WO2019187856A1

WO2019187856A1 - Control device and signal control system

Info

Publication number: WO2019187856A1
Application number: PCT/JP2019/006833
Authority: WO
Inventors: 一輝橋本; 仁吉澤; 嵩内田
Original assignee: パナソニックＩｐマネジメント株式会社
Priority date: 2018-03-29
Filing date: 2019-02-22
Publication date: 2019-10-03
Also published as: JPWO2019187856A1; JP7126148B2

Abstract

This control device (50) is provided with an acquisition unit (53) which acquires position information indicating the positions of one or more moving bodies (10) present in the periphery of multiple traffic lights (3), and a signal control unit (55) which, on the basis of the position information of the one or more moving bodies (10), performs control for switching the signals shown by the multiple traffic lights (3) so as to shorten the stopping periods during which at least one of the moving bodies (10) is stopped by the traffic lights (3).

Description

Control device and signal control system

The present disclosure relates to a control device and a signal control system.

Based on the image, the detection unit for detecting the traffic volume, the display state of the signal display unit attached to the traffic light, the first traffic volume detected by the detection unit, and the second traffic volume detected by the detection unit A traffic light control device including a display control unit that switches according to a ratio or a difference is disclosed (for example, see Patent Document 1).

JP 2017-84397 A

There is a demand for more efficient infrastructure systems including multiple traffic signals by appropriately switching the signals of multiple traffic signals.

Therefore, an object of the present disclosure is to provide a control device and a signal control system that can improve the efficiency of the infrastructure system.

In order to achieve the above object, a control device according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes an acquisition unit that acquires position information indicating the positions of one or more moving objects that exist around a plurality of traffic lights, and the one or more moving objects. And a signal control unit that performs control to switch signals indicated by the plurality of traffic lights so as to shorten a stop period in which at least one moving body is stopped by the plurality of traffic lights based on the position information of each of the traffic lights. .

In order to achieve the above object, a signal control system according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes a control device and a plurality of traffic lights.

According to the control device and signal control system of the present disclosure, the efficiency of the infrastructure system can be improved.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an outline of a signal control system according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the signal control system according to the embodiment. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating operations of a plurality of traffic lights in the signal control system according to the embodiment. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the signal control system according to the embodiment. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a period for switching signals of the traffic light according to the embodiment. FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a traffic light according to a modification.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that each of the embodiments described below shows a specific example of the present disclosure. Therefore, numerical values, shapes, materials, components, arrangement and connection forms of components, steps, order of steps, and the like shown in the following embodiments are merely examples, and are not intended to limit the present disclosure. Therefore, among the constituent elements in the following embodiments, constituent elements that are not described in the independent claims indicating the highest concept of the present disclosure are described as arbitrary constituent elements.

Each figure is a schematic diagram and is not necessarily shown strictly. Therefore, for example, the scales and the like do not necessarily match in each drawing. Moreover, in each figure, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected about the substantially same structure, The overlapping description is abbreviate | omitted or simplified.

(Embodiment)
[Constitution]
FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating a signal control system 1 according to the embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the signal control system 1 according to the embodiment.

First, the control device 50 and the signal control system 1 according to the present embodiment will be described.

The signal control system 1 is a system that can control lighting modes of a plurality of traffic lights 3 installed on a road. The signal control system 1 includes a plurality of traffic lights 3 and a control device 50.

Each traffic light 3 restricts the movement of the moving body 10 traveling on the road by switching the red signal, the yellow signal, and the green signal at regular time intervals. Each traffic signal 3 is installed on a road, and each is identified by identification information. The moving body 10 is, for example, a person, a vehicle having power, a vehicle such as a motorcycle, a vehicle with an assist function such as an electric bicycle, or the like. The moving body 10 may be anything that moves.

Each signal device 3 includes a communication unit 39 and a signal display unit 37. Each traffic light 3 has the same configuration. Unless otherwise stated, one traffic light 3 will be described.

