Driver Delay Research Articles

“Park Easy” (IOT Based Parking System)

Parking management is a major challenge due to the increasing number of vehicles in cities. Traditional parking systems often lead to driver delays, inefficiency and frustration. To address these issues, this work proposes the development of an Internet of Things (IoT)-based system using infrared (IR) sensors for real-time monitoring and monitoring of parking lots on the proposed system uses IR sensors strategically placed in parking lots to detect the presence of vehicles. These sensors are connected to a central control unit equipped with IoT capabilities, enabling wireless communication and data exchange over the Internet. Through this network, real-time information about parking availability is transmitted via mobile applications or web platforms to an accessible user interface

Yielding Behavior of Turning Drivers to a Pedestrian With a Cane at Low-Light Signalized Intersections

Introduction: This study evaluated drivers’ delays and yields when making right turns at the onset of a circular green traffic signal, in response to pedestrian behaviors, during daylight and at night with streetlamp lighting, in urban and suburban locations. Methods: Researchers conducted trials at three intersections, two typical urban and one typical suburban intersection. Driver movement data were collected (N = 302) in three conditions: no pedestrian present (control); a pedestrian displaying a cane; and a pedestrian flagging a cane. Driver delay was recorded in seconds from the onset of the green traffic signal to when the vehicle crossed the middle of the width of the pedestrian's crosswalk. Results: The primary result was that there are no statistical differences between day and night driver delay. Secondarily, statistically significant differences were found for urban versus suburban drivers when flagging the cane versus displaying the cane, with urban sites and flagging a cane garnering greater delays. Yield calculations, based on the time required for a pedestrian to nearly clear the first half of the crosswalk, confirmed the patterns of drivers’ behaviors. Discussion: Authors anticipated negative effects on yielding in nighttime lower-light environments; however, there was similar driver delay and yields compared to daylight hours. Greater driver delay and yields, for flagging a cane and at urban settings, confirmed the results in previous studies. Implications for Practitioners: When assessing travel options, informed pedestrians and orientation and mobility specialists can consider the effectiveness of active cane techniques to increase the likelihood of yields from turning drivers, even at night where streetlamp lighting is the source of illumination. When instructing cane techniques for use at crosswalks, specialists can consider the options for mitigating risk when crossing typical streets in urban and suburban areas.

Vehicular Visible Light Communication for Intersection Management

An innovative treatment for congested urban road networks is the split intersection. Here, a congested two-way–two-way traffic light-controlled intersection is transformed into two lighter intersections. By reducing conflict points and improving travel time, it facilitates smoother flow with less driver delay. We propose a visible light communication system based on Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V), Vehicle-to-Infrastructure (V2I) and Infrastructure-to-Vehicle (I2V) communications able to safely manage vehicles crossing through an intersection, leveraging Edge of Things (EoT) facilities. Headlights, street lamps, and traffic signals are used by connected vehicles to communicate with one another and with infrastructure. Through internally installed Driver Agents, an Intersection Manager coordinates traffic flow and interacts with vehicles. For the safe passage of vehicles across intersections, request/response mechanisms and time and space relative pose concepts are used. A virtual scenario is proposed, and a “mesh/cellular” hybrid architecture used. Light signals are emitted by transmitters by encoding, modulating, and converting data. Optical sensors with light-filtering properties are used as receivers and decoders. The VLC request/response concept uplink and downlink communication between the infrastructure and the vehicles is tested. Based on the results, the short-range mesh network provides a secure communication path between street lamp controllers and edge computers through neighbor traffic light controllers that have active cellular connections, as well as peer-to-peer communication, allowing V-VLC ready cars to exchange information.

