DE102020118037A1 - Method for controlling vehicle traffic on a multi-lane road segment and traffic monitoring and control system - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for controlling vehicle traffic on a route section (3) with a plurality of lanes (2, 2', 2"), the method comprising the following steps: determining a number of vehicles present on the route section (3) (5 ) per time unit by means of at least one traffic surveillance camera (8, 8', 8") arranged on the route section (3), determining a number of occupants (7, 7') in vehicles (5) present on the route section (3) by means of at least one Thermal imaging camera (6, 6'), which is arranged on the route section (3), merging the data obtained from the determination step about the number of vehicles (5) present on the route section (3) and the data obtained from the determination step about the number of the occupants (7, 7') in each of the vehicles (5) present on the route section (3), and evaluating the merged data in order to decide whether at least one lane (2, 2', 2") of the St stretch section (3) is released as a car pool lane. The invention also relates to a traffic monitoring and control system (1) which is designed to carry out the method for controlling vehicle traffic on the route section (3), the traffic monitoring and control system (1) having a sensor network which has at least one thermal imaging camera (6 , 6') and at least one traffic surveillance camera (8, 8', 8"), which collects data from vehicles (5) traveling on a predetermined route section (3), in order to determine a number of vehicles (5) per time unit and their respective number of to determine occupants (7, 7') in order to control use of a car pool lane on the predetermined route section (3).

Description

field of invention

The present invention relates to a method for controlling vehicle traffic on a stretch of road with multiple lanes and a traffic monitoring and control system for carrying out the method.

State of the art

Since the volume of traffic and thus the formation of traffic jams is increasing, there are various approaches in the prior art for controlling traffic, for example in order to reduce the load on routes that are used particularly frequently and are prone to traffic jams. For example, today's vehicles are mostly equipped with navigation systems which, when a traffic jam occurs on a given traffic route, calculate alternative routes and suggest them to the driver so that he or she can avoid the traffic jam.

Another measure to reduce or control the volume of traffic on particularly busy routes is to levy a toll for using the route. For example, toll charges may vary depending on the time of day. For example, the toll charge may be higher in the morning and afternoon or evening rush hour than in the periods in between, giving drivers who want to use the route an incentive to use the cheaper times to drive on the toll route select what contributes to the relief of the route.

Another measure is the promotion of carpooling, especially on heavily used sections of the route, e.g. B. Carpooling for the way to work or the like, for example by one or more lanes are released for vehicles that have more than one occupant. These carpool lanes are also known as carpool lanes or high-occupancy vehicle lanes (HOV lanes) and are usually only for use by vehicles with at least two or three occupants. However, there are also variable models for the use of HOV lanes, according to which their exclusive use is limited to peak traffic times and the lane can be used by all vehicles at other times, including those with only one occupant.

Another type of use of traffic routes are the so-called high-occupancy toll lanes (HOT lanes), which, in contrast to the above-mentioned car pool lanes, allow individually occupied vehicles, i.e. vehicles with only one driver, to use this lane, but against a corresponding one toll fee. The toll can be varied throughout the day or increased or decreased depending on the volume of traffic.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for controlling vehicle traffic on a stretch of road with multiple lanes and a traffic monitoring and control system for carrying out the method, with which an even more differentiated control of the traffic load is made possible.

This object is achieved according to the invention by a method for controlling vehicle traffic on a stretch of road with multiple lanes having the features of claim 1 and by a traffic monitoring and control system for carrying out the method having the features of claim 10. Preferred embodiments and developments of the invention are specified in the respective dependent claims.

• - Ermitteln einer Anzahl von auf dem Streckenabschnitt vorhandenen Fahrzeugen pro Zeiteinheit mittels zumindest einer an dem Streckenabschnitt angeordneten Verkehrsüberwachungskamera,
• - Bestimmen einer Anzahl von Insassen in auf dem Streckenabschnitt vorhandenen Fahrzeugen mittels zumindest einer Wärmebildkamera, welche an dem Streckenabschnitt angeordnet ist,
• - Fusionieren der aus dem Ermittlungsschritt gewonnenen Daten über die Anzahl von auf dem Streckenabschnitt vorhandenen Fahrzeugen und der aus dem Bestimmungsschritt gewonnenen Daten über die Anzahl der Insassen in jedem der auf dem Streckenabschnitt vorhandenen Fahrzeuge, und
• - Auswerten der fusionierten Daten, um zu entscheiden, ob zumindest eine Fahrspur des Streckenabschnitts als Fahrgemeinschaftsspur freigegeben wird.