The communication unit 39 is a wireless module capable of communicating with the control device 50. The communication unit 39 acquires a control command from the control device 50 and outputs the acquired control command to the signal display unit 37.

The signal display unit 37 includes a first light emitting unit, a second light emitting unit, and a third light emitting unit. The first light emitting unit is lit in blue (or green), and indicates that it is “progressable” at the time of lighting. The first light emitting unit is lit with a green light. The second light-emitting portion lights up in yellow, and indicates that “it stops at the stop position. However, when it does not stop at the stop position, it may proceed as it is”. The second light emitting unit lights up with a yellow signal. The third light emitting unit is lit in red, indicating that “progress is impossible” at the time of lighting. The third light emitting unit lights up with a red signal. The first light emitting unit is an LED element that emits blue light (green light), the second light emitting unit is an LED element that emits yellow light, and the third light emitting unit is an LED element that emits red light.

The signal display unit 37 is lit with a red signal, a yellow signal, and a blue signal every predetermined period based on the control command acquired from the communication unit 39. The period during which each of the red signal, the yellow signal, and the blue signal is lit may be the same or may be different.

The control device 50 is a device that controls the lighting state of the red signal, the yellow signal, and the blue signal displayed by the traffic light 3, and can simultaneously control the signals that the respective traffic lights 3 light. The control device 50 may be mounted on a server that manages the plurality of traffic lights 3.

The control device 50 includes an acquisition unit 53 and a signal control unit 55.

The obtaining unit 53 obtains position information indicating the positions of one or more moving bodies 10 existing around the plurality of traffic lights 3. The acquisition unit 53 is, for example, a communication module that can be connected to a network. Specifically, the acquisition unit 53 acquires position information indicating each current position of a terminal device, a vehicle, or the like possessed by a person via a network. The acquisition unit 53 outputs each acquired position information to the signal control unit 55.

The acquisition unit 53 is not limited to the communication module, and may be an obstacle detection sensor that detects the position of the moving body 10, for example. The obstacle detection sensor may be of any type, such as an optical type or an ultrasonic type, as long as the position of the moving body 10 can be detected.

In the present embodiment, the control device 50 identifies each moving object based on each position information, but identification information for identifying each terminal device and each vehicle is added to the position information. May be. Thereby, the position of each terminal device and each vehicle can be specified.

The signal control unit 55 indicates the plurality of traffic lights 3 so as to shorten a stop period in which at least one of the mobile bodies 10 is stopped by the plurality of traffic lights 3 based on position information of each of the one or more mobile bodies 10. Control to switch signals. Hereinafter, switching of signals indicated by the plurality of traffic lights 3 by the signal control unit 55 will be described by way of example.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the operation of the plurality of traffic lights 3 in the signal control system 1 according to the embodiment.

First, assume a plurality of traffic lights 3 arranged at an intersection where the first road and the second road intersect. The first traffic light 3a, which is one of the plurality of traffic lights 3, restricts the movement of the moving body 10 on the first road, and displays a red signal, a yellow signal, and a blue signal on the moving body 10 traveling on the first road. The second traffic light 3b, which is one of the plurality of traffic lights 3, restricts the movement of the moving body 10 on the second road, and displays a red signal, a yellow signal, and a blue signal for the moving body 10 traveling on the second road. To do. The first traffic light 3a and the second traffic light 3b have the same configuration.

