U.S. patent application number 17/062850 was filed with the patent office on 2021-01-21 for roadway safety system.
The applicant listed for this patent is James P. Bradley. Invention is credited to James P. Bradley.
Application Number | 20210020040 17/062850 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000005137962 |
Filed Date | 2021-01-21 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20210020040 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bradley; James P. |
January 21, 2021 |
Roadway Safety System
Abstract
A safety system to prevent a wrong-way vehicle from entering a
roadway by driving onto an exit ramp in the wrong direction. A
detection system monitors and detects the wrong-way vehicle as soon
as it enters the exit ramp in the wrong direction. Upon detecting a
wrong-way vehicle, the roadway safety system remotely sends a
signal to turn off the motor of the wrong-way vehicle. The system
may also record the vehicle's identification and communicate it to
a command center to determine the mobile phone number of the
owner/driver and call the driver to alert them that they are
driving the wrong-way. Alternatively, a series of one or more
penetrable and/or impenetrable barriers could be deployed to stop
the wrong-way vehicle. The safety system may further include a
communications system to communicate to a central office to
initiate other alarms and control traffic on the roadway in
response to detecting a wrong-way vehicle.
Inventors: |
Bradley; James P.; (Dallas,
TX) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Bradley; James P. |
Dallas |
TX |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000005137962 |
Appl. No.: |
17/062850 |
Filed: |
October 5, 2020 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06K 2209/23 20130101;
G08G 1/096725 20130101; G06K 2209/15 20130101; G08G 1/096883
20130101; G08G 1/042 20130101; E01F 13/048 20130101; G06K 9/00771
20130101; G08G 1/04 20130101; G08G 1/075 20130101; G06K 9/00785
20130101; G08G 1/056 20130101; G08G 1/164 20130101 |
International
Class: |
G08G 1/07 20060101
G08G001/07; G08G 1/056 20060101 G08G001/056; G08G 1/04 20060101
G08G001/04; G08G 1/042 20060101 G08G001/042; G08G 1/0967 20060101
G08G001/0967; G08G 1/0968 20060101 G08G001/0968; G08G 1/16 20060101
G08G001/16; E01F 13/04 20060101 E01F013/04; G06K 9/00 20060101
G06K009/00 |
Claims
1. A method, comprising: monitoring an exit ramp to detect a
wrong-way vehicle that enters the exit ramp at an area where the
exit ramp exits onto a street, transmitting a signal to a control
system upon detecting the wrong-way vehicle that enters the exit
ramp, and generating and sending a signal to a motor controller on
the wrong-way vehicle to shut off a motor of the wrong-way
vehicle.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein monitoring the exit ramp
comprises monitoring a pair of sensors located at the area where
the exit ramp exits onto the street to detect that any vehicle
entering the exit ramp in a wrong direction.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein monitoring the exit ramp
comprises monitoring one or more magnetic sensors located at the
area where the exit ramp exits onto the street to detect a
direction of any vehicle on the exit ramp.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein monitoring the exit ramp
comprises monitoring a camera system focusing on the area where the
exit ramp exits onto the street to detect a direction of any
vehicle on the exit ramp.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein monitoring the exit ramp
comprises monitoring a vehicle detector system located at the area
where the exit ramp exits onto the street to detect a direction of
any wrong-way vehicle on the exit ramp and to generate a signal to
a control system, where the vehicle detector system comprises two
generally parallel pedals that extend across a width of the exit
ramp, where each of the parallel pedals are depressed by tires of
any vehicle traveling over said pedal, and where the parallel
pedals are spaced a distance apart greater than the contact patch
of a vehicle tire.
6. The method of claim 1, further comprising: communicating a
signal to a roadway central command system in response to detecting
the wrong-way vehicle that enters the exit ramp; and generating, by
the roadway central command system, alarm signals along a roadway
connected to the exit ramp from which vehicles exit onto the exit
ramp, where the alarm signals alert drivers of vehicles exiting
from the roadway onto the exit ramp that a vehicle has entered the
exit ramp from a wrong direction.
7. The method of claim 1, further comprising: communicating a
signal to a roadway central command system in response to detecting
the wrong-way vehicle that enters the exit ramp; and generating, by
the roadway central command system, an alarm signal along the exit
ramp to alert a driver of the wrong-way vehicle that the wrong-way
vehicle is attempting to enter the exit ramp in a wrong
direction.
8. A method comprising: monitoring an exit ramp to detect a vehicle
that enters the exit ramp in a wrong direction, detecting a
wrong-way vehicle that enters the exit ramp in the wrong direction,
transmitting a signal to a safety control system upon detecting the
wrong-way vehicle to control deployment of a first barrier to stop
the wrong-way vehicle, and deploying the first barrier to stop the
wrong-way vehicle from proceeding down the exit ramp in the wrong
direction.
9. The method of claim 8, where deploying the first barrier
comprises deploying a barrier that is penetrable by the wrong-way
vehicle.
10. The method of claim 8, where deploying the first barrier
comprises deploying a barrier that is impenetrable to the wrong-way
vehicle.
11. The method of claim 9, further comprising: monitoring the exit
ramp with a second detector to detect that the wrong-way vehicle
did not stop at the first barrier, transmitting a signal to the
safety control system in response to the second detector detecting
that the vehicle did not stop at the first barrier, and deploying a
second barrier across the exit ramp in response to the second
detector detecting that the vehicle did not stop at the first
barrier.
