EP2533223A2 - Sensor assembly for detecting, classifying and weighing motor vehicles on roads in moving traffic - Google Patents

Abstract

The sensor arrangement has sensors (2) which are available for determining the mass of the vehicles and inductive loops (1) for a traffic lane. Two inductive loops are arranged in the traffic lane between two individual sensors for determining the mass of vehicles. The sensors are arranged between the inductive loops for determining the mass in driving direction of vehicles.

Description

The invention relates to a sensor arrangement for detection, classification and weighing of motor vehicles on roads in flowing traffic. It can be installed in the lanes of a road and thereby used for registration, classification, determination of the mass of vehicles / wheel loads and for the determination of other measured values, such as speed and vehicle length of vehicles passing over the sensor arrangement.

It is known to engage in the detection of motor vehicles in or under road surfaces individual sensors or to arrange it below. These are essentially two different types of sensors. These are on the one hand inductive or induction loops or sensors which have a comparable function, ie with which the detection of motor vehicles is possible; on the other hand, sensors are used with those the masses of vehicles are determined when driving over. The latter sensors preferably use the piezoelectric effect and by means of a connected charge amplifier, the respective mass can be detected / assigned when crossing over corresponding proportional measurement signals. For this purpose, sensors can be used which use other physical measuring principles. Thus, the respective net mass or it can also be the wheel loads of a vehicle are determined.

Usually, these sensors are used in bar form, so that they have a significantly greater length in an axial direction, as in the aligned perpendicular thereto axial direction. This makes it possible to cover the entire width of at least the largest part of a road or a lane.

With both types of sensors (sensors for determining the mass and inductive loops or alternative sensors of comparable function), a determination of the respective vehicle type via pattern recognition is also possible.

Thus, a sensor, also referred to as a "balance bar," with a width of about 5 cm when crossing a wheel, can emit an electrical impulse whose extent ("area") at a given speed is proportional to the mass, which Measuring signal can be used. The inductive loops or alternative sensors of comparable function provide during the passage a characteristic pattern of the vehicle underbody, from the e.g. 8-10 vehicle classes determined and the vehicle length can be determined. The speed can be determined both from the time offset of the patterns of the inductive loops or the alternative sensors of comparable function and the offset of the pulses of the balance bars. The respective wheel pattern (center distances, axis groups and their individual weights) can then be determined via the sensors for determining the mass.

Often sensors are used to determine the mass, which can only detect part of the width of a road or a lane. As a rule, sensors are then used which are formed from two half bars are. This makes it possible to detect the wheels of a vehicle individually. In addition, the bending stress of the sensors can be reduced.

The determination of the mass or wheel loads is usually only for heavy traffic of interest (truck with and without trailers, semi-motor vehicle), as these have the greatest impact on the wear of the road.

Transponder loops are also used to detect calibration vehicles equipped with a corresponding transponder in flowing traffic.

A known problem of such sensor arrangements are the derivatives (connection lines) of inductive loops and the sensors for mass determination (connections between sensor or inductive loop and the evaluation electronics), which must be installed in the roadway. The road surfaces must be cut open and then a filling of joints is required.

Particularly problematic are the derivatives / connecting lines of the opposite lane or the passing lanes, as they require very long cuts and thus the road surface is badly affected.

When the road surface is renewed, the sensors must be removed. If two or three sensor arrays are present on two (three) tracks, renewal of the main lane in conventional installations and recommendations also destroys the leads / connection lines of the sensors and inductive loops of the oncoming lane or the fast lane.

The detection and detection systems known hitherto are not readily able, in particular in complex sensor arrangements with a plurality of sensors / inductive loops, which are arranged one after the other in the direction of travel, to enable detection / determination in both possible directions of travel. In particular, each is a different one Carry out calibration separately.

It is therefore an object of the invention to propose ways in which the detection of motor vehicles on roads in current traffic easily, with sufficient accuracy, performed flexibly while the cost is kept low.

According to the invention, this object is achieved with a sensor arrangement having the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments and further developments of the invention can be realized with features described in the subordinate claims.

Sensors for determining the mass of vehicles and inductive loops and / or alternative sensors of comparable function for each lane are present in the sensor arrangement according to the invention.

It should always be referred to in the following by the name sensor, which is suitable for determining the mass or wheel loads. Such sensors are used together with sensors for detecting vehicles. The latter sensors for detecting vehicles are preferably inductive loops, different types of inductive sensors and / or alternative sensors of comparable function. For this reason, it will generally be referred to below also to this type of sensors for detecting vehicles and only in the description of the invention, as sensors for detecting vehicles are mentioned.