Accordingly, according to the invention, there is provided a method for controlling vehicular traffic on a multi-lane road segment, the method comprising the steps of:

• - Determination of a number of vehicles present on the route section per unit of time by means of at least one traffic surveillance camera arranged on the route section,
• - determining a number of occupants in vehicles present on the route section by means of at least one thermal imaging camera which is arranged on the route section,
• - fusing the data obtained from the determining step on the number of vehicles present on the route segment and the data obtained from the determining step on the number of occupants in each of the vehicles present on the route segment, and
• - Evaluation of the merged data in order to decide whether at least one lane of the route section is released as a car pool lane.

The merged data acquisition for the current utilization of the route section allows a precise and targeted, dynamic adjustment of the use of the lanes to the current traffic situation be achieved, whereby an equalization of the traffic situation is achieved and traffic jams or overloading of the route section can be avoided. For example, if the evaluation shows that a traffic volume exceeds a predetermined limit value, e.g. B. a predetermined number of vehicles with a predetermined number of occupants is exceeded, a car pool lane can be released from the lanes of the route section, so that vehicles with more than one occupant are allowed to drive preferentially in this lane. On the other hand, a carpool lane can also be released for vehicles with only one occupant in the presence of a predetermined traffic situation that can be recognized by evaluating the merged data, with the use of this lane being charged for vehicles with only one occupant. This makes it more attractive for individual drivers to carpool or switch to public transport, which can then also reduce traffic overall.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the at least one lane is released as a carpool lane if the evaluation shows that the number of vehicles with more than one occupant exceeds a predetermined number.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the at least one thermal imaging camera and the at least one traffic surveillance camera form a sensor network, wherein the data recorded by the one or more thermal imaging camera/s and the data recorded by the one or more traffic surveillance camera/s can be used for sensor data fusion, in order to obtain better quality information about the utilization of the route section, but also to increase the reliability and accuracy of the overall system. For example, the completeness of the data can be increased through the complementary fusion through the independent sensors of the thermal imaging camera or thermal imaging cameras and the traffic surveillance camera or traffic surveillance cameras, since different fields of view are considered, namely the number of occupants in a vehicle with the help of one or more infrared camera / s and the actual number of vehicles with the help of one or more video camera/s.

According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the at least one thermal imaging camera belongs to a multi-sensor roadside unit, RSU. Today, RSUs are part of the equipment of road or route sections, among other things to increase traffic safety and traffic flow. However, they also provide a communication infrastructure for the vehicles along traffic routes (car-to-roadside communication, C2R), which can be used to exchange information, for example about the condition of the road or the flow of traffic and possible traffic jams.

The step of evaluating preferably includes determining a capacity utilization of the route section, which is determined by the number of vehicles present on the route section per unit of time.

According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the at least one car pool lane is released for vehicles that have at least two occupants.

In addition, it is preferred if the car pool lane is released for vehicles that are equipped with a toll transponder. For example, only vehicles equipped with a toll transponder may be allowed to use an express lane in the sense of the HOT lanes described above, with an amount incurred for using the lane then being paid directly to the driver or owner via the toll transponder of the vehicle is charged.

The toll transponder preferably determines whether a car pool lane is provided on the route section. For this purpose, the toll transponder is preferably connected to a navigation system of the vehicle, which forwards corresponding information about car pool lanes on the entered route to the toll transponder

Furthermore, according to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the toll transponder can determine the prerequisites for using the car pool lane. The prerequisites can include, for example, the presence of at least two or at least three occupants in a vehicle, or the presence of a toll transponder in the vehicle or the payment of a toll for the route section, e.g. B. in the case when there is only a single occupant in the vehicle.

Furthermore, according to the invention, a traffic monitoring and control system is provided which is designed to carry out the method for controlling vehicle traffic on a section of road with multiple lanes, the traffic monitoring and control system having a sensor network which comprises at least one thermal imaging camera and at least one traffic monitoring camera. the collect data from vehicles traveling on a predetermined route section to determine a number of vehicles per unit time and their respective number of occupants in order to control use of a car pool lane on the predetermined route section.

The traffic monitoring and control system according to the invention can be used to achieve flexible traffic routing that is dynamically adapted to a currently detected traffic situation on a predetermined route section, for example via car pool lanes.

• 1 eine schematische Ansicht eines Verkehrsüberwachungs- und Steuerungssystems gemäß einer Ausführungsform der Erfindung; und
• 2 eine weitere schematische Ansicht des in 1 dargestellten Verkehrsüberwachungs- und Steuerungssystems gemäß einer Ausführungsform der Erfindung.