12. The method of claim 8, further comprising: deploying a second
barrier between the first barrier and an entrance of the exit ramp
to stop the wrong-way vehicle if it fails to stop at the first
barrier.
13. The method of claim 8, further comprising: monitoring the exit
ramp with a video surveillance system to capture an image of the
wrong-way vehicle and a license plate on the wrong-way vehicle, and
transmitting the image of the wrong-way vehicle and the license
plate to a roadway central command system.
14. The method of claim 13, further comprising: identifying a
mobile phone number of an owner of the wrong-way vehicle based on
information captured by the video surveillance system, and
initiating a call to the mobile phone number to provide a warning
that the wrong-way vehicle is headed the wrong-way.
15. The method of claim 8, further comprising: capturing vehicle
identification data from the wrong-way vehicle, transmitting the
vehicle identification data to a central command system, searching
for a mobile phone number associated with the vehicle
identification data wrong-way, and calling the mobile phone number
associated with the vehicle identification data wrong-way to
provide an alert that the wrong-way vehicle is traveling the
wrong-way.
16. A roadway safety system, comprising: one or more sensors that
monitor an exit ramp to detect the presence of a vehicle that
enters the exit ramp in the wrong direction in the area where the
ramp exits onto a street, and a vehicle detector control system
connected to the one or more sensors to detect that a vehicle has
entered an exit ramp in the wrong direction and to transmit a
signal to a control system that a vehicle is entering the exit ramp
in the wrong direction, where the vehicle detector control system
is configured to generate and send a signal to a motor controller
on the wrong-way vehicle to shut off a motor of the wrong-way
vehicle.
17. The roadway safety system of claim 16, where the one or more
sensors comprise a pair of sensors located at the area where the
exit ramp exits onto the street to detect that any vehicle entering
the exit ramp in a wrong direction.
18. The roadway safety system of claim 1, where the one or more
sensors comprise one or more magnetic sensors located at the area
where the exit ramp exits onto the street to detect a direction of
any vehicle on the exit ramp.
19. The roadway safety system of claim 1, where the one or more
sensors comprise a camera system focusing on the area where the
exit ramp exits onto the street.
20. The roadway safety system of claim 1, where the one or more
sensors comprise a vehicle detector system located at the area
where the exit ramp exits onto the street to detect a direction of
any wrong-way vehicle on the exit ramp, where the vehicle detector
system comprises two generally parallel pedals that extend across a
width of the exit ramp, where each of the parallel pedals are
depressed by tires of any vehicle traveling over said pedal, and
where the parallel pedals are spaced a distance apart greater than
the contact patch of a vehicle tire.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
[0001] The present disclosure generally relates to the field of
vehicle traffic monitoring and safety systems. In one aspect, the
present invention relates to a roadway safety system to reduce or
prevent wrong-way collisions on a roadway, such as a tollway,
freeway or highway.
Description of the Related Art
[0002] Wrong-way drivers present a danger to the public traveling
on roadways. Wrong-way drivers cause collisions, often times
head-on collisions, that result in serious injuries or death. Once
a wrong-way driver is traveling in the wrong direction on a
roadway, the closing speed between the two vehicles approaching at
high speeds, perhaps 70 mph, from opposite directions makes it
difficult or impossible for the driver of the vehicle proceeding in
the right direction on the roadway to take evasive action to avoid
a collision. In addition, roadways are often constructed with a
median barrier and little or no shoulder room on the roadway, which
further limits the ability of a driver of the vehicle traveling in
the correct direction to take evasive action to avoid a
collision.
[0003] Studies have shown that wrong-way collisions are often
caused by drivers whose judgment is impaired because they are under
the influence of alcohol or drugs. These studies have also shown
that elderly drivers may become confused and drive the wrong-way
onto an exit ramp which allows them to enter the roadway in the
wrong direction. "Wrong-way" signs have been used for years to try
to alert drivers that they are traveling in the wrong direction on
a roadway. In addition, various systems have been deployed to
activate visual or audio alarms upon detecting the presence of a
wrong-way vehicle traveling the wrong direction on a roadway or the
exit ramp. However, a wrong-way driver who is under the influence
of alcohol or drugs or who is confused is not likely to heed a
warning sign or see or hear and respond to alarms. Importantly,
wrong-way drivers need to be stopped on the exit ramp before they
enter the roadway in the wrong direction.
[0004] As seen from the foregoing, the existing vehicle traffic
monitoring and safety systems are ineffective due in large part to
the challenges of using visual or audible warnings to prevent high
speed collisions by impaired or distracted drivers.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] The present invention may be understood, and its numerous
objects, features and advantages obtained, when the following
detailed description of a preferred embodiment is considered in
conjunction with the following drawings.
[0006] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a junction of two roadways
connected by an exit ramp in accordance with selected embodiments
of the present disclosure.
[0007] FIG. 2 shows a plan view of a vehicle detector system having
sensors to detect the presence and direction of a vehicle in
accordance with selected embodiments of the present disclosure.
[0008] FIG. 3 shows a side view of a vehicle detector system having
sensors to detect the presence and direction of a vehicle moving in
the correct direction in accordance with selected embodiments of
the present disclosure.
[0009] FIG. 4 shows a side view of a vehicle detector system having
sensors to detect the presence and direction of a vehicle moving in
the wrong direction in accordance with selected embodiments of the
present disclosure.
