: 03/06/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Mobility, Inc. (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Industry Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Townsend, Walter Rankin
• Primary Examiner(s): La, Anh V
• Application Number:
  US15/208,006
• Publication Number:
  US 20180018877A1
• Time in Patent Office: 602 Days
• Field of Search: 340905, 340935, 340907, 340901, 340903, 340902, 340988, 3406935, 3406939, 34053911, 3405681, 3405688, 701117
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0112 from the vehicle, e.g. floating car data [FCD]
• 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 1/056 with provision for distinguishing direction of travel
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/075 Ramp control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/087 Override of traffic control, e.g. by signal transmitted by an emergency vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/095 Traffic lights
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096 provided with indicators in which a mark progresses showing the time elapsed, e.g. of green phase
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/09626 where the origin of the information is within the own vehicle, e.g. a local storage device, digital map
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096725 where the received information generates 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 1/166 for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes

Abstract

A connected vehicle traffic safety system comprises a traffic signal controller and a roadside unit (RSU) located at a one-way traffic lane for avoiding crashes with vehicles of wrong-way drivers by issuing warnings for wrong-way violations. The traffic signal controller is configured to operate a traffic signal. The traffic signal is facing a wrong-way traffic and is set to dwell permanently in a RED signal phase. The one-way traffic lane is configured as a signalized intersection with a wrong-way approach that is programmed as a traffic signal phase dwelling in RED. The roadside unit (RSU) is configured to transmit a Signal Phase and Timing (SPaT) indication for the RED signal phase. A first Onboard Unit (OBU)-equipped vehicle having an Onboard Unit (OBU) that is configured to calculate a RED light violation based on at least one of vehicle location data, direction heading data, and speed data provided from the first OBU-equipped vehicle and the SPaT indication of the RED signal phase to detect the first Onboard Unit (OBU)-equipped vehicle as a wrong-way vehicle.

Claims

1. A connected vehicle traffic safety system, comprising:

a traffic signal controller configured to operate first and second traffic signals S1, S2 or configured to act as if a traffic signal was present as a “

virtual”

traffic signal, wherein the first traffic signal S1 is facing a right-way traffic and is set to dwell permanently in a GREEN signal phase and the second traffic signal S2 is facing a wrong-way traffic and is set to dwell permanently in a RED signal phase; and

a roadside unit (RSU) configured to be located at a highway exit ramp being a one-way traffic lane, the roadside unit (RSU) comprising at least a processor and a wireless transceiver, wherein the roadside unit (RSU) configured to transmit wireless signals and receive corresponding responses from a corresponding wireless device of a first Onboard Unit (OBU)-equipped vehicle having an Onboard Unit (OBU),

wherein the roadside unit (RSU) is configured to transmit a Signal Phase and Timing (SPaT) indication for both the GREEN signal phase and the RED signal phase, the SPaT indication of the RED signal phase continually indicates a maximum countdown time to the GREEN signal phase and the SPaT indication of the GREEN signal phase continually indicates a maximum countdown time to the RED signal phase,

wherein the one-way traffic lane is configured as a signalized intersection with two approaches, wherein the two approaches include a right-way approach that is programmed as a traffic signal phase dwelling in GREEN and a wrong-way approach that is programmed as a traffic signal phase dwelling in RED, and

wherein the Onboard Unit (OBU) of the first OBU-equipped vehicle travelling in a wrong direction is configured to calculate a RED light violation based on at least one of vehicle location data, direction heading data, and speed data provided from the first OBU-equipped vehicle and the SPaT indication of the RED signal phase.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the Onboard Unit (OBU) of the first OBU-equipped vehicle provides a RED light warning based on the RED light violation to a driver of the first OBU-equipped vehicle in a form of chattering a braking system or a driver'"'"'s seat to indicate the first OBU-equipped vehicle as a wrong-way vehicle that is to be handled as a red light violator.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the roadside unit (RSU) is configured to send the at least one of vehicle location data, direction heading data, and speed data from the first OBU-equipped vehicle to the traffic signal controller so that if the driver of the first OBU-equipped vehicle ignores the RED light warning, at least one of a barrier is dropped across the highway exit ramp and a wrong way sign is illuminated adjacent the second traffic signal S2 by the traffic signal controller.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein an Onboard Unit (OBU) of a second OBU-equipped vehicle traveling in a correct direction on the highway exit ramp is configured to determine a NO violation based on at least one of vehicle location data, direction heading data, and speed data from the second OBU-equipped vehicle and the SPaT indication of the GREEN signal phase.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein an Onboard Unit (OBU) of a second OBU-equipped vehicle traveling in a correct direction on the highway exit ramp to receive the RED light warning with a violator vehicle location and a violator vehicle arrival time of the first OBU-equipped vehicle.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein an Onboard Unit (OBU) of a third OBU-equipped vehicle traveling before the highway exit ramp to receive the RED light warning with a violator vehicle location and a violator vehicle arrival time of the first OBU-equipped vehicle.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the roadside unit (RSU) is configured to transmit a Message Access Profile (MAP) message indicating a roadway lane placement for both RED and GREEN approaches.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the roadside unit (RSU) is configured to transmit General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) location corrections to all OBU-equipped vehicles for accurate vehicle location within lanes.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the Onboard Unit (OBU) of the first OBU-equipped vehicle is configured to at least one of:

