WO2022003688A1 - Signaling drivers of pedestrian presence - Google Patents
Signaling drivers of pedestrian presence Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO2022003688A1 WO2022003688A1 PCT/IL2021/050805 IL2021050805W WO2022003688A1 WO 2022003688 A1 WO2022003688 A1 WO 2022003688A1 IL 2021050805 W IL2021050805 W IL 2021050805W WO 2022003688 A1 WO2022003688 A1 WO 2022003688A1
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- pedestrian
- signal
- traffic
- street
- path
- Prior art date
Links
- 230000011664 signaling Effects 0.000 title description 2
- 238000001514 detection method Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 17
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims description 12
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Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G08—SIGNALLING
- G08G—TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS
- G08G1/00—Traffic control systems for road vehicles
- G08G1/16—Anti-collision systems
- G08G1/164—Centralised systems, e.g. external to vehicles
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G08—SIGNALLING
- G08G—TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS
- G08G1/00—Traffic control systems for road vehicles
- G08G1/16—Anti-collision systems
- G08G1/166—Anti-collision systems for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes
Definitions
- the invention generally relates to traffic safety and in particular to road engineering to improve driver alertness.
- Embodiments of the present invention provide a system and methods for improving traffic safety.
- a system for alerting drivers that a pedestrian may cross a street at a street crossing that includes: one or more presence detection sensors, configured to detect a pedestrian before the pedestrian enters a path of traffic in the street; and a projection system, including a visible signal projector, one or more processors, and memory storage, the memory storage including instructions.
- the instructions when executed by the one or more processors implement steps that may include: receiving a signal from the one or more presence sensors and responsively projecting a visible signal that appears to a driver of a vehicle to be in the path of traffic, at a position above the street crossing.
- the presence detection sensors may include a pressure sensor configured to detect a weight of a pedestrian and placed where pedestrians may step before entering the path of traffic.
- the pressure sensor may be a load cell, and receiving the signal from the one or more presence sensors may include receiving a signal indicative of a change of pressure.
- the presence detection sensors may include one or more of a passive infrared sensor, an ultrasonic presence sensor, and a microwave presence sensor.
- the presence detection sensors may additionally or alternatively include one or more motion detection sensors configured to detect a change in electromagnetic radiation of a pedestrian and placed where pedestrians may step before entering the path of traffic.
- the presence detection sensors may additionally or alternatively include one or more motion detection sensors to detect a change in a reflected ultrasound level due presence of a pedestrian and placed where pedestrians may step before entering the path of traffic.
- the street crossing is a marked crosswalk, and the visible signal is projected over the marked crosswalk.
- projecting the visible signal includes monitoring a traffic light and only displaying the visible signal when the traffic light is green.
- the system may further include a water, fog or haze generator producing a water or aerosol screen onto which the visible warning signal is projected to form an image.
- the image may be a 3D image.
- Projecting the visible signal may include projecting the visible signal only when a vehicle is approaching the street crossing.
- the method may include receiving a signal from the one or more presence sensors indicative of a pedestrian at a street crossing, and, responsively, projecting a visible signal that appears to a driver of a vehicle to be in the path of traffic, at a position above the street crossing.
- FIGs. 1 and 2 are schematic illustrations of a system for improving traffic safety, according to some embodiments of the present invention.
- Fig. 3 is a flow diagram of a process for improving traffic safety, according to some embodiments of the present invention.
- FIGs. 1 and 2 are schematic illustrations of a system 20 for improving traffic safety, according to some embodiments of the present invention.
- a pedestrian 22 approaches or enters a street crossing, such as a crosswalk 24. Because the pedestrian, standing or moving at the side of a street, may not catch the attention of a vehicle driver approaching the crosswalk, the pedestrian may be at some risk of being hit by the vehicle, even if the pedestrian has the legal right-of-way. To reduce this risk, embodiments of the present invention provide a system and methods for alerting drivers (who might be otherwise distracted) to the pedestrian's presence, thereby reducing the risk.
- sensors 26 are placed at positions near the street to detect the pedestrian's presence.
- the sensors may be pressure sensors installed under a surface covering 28.
- the load cells may be any of a variety of pressure and vibration sensors, such as strain gauges, or hydraulic or pneumatic sensors.
- the positions at which the sensors 26 are placed are typically portions of sidewalks near crosswalks, such as street comers. The positions may also be at the sides of streets, including at the sides of streets that do not have pronounced sidewalks.