Optimum Real Time Estimation and Interfacing of Braking Points for Racing Car

To provide additional on-track support for racing drivers, a novel real-time braking point estimation system was developed and tested to improve overall lap time performance. The Formula-Student competition was chosen as testing environment because of direct access to a real car and, hence, to all the data needed for this study, which can be fully disclosed at the same time. To estimate the optimum braking point, a simulation of the track section ahead is performed using a multidimensional approach to model not only longitudinal and lateral acceleration, but also combined acceleration scenarios. A lap identification system as well as live track analysis tools were developed in order to obtain track data that cannot be measured directly. To evaluate the overall grip conditions, a tire model, using both a wheel load and a two-track model, is implemented, which includes a dynamic calibration feature designed to adapt the system to the changing conditions of the circuit. It can be seen that the simulation provides a detailed profile of the maximum permitted velocities for every point in front of the real vehicle, and that this can be used to create a reliable prediction of the braking points along the track. Furthermore, a concept based on physiological fundamentals was developed and investigated in terms of human reaction times in order to meet the requirements of an intuitive human-machine interface. Our results demonstrate that it can be successfully used to automatically compensate for driver delays, improve the trust in the system and ensure safe operation. We conclude that our new system can reduce lap times, depending on the length and number of curves, by a significant amount of time (tens of a second).

Leading Pedestrian Intervals at Urban Crosswalks: Effects on Safety for Travelers Who Are Blind

Introduction: The use of leading pedestrian intervals (LPIs) creates safer street crossings for typical pedestrians, giving them a head-start into the crosswalk. The LPI, however, delays the onset of the traditional traffic sound cue that pedestrians who are blind use to initiate crossing streets. LPIs can create situations where pedestrians who are blind will frequently begin or end crossings or both against the pedestrian signal. Methods: The researchers conducted two sets of observations in an urban environment. They measured the seconds from the initiation of the vehicular circular green signal to the front of the first vehicle passing through the center of the intersection (n = 40) to calculate the average driver's delay. Pedestrians who are blind, to confirm a straight-through surge of parallel traffic (i.e. not turning vehicles), listen for a vehicle to reach the roadway center to know it is the appropriate time to initiate a crossing. In the second set of observations (n = 40), the researchers recorded the length of the Walk, Flashing Don’t Walk, and LPI to calculate average impacts on crossing. Results: The average time for vehicles to reach the center of the intersection was 6.0 s. When there was an LPI, on average the clearance for pedestrians after reaching the far corner was 0.49 s; for Walk intervals, there was an average of 3.35 s margin of time to begin crossing. Discussion: These observational studies verify the crossing latencies for pedestrians who are blind. At crosswalks with LPI, pedestrians can be expected to cross after the Walk sign has expired 15 to 38% of the time and end their crossing 40 to 82% of the time when the visual display says Don’t Walk. Implications for Practitioners: Orientation and mobility specialists should instruct students on how to identify intersections with LPI to assist in decision making. Traffic management remediation is the installation of an accessible pedestrian signal (APS); specialists should advocate for the installation of APS where LPIs are implemented and teach students how to use APS.

The Analysis of Road Performance on Jalan Gajah Mada Batam, Indonesia

Due to the country’s growing vehicle population, major cities in Indonesia are experiencing traffic congestion. Traffic congestion can result in driver delays, inconvenience, economic losses, and air pollution. This paper aims to analyze the road performance on Jalan Gajah Mada (Baloi Indah – UIB) Batam. The method that will be used to analyze the road performance on Jalan Gajah Mada (Baloi Indah – UIB) is MKJI 1997. The standard LOS value in determining the classification of roads in this study is D, or the starting current is unstable, the speed is low and varies, and the volume is close to capacity.

Design and Fabrication of Smart Traffic Signal Using Arduino Card

Traffic jam is becoming a headache in the big cities all over the world, which causes a significant delay for drivers and passengers. A smart on/off traffic signal optimization based on a motion IR Sensor (Infrared) is now a necessity to overcome this problem. This work is a design and implementation of a smart traffic signal (STS) that controls the time of the traffic signals (Red–Yellow–Green) according to the traffic congestion on the road. The STS is designed to imitate a side road (with a low traffic move) with a highway road (with a high traffic move). A motion IR sensor along with an Arduino PIC were installed to automatically control the traffic signals on/off delay times based on the existence of the vehicles on the side road. When the side road is empty, the highway traffic signal is always green (highway–always–on mode). However, when a vehicle reaches the traffic signal in the side road, the motion IR sensor sends a signal to the Arduino card, so that the highway traffic signal turns red, while the side road traffic signal turns green letting the vehicle to pass the intersection. The system will then automatically set back to the highway–always–on mode. The entire system is designed and simulated using Proteus workbench.