(A) of FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a case where a plurality of electric bicycles travel on the first road and the moving body 10 does not exist on the second road. As shown in (a) of FIG. 3, the signal control unit 55 acquires position information of the electric bicycle from the electric bicycle via the acquisition unit 53. When the first traffic light 3a is lit with a red signal and the second traffic light 3b is lit with a blue signal, the position indicated by the position information of the electric bicycle is within a predetermined range from the first traffic light 3a. The control unit 55 shortens the lighting period of the green signal (hereinafter referred to as the first period) in which the first traffic light 3a is lit by the first specified period, and the lighting period of the red signal in which the second traffic light 3b is lit (hereinafter referred to as the first period). 1 period) is shortened by the first specified period. And the signal control part 55 transmits the control command which switches a signal from a red signal to a blue signal to the 1st signal apparatus 3a, and the control command which switches the signal which the 2nd signal apparatus 3b lights from a blue signal to a red signal to the 2nd signal apparatus 3b. Send. Thereby, the signal display unit 37 of the first traffic light 3a is switched on from a red signal to a blue signal, and the signal display unit 37 of the second traffic signal 3b is switched on from a blue signal to a red signal.

Further, the signal control unit 55 calculates the traveling speed and acceleration of the moving body 10 from each position information based on the position information of each of the one or more moving bodies 10. And the signal control part 55 calculates the arrival time to the traffic signal of the applicable mobile body 10 based on the calculated traveling speed and acceleration. The signal control unit 55 generates a control command that determines the timing for switching the signals of the plurality of traffic lights 3 based on the calculated arrival times, and transmits the control command to the plurality of traffic lights 3.

Thus, on the second road, the electric bicycle can smoothly travel on the first road by switching the signal of the first traffic light 3a from the red signal to the green signal.

In the case of FIG. 3 (a), when the moving body 10 is not present on the second road, the first traffic light 3a is lit in a green light so that the moving body present on the first road is allowed to pass. Continuously, the second traffic light 3b is kept lit red.

The first period here is a standard lighting period in which the first traffic light 3a is lit with a green light. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the first period in which the first traffic light 3a is lit with a green light is the same as the period in which the second traffic light 3b is lit with a red light.

As another example, FIG. 3B shows a case where a plurality of automobiles are traveling on the first road and one electric bicycle is traveling on the second road. As illustrated in FIG. 3B, the signal control unit 55 acquires position information from each of the electric bicycle and the plurality of automobiles from the acquisition unit 53. Based on the acquired position information, the signal control unit 55 has a plurality of automobiles (moving bodies 10) existing on the first road and the number of electric bicycles (an example of moving bodies) existing on the second road. Is recognized as one.

When there are a plurality of moving bodies 10 whose movement is restricted by the first traffic light 3a and the second traffic light 3b (an example of the plurality of traffic lights 3), the number of the mobile bodies 10 existing on the first road is More than the number of moving bodies 10 existing on two roads. For this reason, the signal control part 55 made the 1st period when the 1st traffic light 3a lights a green light with respect to the 1st road longer than the lighting period of the green signal when the 2nd traffic light 3b lights with respect to the 2nd road. A control command is transmitted to the first traffic light 3a. In addition, the signal control unit 55 sets the first period during which the second traffic light 3b lights a red signal to the second road longer than the lighting period of the red signal when the first traffic light 3a lights to the first road. The control command is transmitted to the second traffic light 3b.

As a result, the control device 50 turns on the first traffic light 3a with a blue light for a second period extended from the first period by a specified period, and turns the second traffic light 3b red for a second period extended from the first period by a specified period. Turn on by signal.

In this way, the signal control unit 55 changes the lighting period of the blue signal and the red signal in which the respective signal display units 37 of the first traffic signal 3a and the second traffic signal 3b are lit depending on the traffic congestion of the moving body 10. . In this case, congestion due to a plurality of automobiles existing on the first road can be reduced.

As another example, FIG. 3 (c) shows that the signal from the first traffic light 3a is a red signal, the signal from the second traffic light 3b is a green signal, one vehicle is traveling on the first road, and A case where a plurality of electric bicycles are traveling on the second road is shown.

As shown in (c) of FIG. 3, the signal control unit 55 maintains the switched signal for a predetermined period when each signal device 3 performs control to switch the signal. Specifically, when the signal of the first traffic light 3a is switched from a red signal to a blue signal and the signal of the second traffic light 3b is switched from a green signal to a red signal, each signal display unit 37 displays the first traffic signal 3a and the first traffic light that are switched. The signal of the two-signal device 3b is maintained for a predetermined period. That is, the signal control unit 55 maintains the blue signal for lighting the first traffic light 3a for a predetermined period and maintains the red signal for lighting the second traffic light 3b for a predetermined period from the time when the signal is switched. The predetermined period is a period shorter than both the first period and the second period.