[0010] FIG. 5 illustrates a simplified flow chart showing the logic
for operating a roadway safety system in accordance with a first
selected embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0011] FIG. 6 illustrates a simplified flow chart showing the logic
for operating a roadway safety system in accordance with a second
selected embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0012] FIG. 7 is a simplified block diagram of a computer-based
implementation of a vehicle detector control system in accordance
with selected embodiments of the present disclosure.
[0013] It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of
illustration, elements illustrated in the drawings have not
necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of
some of the elements are exaggerated relative to other elements for
purposes of promoting and improving clarity and understanding.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0014] A roadway safety system to reduce or eliminate collisions
caused by wrong-way drivers on a roadway has a computer controlled
system for monitoring and promptly detecting a vehicle that is
about to violate the rules of the road by entering an exit ramp in
the wrong direction from a street or another roadway. The sensors
for the system may include magnetic sensors, electronic sensors,
photoelectric sensors, cameras and physical sensors. These sensors
may be in, nearby or over the exit ramp. The physical sensors could
be the order in which mechanical pedals or bars are depressed by a
vehicle's tires passing over them. The detection of the direction
of a vehicle traveling on the roadway may also be accomplished by
two sensors in, by or over the exit ramp that detect the direction
of a vehicle from the order in which the sensors are activated,
such breaking the beams of a pair of electronic eyes.
[0015] Alarms may be activated on the exit ramp to warn the
wrong-way driver of his/her error, as well as alarms to alert a
vehicle traveling in the right direction on the roadway that there
is a wrong-way driver on the exit ramp. The system may also signal
a central office or highway command center of the presence of a
driver going the wrong-way on an exit ramp. The command center may
activate alarms along the roadway to warn drivers of the presence
of a wrong-way vehicle on the roadway, as well as deploying
barriers to stop vehicles from entering onto the roadway.
[0016] The safety system may send a remote electronic signal to a
motor controller located in the wrong-way vehicle that would stop
the vehicle by turning off the motor of the wrong-way vehicle. The
motor control on the wrong-way vehicle could be installed by the
car's manufacturer or retrofitted on a used car, such as might be
required by a government entity for someone who has previously been
cited for driving under the influence.
[0017] The system may also include a video surveillance system that
takes a picture of the wrong-way vehicle and its front and/or rear
license plate(s). The picture of the vehicle and its license plate
is sent to the central command center to identify the wrong-way
vehicle. In addition, the command center could identify the cell
phone number of the wrong-way driver from the license plate
information and then call the wrong-way driver to warn him/her to
stop. Alternatively, the information of the mobile phone number of
the wrong-way driver could be obtained from reading a toll tag that
is on the car or other identification obtained from vehicle
registration decals in the front windshield. The system sends such
information to a command center computer so that the vehicle's
owner/driver is identified along with a mobile phone number. The
command center computer or an operator calls the mobile phone
number of the owner/driver to warn them that they are driving in
the wrong direction.
[0018] The vehicle safety system may further include a barrier(s)
to stop the wrong-way vehicle from traveling on the exit ramp in
the wrong direction. A first impenetrable barrier may be quickly
deployed to physically block or stop the vehicle from being able to
continue its travel in the wrong direction. Alternatively, the
first barrier may be a penetrable barrier that the wrong-way
vehicle would break or penetrate if it did not stop. Such a
penetrable first barrier could be flexible rubber or breakable
plastic cones or rods that could be deployed across the width of
the exit ramp ahead of the vehicle traveling in the wrong
direction. In either case, a second impenetrable barrier located
beyond the first barrier and further ahead of the direction in
which the wrong-way vehicle is traveling could be deployed to block
and stop the vehicle from traveling further and entering the
roadway in the wrong direction. The second barrier may not be
needed in safety systems that deploy an impenetrable first barrier.
The second barrier could be deployed if the system detects that the
wrong-way vehicle has not been stopped by the first barrier. In
addition, it may be desirable to have another, third, barrier that
is deployed at the entrance of the exit ramp from the roadway in
order to save cars about to go on to the exit ramp from colliding
with either of the first or second barriers or the wrong-way
vehicle on the exit ramp.
[0019] The safety system would also provide for resetting the
system by retracting the barriers and turning off the alarms after
the threat of the wrong-way vehicle has been removed.
[0020] Various illustrative embodiments of the present invention
will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying
figures which illustrate different views of an autonomous road
safety system. While various details are set forth in the following
description, it will be appreciated that the present invention may
be practiced without these specific details, and that numerous
implementation-specific decisions may be made to the invention
described herein to achieve the device designer's specific goals,
such as compliance with mechanical, electrical and/or
design-related constraints, which will vary from one implementation
to another. While such a development effort might be complex and
time-consuming, it would nevertheless be a routine undertaking for
those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this
disclosure. For example, selected aspects are depicted with
reference to simplified plan and perspective views of a road safety
system without including every device feature or geometry in order
to avoid limiting or obscuring the present invention. Such
descriptions and representations are used by those skilled in the
art to describe and convey the substance of their work to others
skilled in the art.
[0021] To provide additional details for an improved understanding
of selected embodiments of the present disclosure, reference is now
made to FIG. 1, which depicts an overhead view 1 of a portion of a
roadway 10 showing vehicles 12A, 12B, 12C, 12D, and 12E traveling
in the right direction on the right-hand side of a divided roadway
10. Vehicles 13A, 13B, 13C, and 13D are shown traveling in the
right direction on the other side of a median 15. An exit ramp 14
is shown where vehicles traveling on the roadway 10 may exit to
reach a street or roadway 16, which passes over the roadway 10.