Smart Traffic Light Control Using Image Processing

Abstract: Nowadays, holdup has become one in every of the foremost critical problem thanks to increasing population and automobiles in cities. Hold up causes delay and stress for drivers and increases pollution and carbonic acid gas emissions. The traffic controller is one in all the critical factors affecting the traffic flow. This paper proposes a control system supported image processing including video processing within which traffic signals change accordingly the density of traffic and it will make use of Arduino UNO board for Traffic Lights, Emergency Vehicles and Barrier. A video camera and traffic lights are interfaced with Arduino UNO. The video is processed and Arduino enables the traffic lights to vary when required. Along with this, barrier at zebra crossing and emergency vehicle passing are the best concept for today’s smart city. Keywords: Image Processing, Time, Signals, Emergency Vehicles, Barrier

Communication Assistance under Urban Vicinity in VANETs

Vehicular Ad Hoc NETworks (VANET) has turn up as a stand to support intelligent vehicles communication, transport safety and performance.Road accidents and traffic congestion are the significant issues of metropolitan territories. In spite of the fact that endless arrangements are given for these issues, still there is no fitting answer for street mishap recognition. Likewise, because of the deferral in arriving at the emergency vehicle to the mishap area and accordingly the gridlock in the middle of the mishap area and clinic expands the probabilities of the passing of the person in question. Thus, it is needed to give handheld answer for the general public.This paper introduces a handheld solution to reduce the loss of life due to accidents and the time taken by the ambulance to reach the hospital. First, the proposed system finds out the road accidents automatically with the help of sensors in intelligent vehicles. Second, an alert is sent to all nearby hospitals after the road accident. This system maintains a database server which holds all hospital details in around the city. A GPS or GSM gadget in the concerned vehicle will send the area character of the mishap to the close by medical clinics through primary worker and afterward a rescue vehicle from very closest clinic is shipped off the mishap spot. Alongside these, there would be an effect of traffic inside the way of the emergency vehicle utilizing RF correspondence. This will limit the hour of ambulances to arrive at the clinic.Third, this system maintains another database for all kind of mechanical services. This system provides support to the roadsiders while the vehicle got breakdown or any other service issues in the vehicle. It also saves the time of the driver and unnecessary delay. Altogether, this system provides the appropriate handheld solution to the vehicle drivers and the society.

Current-balancing strategy for multileg interleaved DC/DC converters of electric-vehicle chargers

A current-balancing strategy for a multileg interleaved DC/DC converter with a reduced number of current sensors for electric-vehicle chargers is proposed in this paper. There are imbalances between the leg currents of multileg DC/DC converters, which are caused by the difference between the leg impedances and the driver delay. Each of the leg current sensors must achieve current balancing. However, the conventional strategy is burdensome due to its high cost and volume. To mitigate these issues, the proposed balancing strategy effectively balances leg currents using fewer current sensors than the number of legs. The proposed strategy was verified by various simulation and experimental results.

On the global dynamics of connected vehicle systems

In this contribution, heterogeneous connected vehicle systems, that include human-driven as well as connected automated vehicles, are investigated. The reaction time delay of human drivers as well as the communication and actuation delays of connected automated vehicles is incorporated in the model. Saturations due to the speed limit and limited acceleration capabilities of the vehicles are also taken into account. The arising nonlinear delayed system is studied using analytical and numerical bifurcation analysis. Stability analysis is used to identify regions in parameter space where oscillations arise due to loss of linear stability of the equilibrium. Moreover, with the help of numerical continuation, bistability between the equilibrium and oscillations is shown to exist due to the presence of an isola. It is demonstrated that utilizing long-range wireless vehicle-to-vehicle communication the connected automated vehicle is able to eliminate the oscillations and keep the traffic flow smooth.