- sensors 26 may be radiation, audio, or optical-based motion sensors, such as passive infrared (PIR) sensors, microwave sensors, or ultrasound motion detection sensors. These sensors sense a change in an electromagnetic or ultrasound level to determine presence of a pedestrian.
- PIR passive infrared
- Signals indicative of pressure changes or vibrations are transmitted from the sensors 26 to a controller 30, and may be installed in the vicinity of, or collocated with, the positions of the sensors 26. Some signal processing may be employed to filter the signals to determine that they are indicative of a pedestrian, rather than other disturbances, such as ground vibration from traffic.
- the controller 30 determines that a pedestrian is indeed the cause of the signal, the controller then initiates a procedure to provide a pedestrian warning signal to drivers that may be approaching the crosswalk.
- a pedestrian warning signal Such signals appear above the crosswalk, such that they provide an image in space above the crosswalk that is in a direct line-of-sight of a driver approaching the crosswalk.
- the processor operates two devices, a projector 32 and a liquid or vapor screen generator 34.
- the screen generator provides a water or vapor screen above the crosswalk onto which the projector casts a visual warning signal for drivers.
- the screen may be liquid, fog, or haze.
- the generator may be a heated fog machine having a fluid reservoir, an electric pump to eject the fog fluid, and a heater that vaporizes the fluid.
- the pump may have a variable speed to control the output of fog.
- Gas propelled fog machines may operate with a non-toxic gas, such as CO2 or nitrogen, to propel either mineral oil or a glycol-based fluid into a heater.
- the heater vaporizes the fluid/gas mixture, thereby creating a fog.
- the volume of gas used to propel the fluid may also be controlled.
- the controller, the projector, and, optionally the screen generator are also referred to as a "projection system.”
- the projector and the controller are integrated into a single device.
- the controller is integrated into a case including the projector.
- the controller, the screen generator and the projector may also be integrated into a single device, located at street level to pump or blow a screen above ground.
- the screen generator and some or all of the other devices may be positioned above the crosswalk.
- the projector is positioned to direct an image at the generated screen, such that drivers see a reflection of the image in the screen.
- the source of liquid for the screen generator (typically water) may be a fluid tank 38.
- the liquid for fog and haze generators, may be a water and glycol-based or glycerin-based fluid, which is atomized by the generator.
- Liquid air or liquid nitrogen may be used when the generator is above the street level, as these gases first drop before the gas is dissipated, thereby providing a screen effect while dropping.
- the projector 32 may be a laser projector.
- the projector may also be a holographic projector.
- the projector may be mounted above the crosswalk on a pole 36.
- there may be multiple projectors 32 which may be installed in the street, such that the body of each projector is mainly or completely under the surface, while the lens is exposed to project the warning signal.
- the projectors 32 may be place above the crosswalk, together with the screen generator as indicated in Fig. 1A.
- the warning signal may be a 3D virtual image 40, such as an image of a pedestrian in the crosswalk, as shown in Fig. 1.
- the holographic projector is configured to project a holograph video, such that the warning signal may be a moving image, such as a pedestrian crossing the street.
- two laser projectors may be positioned at different sides of the street and when operated provide a warning signal of crossed laser lights 42.
- the warning signal may also be visible without the need for operating the water or vapor screen generator 34.
- the crosswalk as described herein is any location along a street across which pedestrians may cross, and needn't only be locations that are designated as crosswalks, such as by painted patterns on the street.
- Fig. 3 is a flow diagram of a process for improving traffic safety, according to some embodiments of the present invention.
- system 20 is installed in the proximity of a crosswalk, one or more of the sensors at a step 102 may detect a pressure indicative of a human standing at the position of the sensor.
- a signal such as a strain gauge voltage signal (typically amplified by a strain gauge amplifier), is transmitted to the controller 30 (step 104).
- the controller which filters the signal to determine that it is indicative of a human weight (for example 10 kg to 200 kg).
- the controller may also receive input from a traffic light controller to determine whether or not the pedestrian has the right-of-way, e.g., whether the pedestrian has a green light for crossing or whether there is a green light for vehicles to go through the crosswalk. In some embodiments, only if there is a pedestrian and if the pedestrian has the right-of-way, then at a step 108 the controller operates the projector to project a visual warning signal over the crosswalk, that is, a path of traffic, typically at an intersection.
