Self-configuring traffic signal controller

• US 9,349,288 B2
• Filed: 07/28/2015
• Issued: 05/24/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Econolite Group Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Econolite Group Incorporated
• Inventors: Raamot, Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): Lim, Steven
• Assistant Examiner(s): LITTLEJOHN JR, MANCIL H
• Application Number:
  US14/811,686
• Publication Number:
  US 20160027300A1
• Time in Patent Office: 301 Days
• Field of Search: 340/922, 340/936, 340/905, 340/906, 340/907, 340/909, 340/911, 340/912, 340/913, 340/914, 340/916, 340/919, 340/921, 340/923, 340/929
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 1/012 from other sources than vehicle or roadside beacons, e.g. mobile networks
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0129 for creating historical data or processing based on historical data
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0145 for active traffic flow control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/052 with provision for determining speed or overspeed speed measuring in general G01P
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/08 according to detected number or speed of vehicles

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.

Claims

1. A self-configuring traffic signal controller apparatus, the apparatus comprising:

a plurality of inputs that receive sensor signals from a plurality of trajectory sensors at an intersection, each trajectory sensor comprising one or more of the following;

an ultrasound sensor, a radar, or a video camera;

a plurality of outputs that transmit first control signals to traffic signal heads at the intersection to cause the traffic signal heads to selectively turn on and off traffic signals;

a storage device having stored thereon geometric intersection data representing a geometry of the intersection and cycle data representing a signal timing configuration for different phases of a signal cycle of the intersection;

electronic hardware that;

generates trajectory data from the plurality of inputs and the geometric intersection data, the trajectory data comprising information representing at least current and predicted future vehicle speeds and positions with respect to the geometric intersection data;

automatically reconfigures the signal timing configuration multiple times per day by analyzing the trajectory data according to a balancing of different user-defined factors; and

adjusts the plurality of outputs based on the reconfigured signal timing configuration to transmit second control signals to the traffic signal heads to cause the traffic signal heads to selectively turn on and off the traffic signals according to the reconfigured signal timing configuration;

wherein the electronic hardware generates the trajectory data multiple times within a single traffic signal cycle until a calculated time to remain in a current phase has been reached.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electronic hardware generates the trajectory data in part by sending the geometric intersection data to the trajectory sensors so that the trajectory sensors are configured to send inputs to the traffic controller that are described with respect to a coordinate frame matching a geometry of the intersection.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the inputs from the trajectory sensors are not described with respect to a coordinate system corresponding to a geometry of the intersection, and wherein the traffic controller generates the trajectory data by transforming the inputs into the coordinate system based on the geometric intersection data.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electronic hardware generates the trajectory data in part from predicted traffic volumes in addition to the inputs received from the trajectory sensors.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electronic hardware generates the trajectory data in part from traffic data reported from second traffic controllers of second intersections adjacent to the intersection in addition to the inputs received from the trajectory sensors.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electronic hardware generates the trajectory data in part by predicting the future vehicle speeds and positions based on estimated or measured acceleration data.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the user-defined factors comprise two or more of the following:

delay, vehicle stops, intersection capacity, emissions, and safety.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electronic hardware comprises a co-processor or separate circuit board that overrides a traffic controller.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electronic hardware automatically reconfigures the signal timing configuration by selecting a traffic phase from a plurality of possible traffic phases and selecting a phase termination time from a plurality of possible phase termination times.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the calculated time is based on an average time difference between initial vehicle trajectory detection, obtained from the trajectory data, and a time at which vehicles are detected from the plurality of inputs as entering a dilemma zone.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the electronic hardware automatically reconfigures the signal timing configuration in response to reaching the calculated time.