transmit vehicle location, heading and speed data to nearby OBU-equipped vehicles ten times per second;

receive vehicle location, heading and speed data from nearby OBU-equipped vehicles;

receive lane locations from the roadside unit (RSU);

receive a traffic signal countdown from the roadside unit (RSU);

receive an associated signal phase to a lane information from the roadside unit (RSU) to know which traffic signal to obey; and

receive a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) location from the roadside unit (RSU) to correct a Global Positioning System (GPS) device the Onboard Unit (OBU) having less accuracy.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the one-way traffic lane is configured as a signalized intersection with two approaches.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the two approaches include a right-way approach that is programmed as a traffic signal phase dwelling in GREEN and a wrong-way approach that is programmed as a traffic signal phase dwelling in RED.

12. A method to avoid crashes with wrong-way drivers driving a first Onboard Unit (OBU)-equipped vehicle having an Onboard Unit (OBU) in a wrong way on a highway exit ramp being a one-way traffic lane, the method comprising:

configuring a traffic signal controller for the one-way traffic lane as a signalized intersection with two approaches, wherein the two approaches include a right-way approach that is programmed as a traffic signal phase dwelling in GREEN and a wrong-way approach that is programmed as a traffic signal phase dwelling in RED;

transmitting a Signal Phase and Timing (SPaT) indication for the RED signal phase, wherein the SPaT indication of the RED signal phase continually indicates a maximum countdown time to the GREEN signal phase;

detecting the first Onboard Unit (OBU)-equipped vehicle as a wrong-way vehicle; and

handling the first Onboard Unit (OBU)-equipped vehicle as a red light violator using a connected vehicle traffic safety system comprising the traffic signal controller and a roadside unit (RSU).

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

operating first and second traffic signals S1, S2 by the traffic signal controller, wherein the first traffic signal S1 is facing a right-way traffic and is set to dwell permanently in a GREEN signal phase and the second traffic signal S2 is facing a wrong-way traffic and is set to dwell permanently in a RED signal phase.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

transmitting the Signal Phase and Timing (SPaT) indication for the GREEN signal phase by the RSU located at the highway exit ramp, wherein the SPaT indication of the GREEN phase continually indicates a maximum countdown time to the RED signal phase.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

calculating a RED light violation by the Onboard Unit (OBU) of the first OBU-equipped vehicle traveling in a wrong direction based on at least one of vehicle location data, direction heading data, and speed data from the first OBU-equipped vehicle and the SPaT indication of the RED signal phase.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

providing a RED light warning to a driver of the first OBU-equipped vehicle in a form of chattering a braking system or a driver'"'"'s seat to indicate the first OBU-equipped vehicle as a wrong-way vehicle that is to be handled as a red light violator.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

if the driver of the first OBU-equipped vehicle ignores the RED light warning, at least one of dropping a barrier across the highway exit ramp and illuminating a wrong way sign adjacent the second traffic signal S2 by the traffic signal controller.

18. A connected vehicle traffic safety system, comprising:

a traffic signal controller configured to operate a traffic signal or configured to act as if a traffic signal was present as a “

virtual”

traffic signal, wherein the traffic signal is facing a wrong-way traffic and is set to dwell permanently in a RED signal phase; and

a roadside unit (RSU) configured to be located at a one-way traffic lane, wherein the one-way traffic lane is configured as a signalized intersection with a wrong-way approach that is programmed as a traffic signal phase dwelling in RED, wherein the roadside unit (RSU) is configured to transmit a Signal Phase and Timing (SPaT) indication for the RED signal phase, wherein the SPaT indication for the RED signal phase continually indicates a maximum countdown time to the GREEN signal phase, wherein a first Onboard Unit (OBU)-equipped vehicle having an Onboard Unit (OBU) that is configured to calculate a RED light violation based on at least one of vehicle location data, direction heading data, and speed data provided from the first OBU-equipped vehicle and the SPaT indication of the RED signal phase to detect the first Onboard Unit (OBU)-equipped vehicle as a wrong-way vehicle.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein for handling the first Onboard Unit (OBU)-equipped vehicle as a red light violator the Onboard Unit (OBU) of the first OBU-equipped vehicle provides a RED light warning to a driver of the first OBU-equipped vehicle in a form of chattering a braking system or a driver'"'"'s seat.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein if the driver of the first OBU-equipped vehicle ignores the RED light warning, at least one of a barrier is dropped across the highway exit ramp and a wrong way sign is illuminated adjacent the traffic signal by the traffic signal controller.