This is because in this example, since the number of moving bodies 10 traveling on the second road is larger than the number of moving bodies 10 traveling on the first road, the first traffic light 3a is lit with a green light. The period may be shortened, and the first period in which the second traffic light 3b lights up with a red signal may be shortened. In this case, further, the first traffic light 3a is switched from a green signal to a red signal in a period shorter than the first period, so that a car traveling on the first road may enter the intersection. In this case, there is a possibility that the second traffic light 3b is switched to a green light and collides with an electric bicycle traveling on the second road. For this reason, the signal control part 55 does not switch a signal until the predetermined period passes since the 1st signal apparatus 3a and the 2nd signal apparatus 3b switched the signal.

Each of a terminal device possessed by a person, a vehicle having power, a vehicle such as a motorcycle, a vehicle with an assist function such as an electric bicycle, and the like each includes a position information acquisition unit 11a and a communication unit 11b. The position information acquisition unit 11 a acquires position information indicating its own position using GPS (Global Position System), and transmits the acquired position information to the traffic signal 3 via the control device 50. The communication unit 11b is a communication module capable of communicating with the control device 50.

[Operation]
The operation of the signal control system 1 will be described.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the signal control system 1 according to the embodiment. Here, the case where the 1st road and the 2nd road exist is assumed.

First, the control device 50 acquires position information of each moving body 10 (S11). Specifically, the control device 50 acquires the position information of the terminal device possessed by the user, the position information of the electric bicycle, the position information of the automobile, and the like. The signal control unit 55 of the control device 50 acquires the respective position information via the acquisition unit 53. Each piece of position information includes identification information for identifying the individual, and the signal control unit 55 can specify the moving body 10 such as a terminal device, an electric bicycle, or an automobile.

Next, the signal control unit 55 calculates the number of moving bodies 10 existing on the first road and the number of moving bodies 10 existing on the second road based on the acquired position information. The signal control unit 55 determines whether or not the number of moving bodies 10 existing on the first road is larger than the number of moving bodies 10 existing on the second road (S12).

As shown in FIG. 3B, when the number of moving bodies 10 existing on the first road is larger than the number of moving bodies 10 existing on the second road (YES in S12), the signal control unit 55 The lighting period (first period) of the blue signal for lighting the first traffic light 3a is extended by a specified period, and the lighting period (first period) of the red signal for lighting the second traffic light 3b is extended by a specified period (S13). In the signal control unit 55, the first traffic light 3a lights a green signal in the second period, and the second traffic light 3b lights a red signal in the second period.

The prescribed period may be a value fixed in advance, or may be a value calculated by a ratio or difference between the number of moving bodies 10 existing on the first road and the number of moving bodies 10 existing on the second road. For example, as the ratio or difference of the number of moving bodies 10 existing on the first road with respect to the number of moving bodies 10 existing on the second road becomes larger, the specified period becomes longer.

Next, the first traffic light 3a switches from the green signal to the red signal after the second period of the green signal extended in step S13 has elapsed. The second traffic light 3b switches from the red signal to the blue signal after the second period of the red signal extended in step S13 (S14). And the control apparatus 50 complete | finishes this process, and returns to a start.

When the number of moving bodies 10 existing on the first road is smaller than the number of moving bodies 10 existing on the second road (NO in S12), the signal control unit 55 determines whether the moving bodies 10 existing on the first road It is determined whether or not the number is the same as the number of moving bodies 10 existing on the second road (S15).