Street 16 has vehicles 18A and 18B traveling in the correct
direction along the right side of street 16, and vehicle 18C is
shown traveling in the correct direction on the opposite side of
street 16.
[0022] The vehicle detection system continuously monitors the exit
ramps of the roadway to promptly detect a wrong-way vehicle on the
exit ramp. In FIG. 1, vehicle 20 is shown making an incorrect turn
from street 16 to enter exit ramp 14 from the wrong direction. A
first detector 22 detects the presence and direction of the
wrong-way vehicle 20, as it begins to enter exit ramp 14 from the
wrong direction. The detector 22 may utilize sensors, such as
magnetic coils in or below the surface of the exit ramp, a camera
system to detect the presence of a wrong-way vehicle, electronic
sensors in the form of photoelectric cells or imaging sensors, an
electric eye system that projects one or more beams of light across
the width of the ramp or a pair of mechanical bars or pedals which
may be depressed by a vehicle's tires. The Federal Highway
Administration has published an article describing some of these
sensors, entitled "A New Look at Sensors," Issue No: Vol. 71, No.
3; Date: November/December 2007.
[0023] The sensors of detector 22 may be in-roadway sensors, by the
roadway sensors or over-roadway sensors. A commonly used in-roadway
sensor is the inductive loop detector, which consists of loops of
wire embedded into saw cuts in the road pavement. Other in-roadway
sensors include magnetic detectors and wireless magnetometer
vehicle detection systems. The Texas Department of Transportation
("TDOT") describes a wireless magnetometer vehicle detection system
in a bid specification publication. TDOT, Traffic Operations
Division, TO-8010, rev. May-2015. Over-roadway sensors include
video image processors, microwave radar, laser radar, ultrasonic
and passive infrared sensors installed alongside or above the exit
ramp. Acoustic sensors could also be used alongside the roadway.
The sensors, such as photoelectric cells, may be installed in pairs
to produce information for determining the direction and speed of
the vehicle. The University of Texas, Austin, Center for
Transportation Research has published an article describing the use
of such photoelectric sensors, entitled "Photoelectric Sensors for
Counting and Classifying Vehicles, J. E. Garner and L. Huang,
Transportation Research Record 1311.
[0024] As shown in FIG. 1, a video surveillance system 21 may
include a camera(s) located to take a picture or image of the
wrong-way vehicle 20 as well as detecting and reading vehicle
identification such as provided by a toll tag or other RFID
technology devices on the vehicle. The cameras could also capture a
picture of the front and/or rear license plate of vehicle 20. The
information could also include the vehicle registration sticker on
the front windshield of the vehicle. In addition, the video
surveillance system 21 could also collect information from a
tollway identification tag, whether the roadway to be protected is
a tollway or freeway. The information captured by the vehicle
surveillance system 21, visual or digital data from a RFID device
would be transmitted immediately to a central command office for
the highway or tollway. The central command post could execute a
computerized search for records of a mobile phone number for the
owner of the wrong-way vehicle and call that mobile phone to warn
the driver that he/she is driving in the wrong direction.
[0025] To provide additional details for an improved understanding
of selected embodiments of the present disclosure, reference is now
made to FIG. 2, which shows a plan view 2 of a vehicle detector
system 22 having sensors to detect the presence and direction of a
vehicle. As depicted, the vehicle detector system 22 may include
two mechanical pedals or bars 22A and 22B that are spaced apart a
distance greater than the length "d" of a tire in contact 25 with
the road, which distance "d" is sometimes called the "contact
patch," which is on the order of a few inches, such as 2-5 inches.
The distance d of the contact patch 25 could vary based upon the
size of the tires. Tires for a large truck may have a larger
contact patch than a tire for a smaller vehicle. The bars 22A and
22B should typically be spaced apart a distance greater that the
widest contact patch for vehicle's tires.
[0026] To provide additional details for an improved understanding
of selected embodiments of the present disclosure, reference is now
made to FIG. 3 which is a side view 3 of a vehicle detector system
22 shown in FIG. 2 where the sensors 22A, 22B are positioned in the
road 14 to detect the presence and direction of a vehicle moving in
the correct direction. As depicted at time t1, the front tire 70A
of a vehicle traveling in the correct direction and leaving the
exit ramp 14 to traverse on the street 16 would depress sensor
pedal 22A first and then at a later time t2, the front tire 70B
would depress sensor pedal 22B. The depression of the sensors 22A
and 22B would be connected to a circuit to cause a switch to cause
a signal to be sent to the vehicle detector computer that the
vehicle on the ramp was traveling in the correct direction, as the
pedals are depressed in the correct order of 22A then 22B.
[0027] To provide additional details for an improved understanding
of selected embodiments of the present disclosure, reference is now
made to FIG. 4 which is a side view 4 of a vehicle detector system
22 shown in FIG. 2, where the sensors 22A, 22B are positioned in
the road 14 to detect the presence and direction of a vehicle
moving in the wrong direction. As depicted at time t1, the front
tire 80A of a wrong-way vehicle, such as vehicle 20 shown in FIG.
1, would first depress sensor pedal 22B, and then at a later time
t2, the front tire 80B would depress sensor pedal 22A. The order of
depressing the sensor pedals, 22B first and then 22A, would be a
pattern indicating the vehicle 20 was traveling in the wrong
direction. The sensor pedals 22A and 22B would have contact sensors
and circuitry connected to a computer vehicle detector control
system 24, such as by using a wireless or wired connection 28, to
signal that a vehicle was entering the exit ramp in the wrong
direction.