Further details, features and advantages of the invention result from the following description and the figures. It shows:

• 1 a schematic view of a traffic monitoring and control system according to an embodiment of the invention; and
• 2 another schematic view of the in 1 illustrated traffic monitoring and control system according to an embodiment of the invention.

1 shows a schematic view of a traffic monitoring and control system 1 according to an embodiment of the invention, which is installed here on a three-lane road 2 with a first lane 2', a second lane 2" and a third lane 2"' in a predetermined direction, which passes through Arrows is shown.The road 2 can have three lanes in the opposite direction, which are not shown here.The road 2, of which only a section 3 is shown here, can be, for example, a motorway or a busy country road, which has a large number of is equipped with multi-sensor roadside units RSUs, of which two RSUs 4, 4' are shown here on the route section 3. The RSUs 4, 4' can be used with the vehicles passing through the route section 3, for which the vehicle 5 is shown here as an example , e.g. via a respective on-board unit of the vehicle m information about the traffic situation is provided, e.g. B. traffic jams, accidents, oncoming vehicles, etc. The RSUs 4, 4 'can also be set up to communicate with other traffic devices, such as traffic lights, level crossings or the like, so that they are switched accordingly. A router 9 can be provided to transfer the data and information to the intended target device from the RSU 4, 4' via a wireless communication network, represented by the double arrows.

In the exemplary embodiment shown here, each of the two RSUs 4, 4' is also equipped with a thermal imaging camera 6, 6', which uses special infrared sensors to detect the heat emitted by objects, such as the vehicles 5 and the occupants 7, 7 located therein detect. Thus, the respective thermal imaging cameras 6, 6' are able to detect the number of occupants in a passing vehicle 5. Furthermore, the RSUs 4, 4' can be equipped with traffic surveillance cameras. In the exemplary embodiment shown here, however, the traffic surveillance cameras are provided separately, for example on a traffic control system with variable message signs installed across lanes 2, 2', 2", e.g. for displaying speed limits adapted to weather conditions. For example, there are some such Traffic control systems also use permanently installed cameras for speed measurement. Traffic monitoring cameras 8, 8', 8" could also be provided here for detecting the number of vehicles 5 passing per unit of time. The traffic monitoring device 9 with the traffic monitoring cameras 8, 8', 8" can also forward the data or information determined in this way to a target device via the router 9. In the exemplary embodiment shown here, the traffic monitoring cameras 8, 8', 8" with the thermal imaging cameras 6 , 6' networked via the router 9 and form a sensor network. The data determined by the respective sensors with regard to the number of occupants and the number of vehicles per unit of time are merged in the RSUs 4, 4'. In the sensor data fusion or multi-sensor data fusion, the output data from the sensors of the thermal imaging cameras 6, 6' and the output data from the traffic surveillance cameras 8, 8', 8" are linked in order to determine the traffic load on the route section 3 precisely with regard to occupants per vehicle and vehicle per unit of time, on the basis of which an intelligent traffic control is realized by exceeding or falling below predetermined limit values, the establishment or release of a car pool lane (carpooling lane) takes place, as more precisely in connection with 2 is explained.

2 shows another schematic view of the in 1 illustrated traffic monitoring and control system 1 according to an embodiment of the invention. At one in the direction of travel from the sensor network consisting of the thermal imaging cameras 6, 6' and traffic surveillance cameras 8, 8', 8" (see 1 ) Distant section of the route section 3, an electronic gantries 11 is arranged, which receives the merged data via the router 9 and the signage of the individual lanes 2, 2 ', 2' on the basis of this data accordingly by identification sen or block a car pool lane, here lane 2 "carpooling" or by setting up a lane that is subject to payment, here lane 2'"toll", changes or displays. Also, the toll can be calculated as a function of the fused data received and displayed variably depending on the amount calculated and incurred for use.

For example, at certain times of the day or at the beginning or end of vacation or due to an accident, a particularly high utilization of route section 3 can be determined due to the detected exceeding of a predetermined limit value for vehicles per unit of time. If, for example, the thermal imaging cameras 6, 6' simultaneously determine that there is only one occupant 7 in most or many vehicles 5, then, for example, lane 2 of route section 3 can be marked or identified as a car pool lane. The designation of the carpool lane can include, for example, as a requirement that it may only be used by vehicles 5 with at least two occupants 7, 7′ or at least three occupants. Traffic then flows more smoothly on lane 2 of route section 3, which is designated as a carpool lane, than on the other lanes, since it has been determined that the majority of vehicles 5 have only one occupant 7 and are therefore not allowed to use this lane. This situation is therefore an incentive to form carpools, since in this case the comparatively underutilized carpool lane can be used, which can also have a higher speed limit than the remaining lanes 2', 2" of route section 3, which means a significant can mean time savings.