When the number of the moving bodies 10 existing on the first road is not the same as the number of the moving bodies 10 existing on the second road (NO in S15), the signal control unit 55 turns on the blue signal that lights the second traffic light 3b. The period (first period) is extended by a specified period, and the red signal lighting period (first period) in which the first traffic light 3a is lit is extended by a specified period (S16).

Next, the second traffic light 3b switches from the green signal to the red signal after the second period of the green signal extended in step S16 has elapsed. Further, the signal display unit 37 of the first traffic light 3a switches from the red signal to the blue signal after the second period of the red signal extended in step S16 (S14). And the control apparatus 50 complete | finishes this process, and returns to a start.

When the number of moving bodies 10 existing on the first road is the same as the number of moving bodies 10 existing on the second road (YES in S15), the signal control unit 55 The signal of the first traffic light 3a is switched from one to the other, and the signal of the second traffic light 3b is switched from the other to the other (S17). And the control apparatus 50 complete | finishes this process, and returns to a start.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a period for switching signals of the traffic light 3 according to the embodiment.

First, when the signal display unit 37 switches a signal, the signal control unit 55 determines whether or not a predetermined period has elapsed since the last time the signal was switched (S21).

When the predetermined period has elapsed since the time when the signal was switched immediately before (YES in S21), the signal control unit 55 switches the signal of the traffic light 3 from one to the other (S22).

If the predetermined period has not elapsed since the last time the signal was switched (NO in S21), the signal control unit 55 waits until the predetermined period elapses. Then, the control device 50 ends this process.

[Function and effect]
Next, functions and effects of the control device 50 and the signal control system 1 in the present embodiment will be described.

As described above, the control device 50 according to the present embodiment includes the acquisition unit 53 that acquires the position information indicating the positions of the one or more moving bodies 10 existing around the plurality of traffic lights 3, and the one or more moving bodies. A signal control unit 55 that performs control to switch signals indicated by the plurality of traffic signals 3 so as to shorten a stop period in which at least one moving body 10 is stopped by the plurality of traffic signals 3 based on the respective position information of 10; Is provided.

According to this, the signal control part 55 performs control which switches the signal which the some signal apparatus 3 shows so that the stop period when the at least 1 moving body 10 is stopped by the some signal apparatus 3 may be shortened. For example, when one moving body 10 exists around a plurality of traffic lights 3, the moving body 10 is stopped by the traffic light 3 by switching the traffic light 3 in the direction in which the moving body 10 moves from a red signal to a blue light. It is possible to shorten the stopped period.

Therefore, in the control device 50, the efficiency of the infrastructure system can be improved by controlling the operations of the plurality of traffic lights 3. As a result, traffic efficiency can be improved.

Also, the signal control system 1 according to the present embodiment includes a control device 50 and a plurality of traffic lights 3.

Even in this configuration, the same effects as described above are obtained.

Further, in the control device 50 according to the present embodiment, the plurality of traffic lights 3 are arranged at the intersection where the first road and the second road intersect. When there are one or more moving bodies 10 whose movement is restricted by the plurality of traffic lights 3, the signal control unit 55 moves the number of moving bodies 10 existing on the first road on the second road. When the number of bodies 10 is greater than the number of bodies 10, the lighting period of the traffic light 3 that lights on the first road is extended, and the number of mobile bodies 10 present on the second road is the number of mobile bodies present on the first road. When the number is greater than 10, the lighting period of the green light of the traffic light 3 that lights up the second road is extended.

According to this, when the number of the moving bodies 10 existing on the first road is larger than the number of the moving bodies 10 existing on the second road, the green signal of the first traffic light 3a that is lit on the first road. Extend the lighting period. In addition, when the number of moving bodies 10 existing on the second road is larger than the number of moving bodies 10 existing on the first road, the lighting period of the green signal of the second traffic light 3b that lights up on the second road is set. Extend. In this manner, the signal control unit 55 changes the lighting period of the blue signal and the red signal in the first traffic light 3a and the second traffic light 3b depending on the number of the moving bodies 10. For this reason, traffic efficiency can be improved by lengthening the lighting period of the green light on the crowded road side and lengthening the lighting period of the red signal on the empty road side.