For detection of vehicles but also other detectors or sensors, such as. Video cameras or radar technology are used.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is provided that with the sensors for detecting vehicles, it is actually only detected whether vehicles are driving in or next to the respective lane or that they are crossing the traffic lanes. All other important measurement signals required for an evaluation can be detected with the sensors for determining the mass. Alternatively and / or additionally, however, it is also possible to obtain all the information relating to the movement of the motor vehicles with the sensors to detect vehicles and to detect only the determination of the weight and / or the classification of motor vehicles with the sensors for determining the mass.

Alternative sensors which have a function comparable to inductive loops are understood to be sensors which realize a comparable function by means of other sensor principles. In particular, this is to be understood as meaning sensors which can be installed under the road surface and which may also consist of a plurality of individual, row-shaped sensor elements. By way of example, coil housings encapsulated with at least one winding, which can be connected to an electronic evaluation and control unit alone or with a plurality of such sensors, may be mentioned. Such sensors are dimensioned so that they can be mounted below the road surface.

In this case, in a lane at least sensors for detecting motor vehicles, in particular two sensors selected from inductive loops, and / or alternative sensors comparable function between two sensors or at least two individual sensors for determining the mass and between the at least sensors for detecting motor vehicles, in particular two sensors selected from inductive loops, and / or alternative sensors comparable function arranged at least one other sensor for determining the mass in the direction of travel of vehicles. Thus, each vehicle passes first at least one sensor, then at least one sensor for detecting motor vehicles, then again at least one sensor, again at least one to again drive over at least one sensor within a lane.

It is a bidirectional use possible. It can be achieved regardless of the direction of travel of vehicles so a detection and evaluation, which is particularly important in a correspondingly changed traffic management in the case of construction sites or diversions acquired importance. In addition, the measurement accuracy and the redundancy can be increased with the measurement signals acquired in succession in a lane to be traveled over in succession.

In the sensor arrangement according to the invention inductive loops can be used alone with sensors for determining the mass but also in place of the inductive loops and / or alternative sensors of comparable function. It is also possible to use both inductive loops with sensors for determining the mass, and / or alternative sensors of comparable function. In the latter case, inductive loops, and / or alternative sensors of comparable function, for example, seen in the direction of travel may be arranged at different distances. So it can be chosen an alternate arrangement.

The sensors should be arranged in the lanes so that, in a normal run over, one wheel of each vehicle passes over a single sensor to determine the mass / wheel load and the other wheel of the same axle passes over a second sensor.

This is further improved if the sensors and inductive loops and / or alternative sensors of comparable function are arranged symmetrically and / or at equal distances from each other as viewed in the direction of travel. As a result, a bidirectional use is possible.

Sensors and inductive loops and / or alternative sensors of comparable function should be arranged identically in two adjacent lanes.

An additional transponder loop for identifying and identifying calibration vehicles may be present on a lane. With transponder loops can then be a calibration, as in WO 2009/109158 A1 described be performed. Transponder loops should be present on lanes on which sensors for determining the mass are arranged. Recognition of calibration vehicles is otherwise possible only with a costly video surveillance or a blocking of the respective road for the remaining traffic.

Connecting lines of sensors and inductive loops and / or alternative sensors of comparable function of a lane should preferably be on one side of a lane and connecting lines of sensors and inductive loops and / or alternative sensors comparable function of a lane arranged next to this lane to the opposite side of the road and thereby the connecting lines of sensors and inductive loops and / or alternative sensors comparable function of the two lanes below the lane in secured form to the other side of the road and be led from there to a common electronic evaluation or storage unit for all sensors and inductive loops and / or alternative sensors of comparable function. In this case, the connecting lines can be performed in a secured form below the roadway through a pipe (Unterunterung) to the electronic evaluation unit at the roadside. Such a secure guidance of the connecting lines can also be formed by a median strip to a roadway edge.

In each lane, two sensors in the direction of travel should preferably be provided in front of at least one sensor for detecting vehicles, in particular an inductive loop (1) and / or an alternative sensor of comparable function, between two sensors for detecting vehicles and for at least one sensor for detecting vehicles be arranged, which are preferably aligned perpendicular to the direction of travel of the respective lane. As a result, the measurement sensitivity can be increased, since usually only one wheel of a vehicle travels over one of the two sensors. In addition, this can reduce the bending stress of the beam-shaped sensors and the wheel load of each individual vehicle wheel can be determined individually. With the invention according to the invention in the direction of travel three consecutive and in each case a lane paired sensors for determining the mass of vehicles, the respective wheel loads can be detected. In addition, a determination of the respective vehicle type and also a determination of the speed of the vehicles traveling over can be achieved via pattern recognition.

If vehicles drive over a boundary strip or if they do not run over the sensors or at least not nearly vertically (oblique travel), this determination can at least not be made with high accuracy. However, it is possible to detect the detected pattern of the vehicles obliquely crossing the sensors.

It is possible to arrange at least one inductive loop and / or at least one alternative sensor of comparable function in a lane strip arranged next to a lane and to use its signal for detecting incorrect crossings.