[0028] As shown in FIG. 1, the control system 24 controls the
activation of alarms 30, sends a signal to a motor controller on
the wrong-way vehicle 20 to shut off the engine, and/or also
controls the deployment of one or more barriers, such as a first
barrier 26, a second barrier 32, and/or a third barrier 34. The
control system 24 also captures the vehicle identification
information from a camera or RFID readers.
[0029] When vehicle detector 22 detects the wrong-way vehicle 20,
it could be stopped by an electronic signal that is sent remotely
to a motor shut-off controller located within the vehicle 20. The
electronic signal could be sent in response to the detector 22
sensing a vehicle entering the exit ramp in the wrong direction. As
an example, 3Built, LLC offers a Remote Engine Shut-off (RES)
System which may be installed on cars or trucks. The 3Built RES is
individually coded so it will not affect another RES on another
vehicle. The RES system of the present invention may generate a
code that permits only states, tollway entities or other government
regulated roadways to generate such a signal that shuts the engine
or motor to be shut-off. This feature of the roadway safety system
would require car owners to equip their vehicles with such RES
systems, which could apply to the general public or to drivers who
have had a prior ticket for driving under the influence of alcohol
or drugs and were required to have such a remote engine shut-off
device on their vehicle.
[0030] Also, a vehicle detector 22 connected wirelessly or through
a wired connection to a computerized vehicle detector control
system 24 could be used to deploy one or more barriers in the path
of the wrong-way vehicle. The detector control system 24 is a
computer control system that continuously monitors signals from the
detector 22 to determine if it is detecting and signaling that a
vehicle, such as vehicle 20, is entering the wrong-way where the
exit ramp 14 allows vehicles to exit in the right direction onto a
roadway 16. In response to receiving a signal that a vehicle has
entered on to the exit ramp 14 in the wrong direction, the control
system 24 sends a signal to deploy a first barrier 26 ahead of the
vehicle 20. The barrier 26 may be a penetrable or impenetrable
barrier. An impenetrable barrier would prevent the vehicle 20 from
moving further along the exit ramp 14. An impenetrable barrier 26
could be a barrier made of metal or concrete that pops up from the
surface of the exit ramp 14. Alternatively, a penetrable or
impenetrable barrier 26 could be an arm that is projected rapidly
across the width of the exit ramp 14 or swings down rapidly across
the width of the ramp 14 in front of the vehicle 20. A penetrable
barrier 26 could also be a rubber shield or flexible rubber pylons
that pop up from the surface of the ramp 14. Alternatively, the
penetrable barrier 26 could be any material, such as wood or
plastic, that drops across the ramp 14 in front of the direction in
which the vehicle 20 is moving. If the vehicle did not stop in
front of the barrier 26, it would penetrate and/or break the
barrier, which may alert the driver to apply the brakes to stop the
vehicle. In addition, the penetrable barrier could be a row of
spikes or nails to puncture and deflate the tires of the wrong-way
vehicle.
[0031] The detector control system 24 could also signal to turn on
or activate visual and/or audible alarms 30 to alert the driver of
the vehicle 20 that they are going in the wrong direction and need
to stop. As depicted, the alarms 30 may be positioned as audio
and/or visual alarms adjacent to one or more sides of the exit ramp
where the wrong-way vehicle is driving, or may also be positioned
over the exit ramp facing the direction of the wrong-way vehicle.
As will be appreciated, the audio and/or visual alarms could also
be positioned near the entrance area for the exit ramp, such as on
the side of the barrier 34 facing the roadway 14, to also serve to
alarm and warn any vehicle that was about to exit roadway 10 or was
on the exit ramp 14 that a vehicle was headed toward them going in
the wrong direction.
[0032] In addition, a second barrier 32 could be located between
the first barrier 26 and the entrance of the exit ramp 14 from
roadway 10 to act to block the further travel of the vehicle 20; if
it did not stop at the first barrier 26, or if it drove through a
penetrable barrier 26. In safety systems that do not deploy the
second impenetrable barrier 32 at the same time that the first
penetrable barrier is deployed, a second detector 23 could be used.
The second detector 23 is located past the first barrier 26 and
could detect if the vehicle 20 had not stopped and was still moving
in the wrong direction on the ramp 14. Thus, the detector control
system 24 could deploy the additional barrier 32 upon the initial
receipt of a signal from detector 22 that a vehicle 20 had entered
the exit ramp 14 in the wrong direction, or it could be deployed in
response to a second detector 23 detecting that vehicle 20 was
still moving in the wrong direction and violating the rules of the
road. The barrier 32 would be an impenetrable barrier to act as the
last safety feature that would stop a vehicle 20 on the exit ramp
14 before it could enter the roadway 10 and cause a serious
accident and injuries or death to the persons in the colliding
vehicles.
[0033] The detector control system 24 could also signal and deploy
a third barrier 34 at or near the entrance of the exit ramp 14 from
the roadway 10. The deployed barrier 34 could prevent vehicles on
roadway 10 from entering onto the exit ramp 14 when a vehicle 20
had entered from the wrong direction.