- the visual warning signal may be, for example, an image of a person crossing the street or an image of a stop sign or roadblock.
- the controller may also be configured to provide additional warnings to the pedestrian, for example sounding an alarm signal if there is an approaching vehicle that is not slowing to a stop.
- Computational aspects of system 20 and of process 100 may be implemented in digital electronic circuitry, or in computer hardware, firmware, software, or in combinations thereof.
- All or part of the system and process can be implemented as a computer program product, tangibly embodied in an information carrier, such as a machine-readable storage device or in a propagated signal, for execution by, or to control the operation of, data processing apparatus, such as a programmable processor, computer, or deployed to be executed on multiple computers at one website or distributed across multiple websites.
- Memory storage may also include multiple distributed memory units, including one or more types of storage media. Examples of storage media include, but are not limited to, magnetic media, optical media, and integrated circuits such as read-only memory devices (ROM) and random access memory (RAM).
- a computing system configured to implement the system may have one or more processors and one or more network interface modules. Processors may be configured as a multi-processing or distributed processing system. Network interface modules may control the sending and receiving of data packets over networks.
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- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Traffic Control Systems (AREA)
Abstract
Description
Claims
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US202063047627P | 2020-07-02 | 2020-07-02 | |
US63/047,627 | 2020-07-02 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
WO2022003688A1 true WO2022003688A1 (en) | 2022-01-06 |
Family
ID=79315719
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/IL2021/050805 WO2022003688A1 (en) | 2020-07-02 | 2021-06-30 | Signaling drivers of pedestrian presence |
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WO (1) | WO2022003688A1 (en) |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
CN114973766A (en) * | 2022-05-11 | 2022-08-30 | 浙江师范大学 | Traffic warning device based on pyroelectric infrared sensor and detection method |
Citations (7)
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US6603082B1 (en) * | 1999-10-08 | 2003-08-05 | Eidgenossische Technische Hochschule Zurich | Device for controlling a physical system |
US20070230792A1 (en) * | 2004-04-08 | 2007-10-04 | Mobileye Technologies Ltd. | Pedestrian Detection |
US20130003020A1 (en) * | 2011-06-30 | 2013-01-03 | Disney Enterprises, Inc. | 3d display system with rear projection screens formed of water mist or spray |
US20160260326A1 (en) * | 2015-03-03 | 2016-09-08 | Honda Motor Co., Ltd. | Pedestrian intersection alert system and method thereof |
US20170240098A1 (en) * | 2016-02-22 | 2017-08-24 | Uber Technologies, Inc. | Lighting device for a vehicle |
US20180050635A1 (en) * | 2016-08-19 | 2018-02-22 | 2236008 Ontario Inc. | System and method for pedestrian alert |
US20200064483A1 (en) * | 2017-04-28 | 2020-02-27 | SZ DJI Technology Co., Ltd. | Sensing assembly for autonomous driving |
-
2021
- 2021-06-30 WO PCT/IL2021/050805 patent/WO2022003688A1/en active Application Filing
Patent Citations (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US6603082B1 (en) * | 1999-10-08 | 2003-08-05 | Eidgenossische Technische Hochschule Zurich | Device for controlling a physical system |
US20070230792A1 (en) * | 2004-04-08 | 2007-10-04 | Mobileye Technologies Ltd. | Pedestrian Detection |
US20130003020A1 (en) * | 2011-06-30 | 2013-01-03 | Disney Enterprises, Inc. | 3d display system with rear projection screens formed of water mist or spray |
US20160260326A1 (en) * | 2015-03-03 | 2016-09-08 | Honda Motor Co., Ltd. | Pedestrian intersection alert system and method thereof |
US20170240098A1 (en) * | 2016-02-22 | 2017-08-24 | Uber Technologies, Inc. | Lighting device for a vehicle |
US20180050635A1 (en) * | 2016-08-19 | 2018-02-22 | 2236008 Ontario Inc. | System and method for pedestrian alert |
US20200064483A1 (en) * | 2017-04-28 | 2020-02-27 | SZ DJI Technology Co., Ltd. | Sensing assembly for autonomous driving |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
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CN114973766A (en) * | 2022-05-11 | 2022-08-30 | 浙江师范大学 | Traffic warning device based on pyroelectric infrared sensor and detection method |
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