In the case of a lane with more than two lanes, the outermost passing lane of the lane can only be assigned at least two inductive loops and / or alternative sensors of comparable function, since it can be assumed that no heavy vehicles are traveling there and the determination of the mass / wheel load is there is not essential.

In the invention, a plurality of sensors for detecting vehicles, in particular a plurality of induction loops and / or a plurality of alternative sensors of comparable function in a row arrangement can be present in one lane, wherein the orientation of the row arrangement should preferably be perpendicular to the direction of travel. But it can also be aligned at a known angle to this vertical orientation.

The sensors for detecting vehicles, in particular induction loops (1) and / or alternative sensors of comparable function, with a suitable design underneath the road surface of a road in a channel or a passage (eg a pipe), which is at least led to a road edge be arranged. As a result, an embedding in the road surface, which is associated with a correspondingly high cost in the production, maintenance and repair, no longer required. This is possible because the appropriate sensors are dimensioned correspondingly small with a few cubic centimeters in size. An example of such sensors are the "micro loops" of the 3M Company.

It is also possible in a lane in the direction of travel at intervals to each other to arrange several sensors for detecting motor vehicles and between them sensors 2 for determining the mass. In this case, the number of sensors for vehicle detection, which are arranged at a certain distance, to corresponding sensors, which in another Spaced apart, differ from each other. Thus, for example, seen in the direction of travel in a lane, first a single sensor for detecting motor vehicles may be arranged. From this, a sensor for determining the mass is arranged at a distance, at a distance from this sensor can then be arranged two or more than two sensors for vehicle detection in a series arrangement. With the one sensor, at least the arrival of a vehicle can be detected regardless of its size and design. With the multiple sensors for detecting motor vehicles can then be determined whether it is a larger, wider, longer vehicle. In this case, a pattern recognition can be helpful.

The invention will be explained in more detail by way of example in the following. In this case, individual features of the examples can be combined independently of the respective concrete example.

• Figur 1 ein Beispiel einer Sensoranordnung in einer dreispurigen Fahrbahn mit zusätzlichem Standstreifen;
• Figur 2 ein Beispiel einer Sensoranordnung in einer zweispurigen Fahrbahn mit zusätzlichem Standstreifen;
• Figur 3 ein Beispiel einer Sensoranordnung für eine einbahnige Straße mit Gegenverkehr und
• Figur 4 ein Beispiel einer Sensoranordnung in einer zweispurigen Fahrbahn mit zusätzlichem Standstreifen.

Showing:

• FIG. 1 an example of a sensor arrangement in a three-lane road with additional hard shoulder;
• FIG. 2 an example of a sensor arrangement in a two-lane road with additional hard shoulder;
• FIG. 3 an example of a sensor arrangement for a one-lane road with oncoming traffic and
• FIG. 4 an example of a sensor arrangement in a two-lane roadway with additional hard shoulder.

Inductive loops 1 are generally used in the examples. However, these could also be replaced by at least one or more alternative sensor (s) of comparable function.

FIG. 1 shows a lane with three lanes and additional lane for each direction of travel (6-lane highway). In the second passing lane, at adjacent the median strip, no sensors 2 for determining the mass (weighing beam), but only two inductive loops 1 are present. It is assumed in this case that this lane is closed to heavy traffic and therefore a weighing is not of interest. By means of the inductive loops 1 but vehicles of heavy traffic can be detected on this lane and photographed. In the hard shoulder, only two inductive loops 1 are also embedded, so that even there vehicles can be registered, drive with the right wheels on the hard shoulder and so try to circumvent the determination of mass / weighing. The arrangement applies to the opposite lane (180 ° rotated by M1). The connecting lines 1.1 and 2.1 for the inductive loops 1 and the middle sensor 2 can be performed in a joint in the road surface together on hard shoulder or on the second passing lane.

It is clear that in the two adjacent to the hard shoulder lanes, the sensors 2 and the inductive loops 1 are arranged so that the two inductive loops 1 seen in the direction of travel of each two individual sensors 2, which are associated with this lane, are included. The inductive loops 1 are arranged centrally / symmetrically between the two sensors 2 seen in the direction of travel. As a result, symmetrical conditions can be maintained. This is not necessary with the transponder loops 3, since these are only used for the identification of calibration vehicles.

In addition, it becomes clear from the illustration that the connecting lines 1.1, 2.1 and 3.1 of the inductive loops 1 of the stationary strip and the lanes arranged next to them are guided directly to the electronic evaluation unit 4 arranged on a roadway side. Whereas the connecting lines 1.1, 2.1 and 3.1 of the inductive loops 1 and the sensors 2 of the other two lanes are guided to the other side of the entire roadway, so in this case to the median strip and here the point M1. From there, they are guided underneath the road in the form of a piping to the other side of the road to the electronic evaluation unit 4. Again, the connecting lines 1.1 and 2.1 for the inductive loops 1 and the middle sensor 2 in a joint in the road surface be led together on hard shoulder and the fast lane.

