Systems, methods, devices, and apparatuses for intelligent traffic signaling
Systems, methods, devices, and apparatuses for intelligent traffic signaling are disclosed. The system can include sensors for detecting approaching automobiles. The system can include a processor operable to receive data directly from nearby automobiles and detected data from the sensors. The processor can determine, based on the detected or received data, a level of safeness associated with crossing the opposing traffic lane. The level of safeness can be calculated by at least determining an expected time to arrival of an approaching automobile at the traffic intersection. The system can control one or more traffic beacons based on the level of safeness.
1 . A system for traffic management, comprising:
a plurality of electronic computing devices at a plurality of automobiles, wherein each of the plurality of electronic computing devices includes one or more transmitters that propagate signals comprising location, speed, and heading data of a corresponding automobile of the plurality of automobiles; and
a traffic management device located at a traffic crossing, wherein the traffic management device is positioned to monitor a respective opposing traffic lane, and wherein the traffic management device comprises:
one or more traffic data detection sensors, wherein the one or more traffic data detection sensors comprise radio frequency (“RF”), Wi-Fi, cellular, and radar sensors configured to detect traffic data comprising a distance and speed of automobiles approaching in an opposing traffic lane;
one or more traffic beacons; and
a processor for controlling the one or more traffic beacons, wherein the processor is operatively connected to the one or more traffic data detection sensors and the processor is configured to:
receive the location, speed, and heading data from the plurality of electronic computing devices corresponding to approaching automobiles of the plurality of automobiles;
receive detected distance and speed traffic data corresponding to the approaching automobiles from the one or more traffic data detection sensors;
compare a first-received of the location, speed, and heading data or the detected distance and speed traffic data to a predetermined threshold for determining an expected time to arrival at the traffic crossing for the approaching automobiles;
determine a level of safeness for crossing the opposing traffic lane based on the expected time to arrival at the traffic crossing for the approaching automobiles; and
indicate the level of safeness via the one or more traffic beacons to drivers and/or pedestrians intending to cross the opposing traffic lane.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of electronic computing devices comprises mobile phones and/or on-board computing devices at the plurality of automobiles.
3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more traffic data detection sensors are configured to monitor about a thirty degree field of view, originating from the traffic management device, over a range of about 750-900 feet.
4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to compare the location, speed, and heading data to the detected distance and speed traffic data to confirm approaching automobiles.
5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the traffic management device transmits the location, speed, and heading data, the detected distance and speed traffic data, and one or more expected times to arrival to neighboring traffic management devices.
6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the system operates in near real-time.
7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more traffic beacons are configured to provide one or more visual indicators, each of the one or more visual indicators being indicative of a corresponding traffic state or a corresponding level of safeness.
8 . The system of claim 7 , wherein a yellow visual indicator of the one or more visual indicators indicates that the opposing traffic lane is safe to cross.
9 . The system of claim 7 , wherein a red visual indicator of the one or more visual indicators indicates that the opposing traffic lane is unsafe to cross.
10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein after a predetermined time threshold elapses without receiving new detected traffic data indicating a presence of an approaching automobile, the processor is further configured to change the red visual indicator to a yellow visual indicator.
11 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the predetermined time threshold is about ten seconds.
12 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more traffic beacons exclude green visual indicators.
13 . A system for traffic management, comprising:
a traffic management device located at a traffic crossing, wherein the traffic management device is positioned to monitor a respective opposing traffic lane, and wherein the traffic management device comprises:
one or more traffic data detection sensors, wherein the one or more traffic data detection sensors comprise one or more radar sensors configured to detect traffic data comprising a distance and speed of approaching automobiles that are approaching in an opposing traffic lane;
one or more traffic beacons; and
a processor for controlling the one or more traffic beacons, wherein the processor is operatively connected to the one or more traffic data detection sensors and the processor is configured to:
receive location, speed, and heading (LSH) data from a plurality of electronic computing devices, wherein each electronic computing device of the plurality of electronic computing devices is associated with a corresponding automobile of a plurality of automobiles, and the LSH data indicates a location, speed, and heading corresponding to each of the plurality of automobiles;
receive, from the one or more traffic data detection sensors, detected distance and speed traffic data corresponding to each of the approaching automobiles;
compare a first-received of the LSH data or the detected distance and speed traffic data to a predetermined threshold for determining an expected time to arrival at the traffic crossing for the approaching automobiles;
determine a level of safeness for crossing the opposing traffic lane based on the expected time to arrival at the traffic crossing for the approaching automobiles; and
indicate the level of safeness via the one or more traffic beacons to drivers and/or pedestrians intending to cross the opposing traffic lane.
14 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of electronic computing devices comprises a mobile phone or an on-board computing devices at one of the plurality of automobiles.
15 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the one or more traffic data detection sensors are configured to monitor a predetermined field of view originating from the traffic management device.
16 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the processor is further configured to compare the LSH data to the detected distance and speed traffic data to confirm the approaching automobiles.
17 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the traffic management device transmits, to neighboring traffic management devices, the LSH data, the detected distance and speed traffic data, or the expected time to arrival at the traffic crossing for the approaching automobiles.
18 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the one or more traffic beacons are configured to provide one or more visual indicators, each of the one or more visual indicators being indicative of a corresponding traffic state or a corresponding level of safeness.
19 . The system of claim 18 , wherein:
a yellow visual indicator of the one or more visual indicators indicates that the opposing traffic lane is safe to cross; or
a red visual indicator of the one or more visual indicators indicates that the opposing traffic lane is unsafe to cross.
20 . A system for traffic management, comprising:
a traffic management device located at a traffic crossing, wherein the traffic management device is positioned to monitor a respective traffic lane, and wherein the traffic management device comprises:
one or more traffic data detection sensors, wherein each of the one or more traffic data detection sensors is configured to detect traffic data corresponding to each of one or more approaching automobiles and transmit the traffic data as detected traffic data;
one or more traffic beacons; and
a processor for controlling the one or more traffic beacons, wherein the processor is operatively connected to the one or more traffic data detection sensors and the processor is configured to:
for each of the one or more approaching automobiles:
receive transmitted vehicle data from one or more electronic computing devices associated with a corresponding approaching automobile of the one or more approaching automobiles;
receive the detected traffic data from at least one of the one or more traffic data detection sensors, wherein at least some of the detected traffic data corresponds to the corresponding approaching automobile; and
compare a first-received of either the transmitted vehicle data or the detected traffic data to a predetermined threshold for determining an expected time to arrival at the traffic crossing for the one or more approaching automobiles;
determine a level of safeness for crossing the traffic crossing based on the expected time to arrival at the traffic crossing for the one or more approaching automobiles; and
output instructions for the one or more traffic beacons to display one or more indications of the level of safeness.