[0034] The detection control system 24 could also be connected to a
central office or command center 40 for the toll way or freeway to
alert it that a vehicle 20 was attempting to violate the rules of
the road and enter an exit ramp 14 in the wrong direction. In
response, the central office or command center 40 could, as part of
the safety control system, provide alerts all along the roadway 10
to all vehicles that would be put in danger by the presence of this
wrong-way vehicle 20. The central office or command center 40 could
also provide signals to activate alarms 42 on entrance ramps to the
roadway 10 that would be ahead of and in the direction in which the
wrong-way vehicle 20 would be traveling, if for some reason it was
not stopped on the exit ramp 14. In addition, the central office or
command center 40 could also deploy barriers, penetrable or
impenetrable, to stop vehicles from entering the roadway at
locations that would be ahead of where a wrong-way vehicle would be
traveling, if for some reason vehicle 20 did get onto the roadway
10.
[0035] The detection control system 24 could also be linked to the
roadway command center to transmit to it information detected from
the wrong-way vehicle 20, such as the image of the vehicle, the
license plate, the vehicle registration information and information
read from a tollway tag. This information could provide the command
center the ability to do a computer search to identify the mobile
phone number of the owner, who may be driving the vehicle. The
command center could then initiate a call to this mobile phone to
attempt to warn the driver that the vehicle is headed in the wrong
direction.
[0036] The detection control system 24 could be in two-way
communication with the central command center for the roadway. The
central command center could control the detection control system,
including enabling it to cause the barriers to be retracted and the
alarms turned off.
[0037] To provide additional details for an improved understanding
of selected embodiments of the present disclosure, reference is now
made to FIG. 5, which illustrates a simplified flow chart 5 showing
the logic for operating a roadway safety system in accordance with
a first selected embodiment of the present disclosure. The system
continuously monitors 50 the exit ramp 14 for the presence of
vehicles beginning to proceed onto the ramp 14 in the wrong
direction. If the detection system 51 detects a wrong-way vehicle,
it activates alarms 52 on the exit ramp, transmits a signal 55 to a
central command center 40 with information captured from the
vehicle, and deploys 54 a first barrier 26 on the exit ramp. The
detection system 24 may also deploy 53 a barrier 34 to prevent
vehicles on the roadway from exiting the roadway onto this exit
ramp. The system 24 may also deploy 60 a second barrier
(impenetrable) 32 past the first barrier 26 upon initially
detecting a wrong-way vehicle 20 as a final way to stop the vehicle
from entering onto the roadway in the wrong direction.
Alternatively, the second barrier 32 could be activated 59 only
after a second detector 56 sensed that the vehicle 20 did not stop
at the first barrier 26. In response to detecting a wrong-way
vehicle on an exit ramp, the central command center 40 could
activate alarms 57 all along the roadway to alert drivers of an
incident where a wrong-way vehicle was attempting to enter the
roadway ahead of them. The central command center 40 could also
deploy barriers 60 to block vehicles from entering the roadway from
an entrance ramp. The command center 40 could also do a
computerized search of records based on the information captured
from the vehicle to locate a mobile phone number that it could call
to warn the driver.
[0038] To provide additional details for an improved understanding
of selected embodiments of the present disclosure, reference is now
made to FIG. 6, which illustrates a simplified flow chart 6 showing
the logic for operating a roadway safety system in accordance with
a second selected embodiment of the present disclosure. The system
monitors 60 the exit ramp 14 to detect the presence of a vehicle
entering the exit ramp from the wrong direction. If in step 61 a
wrong-way vehicle is detected, then it activates ramp alarms 62 and
transmits a signal 63 to a motor shut off controller in the
wrong-way vehicle and shuts of the motor of the wrong-way vehicle
65. In addition, the system could also capture 64 information about
the wrong-way vehicle from a video surveillance system 21 that
could also include detecting digital data from a tollway token or
the like. The vehicle identification information could be sent 66
to a Command Center for the roadway. The Command Center could call
the mobile phone number associated with the owner of the vehicle or
tollway tag 67 in order to establish contact with the wrong-way
driver and notify them that they are headed in the wrong direction
on the roadway.
[0039] To provide additional details for an improved understanding
of selected embodiments of the present disclosure, reference is now
made to FIG. 7, which depicts a simplified block diagram of a
computer-based system 700 for implementing a vehicle detector
control system 705. As disclosed, the computer 700 includes input
user device(s) 716, such as a control panel, keyboard and/or mouse,
which are coupled to a bi-directional system bus 708. The input
user device(s) 716 are used for introducing user input to the
computer system 700 and communicating that user input to processor
702. The computer system 700 may also include a video memory 704,
main memory 706, I/O device(s) 710, motor control 717, and mass
storage 718, all coupled to bi-directional system bus 708 along
with input user device(s) 716 and processor 702. The mass storage
718 may include both fixed and removable media, such as other
available mass storage technology. Bus 708 may contain, for
example, 32 address lines for addressing video memory 704 or main
memory 706. The system bus 708 may also include, for example, an
n-bit data bus for transferring data between and among the
components, such as CPU 502, main memory 706, video memory 714, and
mass storage 718, where "n" is, for example, 32 or 64.
Alternatively, multiplex data/address lines may be used instead of
separate data and address lines.