Further, in the control device 50 according to the present embodiment, the signal control unit 55 maintains the switched signal for a predetermined period when performing control to switch the signal indicated by the traffic light 3.

For example, when a high-speed car is running and the vehicle switches from a green light to a red light within a short period of time, the car cannot suddenly stop and may enter an intersection. In this case, there is a risk of contact with another moving body 10 entering the intersection. However, according to this, when the signal indicated by the traffic light 3 is switched, the signal control unit 55 maintains the switched signal for a predetermined period from the time of switching. For this reason, for example, it becomes difficult to immediately switch to a red signal after switching from a red signal to a blue signal, so that traffic safety can be improved.

(Other variations)
Although the present disclosure has been described based on the embodiments, the present disclosure is not limited to the control device and the signal control system.

For example, the control device 50 according to the above embodiment is a separate device independent of the traffic signal 103, but may be mounted on each of the plurality of traffic signals 103 as shown in FIG. FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the traffic signal 103 according to the modification. In this case, the signal control unit 55 outputs a control command for lighting the signal display unit 37 with a red signal, a yellow signal, and a blue signal.

Further, each processing unit included in the control device according to the above embodiment is typically realized as an LSI which is an integrated circuit. These may be individually made into one chip, or may be made into one chip so as to include a part or all of them.

Further, the integration of circuits is not limited to LSI, and may be realized by a dedicated circuit or a general-purpose processor. An FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) that can be programmed after manufacturing the LSI or a reconfigurable processor that can reconfigure the connection and setting of circuit cells inside the LSI may be used.

In each of the above embodiments, each component may be configured by dedicated hardware or may be realized by executing a software program suitable for each component. Each component may be realized by a program execution unit such as a CPU or a processor reading and executing a software program recorded on a recording medium such as a hard disk or a semiconductor memory.

Further, all the numbers used above are illustrated for specifically explaining the present disclosure, and embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited to the illustrated numbers.

In addition, division of functional blocks in the block diagram is an example, and a plurality of functional blocks can be realized as one functional block, a single functional block can be divided into a plurality of functions, or some functions can be transferred to other functional blocks. May be. In addition, functions of a plurality of functional blocks having similar functions may be processed in parallel or time-division by a single hardware or software.

In addition, the order in which the steps in the flowchart are executed is for illustration in order to specifically describe the present disclosure, and may be in an order other than the above. Also, some of the above steps may be executed simultaneously (in parallel) with other steps.

In addition, this embodiment includes a form obtained by making various modifications conceived by those skilled in the art to the embodiment, and a form realized by arbitrarily combining the components and functions in the embodiment without departing from the gist of the present disclosure. Included in the disclosure.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1

Signal control system

3, 103 Traffic light 10 Mobile body 50 Control apparatus 53 Acquisition part 55 Signal control part

Claims

An acquisition unit that acquires position information indicating the position of one or more moving objects existing around a plurality of traffic lights;
Based on the position information of each of the one or more moving bodies, control is performed to switch signals indicated by the plurality of traffic lights so as to shorten a stop period in which at least one moving body is stopped by the traffic lights. A control device comprising a signal control unit.
The plurality of traffic lights are arranged at an intersection where the first road and the second road intersect,
The signal control unit, when there is one or more moving bodies whose movement is restricted by the plurality of traffic lights,
When the number of moving bodies present on the first road is greater than the number of moving bodies present on the second road, the lighting period of the green light of the traffic light that lights on the first road is extended,
The lighting period of a green light of a traffic light that lights on the second road when the number of moving bodies existing on the second road is larger than the number of moving bodies existing on the first road. The control apparatus according to 1.
The control device according to claim 1, wherein the signal control unit maintains the switched signal for a predetermined period when performing control to switch the signal indicated by the traffic light.
A control device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
A signal control system comprising a plurality of traffic lights.