In FIG. 2 are two lanes with hard shoulder per direction of travel (4-lane highway or highway) shown. Here are conditions as in the arrangement with three lanes according to FIG. 1 in front. Only the second fast lane including the corresponding inductive loops is eliminated. However, both lanes are equipped with sensors 2 and inductive loops 1. The arrangement applies to the opposite lane (180 ° rotated by M1).

In this example, the connection lines 1.1 2.1 and 3.1 of the sensors 2 and inductive loops 1 of a lane and that of the lane are led to the one lane side and the connection lines 1.1, 2.1 and 3.1 of the sensors 2 and inductive loops 1 of the other lane are to the other lane side, in this case to the median strip to point M1 and from there, as in the example below FIG. 1 led to the electronic evaluation unit 4.

The FIG. 3 shows an example of an arrangement according to the invention with two lanes (one-lane road with oncoming traffic) for both directions. Each direction of travel has a symmetrical arrangement of sensors 2, inductive loops 1 and in this case also each one transponder loop 3. The leadership of the connecting lines 1.1, 2.1 and 3.1 is analogous, as in the other two examples of the two lanes only once to the roadside and then again from one side directly to the electronic evaluation unit 4 and from the other side via the point M1 through a pipe ( not shown) below the road to the electronic evaluation unit. 4

The FIG. 4 shows an example of a sensor arrangement in a two-lane road with additional hard shoulder. The sensors 2 are arranged in a lane (main lane) with two inductive loops 1. In the second lane (overtaking) and in a hard shoulder only two inductive loops 1 are arranged. The lane with the sensors 2 is additionally equipped with a transponder loop 3.

All connecting lines 1.1, 2.1 and 3.1 are guided to a road side to the electronic evaluation unit 4.

Claims (14)

Sensor arrangement for detection, classification and weighing of motor vehicles on roads in flowing traffic, in which sensors for determining the mass of vehicles and sensors for detecting vehicles for at least one lane are present, characterized in that
in a lane two sensors for detecting vehicles between at least two individual sensors (2) for determining the mass and between the two sensors for detecting vehicles at least one further sensor (2) for determining the mass in the direction of travel of vehicles is arranged. Sensor arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the sensors for detecting vehicles are selected from the group consisting of inductive loops and / or alternative sensors of comparable function. Sensor arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sensors (2) and the sensors for detecting vehicles are arranged symmetrically and / or at equal distances from each other in the direction of travel. Sensor arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that sensors (2) and sensors for detecting vehicles or a plurality of sensors arranged in series comparable function are arranged symmetrically perpendicular to the direction of travel. Sensor arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that sensors (2) and sensors for detecting vehicles in two juxtaposed lanes are each arranged the same. Sensor arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an additional transponder loop (3) for calibration with calibration vehicles is present on a traffic lane. Sensor arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that connection lines (1.1, 2.1) of sensors (2) and sensors for detecting vehicles of a lane to one side of a roadway and connecting lines (1.1, 2.1) of sensors (2) and sensors for Detecting vehicles comparable function of a lane next to this lane are led to the opposite side of the road and the connecting lines (1.1, 2.1) of sensors (2) and sensors for detecting vehicles one of the two lanes below the road in a secured form to the other side the road and from there to a common electronic evaluation or storage unit (4) for all sensors (2) and sensors for detecting vehicles are performed. Sensor arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in a lane at least two sensors (2), which are preferably aligned perpendicular to the direction of travel of the respective lane, and in each case at least two sensors (2) in the direction of travel in front of a sensor for detecting Vehicles are arranged between two sensors for detecting vehicles and / or for a sensor for detecting vehicles. Sensor arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one sensor for detecting vehicles is arranged on a lane strip arranged next to a lane. Sensor arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in a more than two-lane roadway, the outermost passing lane of the lane is associated with at least one sensor for detecting vehicles. Sensor arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a plurality of connecting lines (1.1, 2.1) are guided in a joint together through the road surface to the electronic evaluation unit (4). Sensor arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a plurality of sensors for detecting vehicles in a row arrangement are present in a lane, wherein the alignment of the row arrangement is preferably perpendicular to the direction of travel. Sensor arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sensors for detecting vehicles alternative sensors are comparable function and structurally configured so that they below the road surface of a road in a channel or a passage, the / at least up to a lane edge is guided, are arranged. Sensor arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in a lane in the direction of travel at intervals to each other several sensors for detecting vehicles and between them sensors (2) for determining the mass are arranged and the number of sensors for detecting vehicles, in a certain distance are arranged to sensors for detecting vehicles, which are arranged at a different distance, different from each other.

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