Impact of Undercompensation and Overcompensation of Dead-Time Effect on Small-Signal Stability of Induction Motor Drive

Inverter dead-time is known to make open-loop induction motor drives oscillatory, while operating at light-loads in particular. While dead-time compensation schemes exist, precise compensation of the same is often challenging as it involves factors such as device and driver delays and switching transition times, which are difficult to be quantified accurately. Hence, the effect of dead-time could be under or overcompensated. This paper presents a comprehensive analysis of the impact of such undercompensation and overcompensation on the stability of a 100-kW induction motor drive, along with experimental investigations of the same. The effects of undercompensation and overcompensation on the inverter output voltage are analyzed on a switching-cycle average basis. Further, small-signal models are proposed for an open-loop drive, when it is undercompensated and overcompensated. Stability analysis of the above motor drive is reported, which predicts oscillatory behavior with both under and overcompensation, over certain fundamental frequency ranges, respectively. Further, two different types of oscillatory behavior, characterized by different oscillating frequencies, are observed for the cases of under and overcompensation. The analyses are supported by simulations. Experimental investigations carried out also support the analyses and simulation results.

A Self-Tuning Resonant-Inductive-Link Transmit Driver Using Quadrature Symmetric Delay Trimmable Phase-Switched Fractional Capacitance

The efficiency of inductively coupled power transfer systems is increased when high- $Q$ inductor–capacitor circuits are used, maximizing the magnetic field strength at the transmitter for a given drive amplitude. Such circuits require precise tuning to compensate environmental effects and component tolerances, which modify the resonant frequency. A single zero-voltage-switched fractional capacitance may be used to accurately tune the circuit to resonance, reducing implementation costs compared with classical tuning techniques. However, integration into a chip presents challenges, which must be addressed, such as operating with large voltage excursions and compensating for high-voltage driver delays. We describe here the operation of a self-tuning $LC$ resonant circuit driver using a symmetrically switched fractional capacitance. An architecture for a fully integrated system for operation at 75 kHz–2.6 MHz is presented. Implemented in a 0.18- $\mu \text{m}$ 1.8–50 V CMOS/laterally diffused MOSFET(LDMOS) technology, the integrated circuit uses high-voltage interfaces for capacitance switching and sampling inputs and includes digital phase trimming to compensate propagation delays in large driver devices. Correct operation of the self-tuning functionality is verified across the available frequency range, with results presented for static and dynamic tuning responses.

Multi-color, femtosecond [formula omitted]-ray pulse trains driven by comb-like electron beams

Photon engineering can be exploited to control the nonlinear evolution of the drive pulse in a laser–plasma accelerator (LPA), offering new avenues to tailor electron beam phase space on a femtosecond time scale. One promising option is to drive an LPA with an incoherent stack of two sub-Joule, multi-TW pulses of different colors. Slow self-compression of the bi-color optical driver delays electron dephasing, boosting electron beam energy without accumulation of a massive low-energy tail. The modest energy of the stack affords kHz-scale repetition rate at manageable laser average power. Propagating the stack in a pre-formed plasma channel induces periodic self-focusing in the trailing pulse, causing oscillations in the size of accelerating bucket. The resulting periodic injection generates, over a mm-scale distance, a train of GeV-scale electron bunches with 5D brightness exceeding 1017A∕m2. This unconventional comb-like beam, with femtosecond synchronization and controllable energy spacing of components, emits, via Thomson scattering, a train of highly collimated gigawatt γ-ray pulses. Each pulse, corresponding to a distinct energy band between 2.5 and 25 MeV, contains over 106 photons.