Furthermore, with this intelligent traffic control it is also possible to designate a second lane, for example the middle lane 2′ of the route section 3, as a lane subject to tolls, which can also be used by vehicles 5 with only one occupant 7, but only against payment a toll fee. As mentioned above, the toll fee can vary depending on the current traffic situation. For this purpose, it is checked whether the vehicle 5 is equipped with an electronic toll transponder 10 . This can be attached, for example, in the area of the windshield of the vehicle 5 and its presence can be indicated by one of the RSUs 4, 4' (see 1 ) can also be detected. In this case, the electronic gantry sign 11 is equipped with a device which forwards a predetermined amount for using the toll lane 2' directly to the toll transponder 10, via which the amount due for use is paid electronically. The amount due can also vary depending on the capacity utilization of route section 3. For example, a higher amount may accrue if it has been determined that route section 3 has a high load and a lower amount if the load is lower. Provision can also be made for a higher speed limit to be permissible in lane 2', which is subject to the toll, than in the remaining lane 2, which also means a time saving for the user.

Overall, the above-described intelligent traffic control using the traffic monitoring and control system 1 can achieve better utilization of the traffic routes and provide a reward for car pools. The flow of traffic can become smoother as a result and Car-Sharing vehicles can be better utilized.

The RSUs 4, 4' described above, which are equipped with thermal imaging cameras 6, 6' and are arranged along the road, also make it possible to check the vehicles 5 with regard to the minimum number of occupants required to use the carpool lane and in case of violation, d. H. when using the carpool lane without the required minimum number of occupants, to record the vehicle or its license plate number, for example using the traffic surveillance cameras 8, 8', 8", so that a corresponding fine can be claimed for the violation.

In addition, the technology described above can be used for intelligent parking space management or for determining free seats in so-called car-sharing vehicles in order to always strive for or achieve optimal use.

Reference List

1

Traffic monitoring and control system

2

three lane road (2' first lane, 2" second lane, 2''' third lane)

3

track section

4, 4'

RSUs

5

vehicle

6, 6'

thermal imagers

7, 7'

occupants of the vehicle

8, 8', 8"

traffic surveillance cameras

9

routers

10

toll transponder

11

electronic gantry sign

Claims (10)

A method for controlling vehicle traffic on a road section (3) with multiple lanes (2, 2', 2"), the method comprising the following steps: - determining a number of vehicles (5) present on the route section (3) per time unit by means of at least one traffic surveillance camera (8, 8', 8") arranged on the route section (3), - determining a number of occupants (7, 7') in vehicles (5) present on the route section (3) by means of at least one thermal imaging camera (6, 6') which is arranged on the route section (3), - Merging the data obtained from the determination step on the number of vehicles (5) present on the route section (3) and the data obtained from the determination step on the number of occupants (7, 7') in each of the vehicles on the route section (3) existing vehicles (5), and - Evaluation of the merged data in order to decide whether at least one lane (2, 2', 2") of the route section (3) is released as a car pool lane. procedure according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one lane (2, 2', 2") is released as a carpool lane if the evaluation shows that a number of vehicles (5) with more than one occupant (7, 7') exceeds a predetermined number. procedure according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the at least one thermal imaging camera (6, 6') and the at least one traffic surveillance camera (8, 8', 8") form a sensor system. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one thermal imaging camera (8, 8', 8") belongs to a multi-sensor roadside unit, RSU (4, 4'). Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the step of evaluating comprises determining a capacity utilization of the route section (3), which is determined by the number of vehicles (5) present on the route section (3) per time unit. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one car pool lane is released for vehicles (5) which have at least two occupants (7, 7'). Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the car pool lane is released for vehicles (5) which are equipped with a toll transponder (10). procedure according to claim 7 , wherein the toll transponder (10) determines whether a car pool lane is provided on the route section (3). procedure according to claim 7 or 8th , wherein the toll transponder (10) determines the requirements for using the car pool lane. Traffic monitoring and control system (1) which is designed to carry out the method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the traffic monitoring and control system (1) has a sensor network which has at least one thermal imaging camera (6, 6') and at least one traffic monitoring camera (8 , 8', 8"), which collect data from vehicles (5) traveling on a predetermined route section (3) in order to determine a number of vehicles (5) per unit of time and their respective number of occupants (7, 7'), to control use of a car pool lane on the predetermined route section (3).

Images