[0040] The computer-based system 700 also includes one or more I/O
device(s) 710 which provide connections to peripheral devices,
including one or more sensors 711, such as magnetic sensors,
electronic sensors, photoelectric sensors, cameras and physical
sensors such as used by the vehicle detector 22. The I/O device(s)
710 may also provide a direct connection to remote server computer
systems via a telephone link or to the Internet via an ISP, a
wireless link, or the like. I/O device(s) 710 may also include a
network interface device to provide a direct connection to remote
server computer systems via a direct network link to the Internet
via a POP (point of presence). Such connection may be made using,
for example, wireless techniques, including digital cellular
telephone connection, Cellular Digital Packet Data (CDPD)
connection, digital satellite data connection or the like. Examples
of I/O devices include modems, sound and video devices, and
specialized communication devices such as the aforementioned
network interface.
[0041] Computer programs and data are generally stored as
instructions and data in mass storage 718 until loaded into main
memory 706 for execution. Computer programs may also be in the form
of electronic signals modulated in accordance with the computer
program and data communication technology when transferred via a
network. The method and functions relating to system and method for
providing a roadway safety system and/or vehicle detector control
system 705. As will be appreciated, once the computer-based system
700 is configured to implement the vehicle detector control system
705, the computer-based system 700 becomes a specialized computing
device specifically configured to implement the mechanisms of the
illustrative embodiments and is not a general-purpose computing
device. Moreover, as described hereafter, the implementation of the
mechanisms of the illustrative embodiments improves the
functionality of the computing device and provides a useful and
concrete result that facilitates the road safety improvements by
allowing dangerous vehicles to be detected and stopped before a
head on collision can happen.
[0042] The processor 702, in one embodiment, is a microprocessor
manufactured by Motorola Inc. of Illinois, Intel Corporation of
California, Nvidia Corporation of California, or Advanced Micro
Devices of California. However, any other suitable single or
multiple microprocessors or microcomputers may be utilized. Main
memory 706 is comprised of dynamic random access memory (DRAM).
Video memory 704 is a dual-ported video random access memory. One
port of the video memory 704 is coupled to video amplifier or
driver 712. The video amplifier 712 is used to drive the display
714. Video amplifier 712 is well known in the art and may be
implemented by any suitable means. This circuitry converts pixel
data stored in video memory 704 to a raster signal suitable for use
by display 714. Display 714 is a type of monitor suitable for
displaying graphic images.
[0043] Under control of the processor(s) 702, the principal
hardware elements of the road safety system include the sensor(s)
711 for detecting the presence and/or vehicle identification number
of any wrong-way vehicle(s), the motor control 717 which controls
the activation of the barriers and/or alarm systems in response to
detecting wrong-way vehicles, and the vehicle detector control
system 705 for monitoring the sensor(s) 711, notifying the command
center of wrong-way vehicles, activating roadway alarms,
transmitting motor shutoff signals to vehicles, capturing vehicle
identification numbers, sending vehicle identification numbers to
the command center, and/or contacting the wrong-way vehicle to
alert the driver. For example, a first sensor 22 may be provided to
detect that a vehicle has entered an exit ramp in the wrong
direction, a second sensor 23 may be provided to detect that the
vehicle has continued to drive down the exit ramp in the wrong
direction, and these sensors may provide sensor data over the I/O
device(s) 710 to the processor(s) 702 for storage and/or processing
to detect that a vehicle is entering an exit ramp in the wrong
direction as it drives onto the exit ramp, to transmit a signal to
a control system that a vehicle is entering the exit ramp in the
wrong direction, and to generate and send a signal to a motor
controller 717 for deploying barriers and/or to shut off the motor
of that vehicle.
[0044] By now, it should be appreciated that there has been
provided an apparatus, method, program code, and roadway safety
system for reducing accidents caused by vehicles entering an exit
ramp from a roadway from the wrong direction. In the disclosed
methodology, an exit ramp is monitored to detect a wrong-way
vehicle that enters the exit ramp at an area where the exit ramp
exits onto a street. In selected embodiments, the exit ramp
monitoring includes monitoring a pair of sensors located at the
area where the exit ramp exits onto the street to detect that any
vehicle entering the exit ramp in a wrong direction. In other
embodiments, the exit ramp monitoring includes monitoring one or
more magnetic sensors located at the area where the exit ramp exits
onto the street to detect a direction of any vehicle on the exit
ramp. In other embodiments, the exit ramp monitoring includes
monitoring a camera system focusing on the area where the exit ramp
exits onto the street to detect a direction of any vehicle on the
exit ramp. In other embodiments, the exit ramp monitoring includes
monitoring a vehicle detector system located at the area where the
exit ramp exits onto the street to detect a direction of any
wrong-way vehicle on the exit ramp and to generate a signal to a
control system, where the vehicle detector system comprises two
generally parallel pedals that extend across a width of the exit
ramp, where each of the parallel pedals are depressed by tires of
any vehicle traveling over said pedal, and where the parallel
pedals are spaced a distance apart greater than the contact patch
of a vehicle tire. The disclosed methodology also includes
transmitting a signal to a control system upon detecting the
wrong-way vehicle that enters the exit ramp. In addition, the
disclosed methodology includes generating and sending a signal to a
motor controller on the wrong-way vehicle to shut off a motor of
the wrong-way vehicle. The disclosed methodology may also include
communicating a signal to a roadway central command system in
response to detecting the wrong-way vehicle that enters the exit
ramp, and then generating, by the roadway central command system,
alarm signals along a roadway connected to the exit ramp from which
vehicles exit onto the exit ramp, where the alarm signals alert
drivers of vehicles exiting from the roadway onto the exit ramp
that a vehicle has entered the exit ramp from a wrong direction. In
addition or in the alternative, the disclosed methodology may also
include communicating a signal to a roadway central command system
in response to detecting the wrong-way vehicle that enters the exit
ramp, and then generating, by the roadway central command system,
an alarm signal along the exit ramp to alert a driver of the
wrong-way vehicle that the wrong-way vehicle is attempting to enter
the exit ramp in a wrong direction.
[0045] In another form, there is provided an apparatus, method,
program code, and roadway safety system for reducing accidents
caused by vehicles entering an exit ramp from a roadway from the
wrong direction. In the disclosed methodology, an exit ramp is
monitored to detect a vehicle that enters the exit ramp in a wrong
direction. The disclosed methodology also includes detecting a
wrong-way vehicle that enters the exit ramp in the wrong direction,
and then transmitting a signal to a safety control system upon
detecting the wrong-way vehicle to control deployment of a first
barrier to stop the wrong-way vehicle. In addition, the disclosed
methodology includes deploying the first barrier to stop the
wrong-way vehicle from proceeding down the exit ramp in the wrong
direction. In selected embodiments, the deployment of the first
barrier includes deploying a barrier that is penetrable by the
wrong-way vehicle. In other embodiments, the deployment of the
first barrier includes deploying a barrier that is impenetrable by
the wrong-way vehicle. The disclosed methodology may also include
monitoring the exit ramp with a second detector to detect that the
wrong-way vehicle did not stop at the first barrier, transmitting a
signal to the safety control system in response to the second
detector detecting that the vehicle did not stop at the first
barrier, and deploying a second barrier across the exit ramp in
response to the second detector detecting that the vehicle did not
stop at the first barrier. In selected embodiments, the disclosed
methodology may also deploy a second barrier between the first
barrier and an entrance of the exit ramp to stop the wrong-way
vehicle if it fails to stop at the first barrier. In addition, the
disclosed methodology may include monitoring the exit ramp with a
video surveillance system to capture an image of the wrong-way
vehicle and a license plate on the wrong-way vehicle, and
transmitting the image of the wrong-way vehicle and the license
plate to a roadway central command system. In such embodiments, a
mobile phone number of an owner of the wrong-way vehicle may be
identified based on information captured by the video surveillance
system, and then a call may be initiated to the mobile phone number
to provide a warning that the wrong-way vehicle is headed the
wrong-way. In other embodiments, the disclosed methodology may also
include capturing vehicle identification data from the wrong-way
vehicle, transmitting the vehicle identification data to a central
command system, searching for a mobile phone number associated with
the vehicle identification data wrong-way, and calling the mobile
phone number associated with the vehicle identification data
wrong-way to provide an alert that the wrong-way vehicle is
traveling the wrong-way.
[0046] In yet another form, there is provided an apparatus, method,
program code, and roadway safety system. The disclosed roadway
safety system includes one or more sensors that monitor an exit
ramp to detect the presence of a vehicle that enters the exit ramp
in the wrong direction in the area where the ramp exits onto a
street. In selected embodiments, the sensor(s) include a pair of
sensors located at the area where the exit ramp exits onto the
street to detect that any vehicle entering the exit ramp in a wrong
direction. In other embodiments, the sensor(s) include one or more
magnetic sensors located at the area where the exit ramp exits onto
the street to detect a direction of any vehicle on the exit ramp.
In other embodiments, the sensor(s) include a camera system
focusing on the area where the exit ramp exits onto the street. In
other embodiments, the sensor(s) include a vehicle detector system
located at the area where the exit ramp exits onto the street to
detect a direction of any wrong-way vehicle on the exit ramp, where
the vehicle detector system comprises two generally parallel pedals
that extend across a width of the exit ramp, where each of the
parallel pedals are depressed by tires of any vehicle traveling
over said pedal, and where the parallel pedals are spaced a
distance apart greater than the contact patch of a vehicle tire.
The disclosed roadway safety system also includes a vehicle
detector control system connected to the one or more sensors to
detect that a vehicle has entered an exit ramp in the wrong
direction and to transmit a signal to a control system that a
vehicle is entering the exit ramp in the wrong direction, where the
vehicle detector control system is configured to generate and send
a signal to a motor controller on the wrong-way vehicle to shut off
a motor of the wrong-way vehicle.
[0047] While the invention has been described in connection with
what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred
embodiment, it will be appreciated that other variations and
alternatives to the disclosed examples are also contemplated, and
the present invention is not necessarily limited to the example
embodiments, which illustrate inventive aspects of the present
invention that are applicable to various exercise equipment
applications. Thus, it is to be understood that the invention is
not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments but, on the
contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent
arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended
claims, which scope is to be accorded the broadest interpretation
so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures
as is permitted under the law. Accordingly, the foregoing
description is not intended to limit the invention to the
particular form set forth, but on the contrary, is intended to
cover such alternatives, modifications and equivalents as may be
included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by
the appended claims so that those skilled in the art should
understand that they can make various changes, substitutions and
alterations without departing from the spirit and scope of the
invention in its broadest form.
[0048] Benefits, other advantages, and solutions to problems have
been described above with regard to specific embodiments. However,
the benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any element(s)
that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or
become more pronounced are not to be construed as a critical,
required, or essential feature or element of any or all the claims.
The term "coupled," as used herein, is not intended to be limited
to a direct coupling or a mechanical coupling. As used herein, the
terms "comprises," "comprising," or any other variation thereof,
are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a
process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of
elements does not include only those elements but may include other
elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method,
article, or apparatus.
* * * * *