Crash probability estimation via quantifying driver hazard perception

Crash probability estimation is an important method to predict the potential reduction of crash probability contributed by forward collision avoidance technologies (FCATs). In this study, we propose a practical approach to estimate crash probability, which combines a field operational test and numerical simulations of a typical rear-end crash model. To consider driver hazard perception characteristics, we define a novel hazard perception measure, called as driver risk response time, by considering both time-to-collision (TTC) and driver braking response to impending collision risk in a near-crash scenario. Also, we establish a driving database under mixed Chinese traffic conditions based on a CMBS (Collision Mitigation Braking Systems)-equipped vehicle. Applying the crash probability estimation in this database, we estimate the potential decrease in crash probability owing to use of CMBS. A comparison of the results with CMBS on and off shows a 13.7% reduction of crash probability in a typical rear-end near-crash scenario with a one-second delay of driver’s braking response. These results indicate that CMBS is positive in collision prevention, especially in the case of inattentive drivers or ole drivers. The proposed crash probability estimation offers a practical way for evaluating the safety benefits in the design and testing of FCATs.

Investigating the influence of passing relief lane sections on safety and traffic performance

As it is well known, one of the keys to improve traffic performance of two lane rural roads with high traffic volumes is to provide passing sections. However, providing a long segment in which the passing maneuver is allowed, is not always feasible, especially when suburban areas are considered. The retrofitting of some road sections by adding a passing relief lane can improve traffic performance by reducing platoons, driver delays and increasing speed. Nevertheless, the effects of this measure on safety may be controversial. With higher traffic speed, the diverging and merging conflicts may escalate and deteriorate the safety conditions of the treated sites. The present research seeks to address this dilemma by presenting an operation and safety study based on experimental data from two lane rural roads. Serious crashes with fatalities and injured people were taken into account in the estimation of the Crash Modification Factors. The Empirical Bayes before-after study was performed for a period from 2005 to 2013, with the exclusion of 2009 when road segments were retrofitted by adding a passing relief lane. Certain improvements in safety were observed for both total and target crashes. The research also encompassed traffic performance by way of investigating the changes in speed and platoon size at the beginning and at the end of the treated sections. The results have shown that the platoon reduction value depends on the length of the passing section and the share of heavy vehicles. The obtained operational results proved less beneficial than expected.

Transportation Planning to Accommodate Needs of Wind Energy Projects

There is an upward trend in wind energy production in Texas and a growing need to transport wind turbine components in that state. This paper proposes a methodology and an associated operational planning tool that can be used to develop optimal route plans for the transportation of wind turbine components on Texas roadways. The paper also recommends transportation infrastructure maintenance and improvement strategies, as well as more general multisector infrastructure improvements that will be needed to respond to the predicted growth of wind energy over time. Specifically, researchers predicted the amount of energy that will be installed in Texas from 2015 to 2025 and used the new planning tool, along with detailed knowledge of the wind energy production industry and the related supply chain, to find optimal routes for wind turbine components (minimizing both potential for road damage and driver delay). A methodology in which the planning tool is used for the analysis of several what-if scenarios is also proposed. Although the planning tool and the associated methodology were developed for Texas, they can be generalized to any other state after the underlying databases are updated.

Stability analysis in a car-following model with reaction-time delay and delayed feedback control

The delayed feedback control in terms of both headway and velocity differences has been proposed to guarantee the stability of a car-following model including the reaction-time delay of drivers. Using Laplace transformation and transfer function, the stable condition is derived and appropriate choices of time delay and feedback gains are designed to stabilize traffic flow. Meanwhile, an upper bound on explicit time delay is determined with respect to the response of desired acceleration. To ensure the string stability, the explicit time delay cannot over its upper bound. Numerical simulations indicate that the proposed control method can restraint traffic congestion and improve control performance.

Evaluation of Human Behaviour at Pedestrian Crossings

Road traffic crashes result from a combination of factors related to the road layout, the vehicles, the road users and the way they interact. First the main causes of pedestrian fatalities and the safety effects of road measures (traffic lights, roundabouts and refuge islands) at pedestrian crossings before and after implementation were investigated. The results indicate that there is a strong evidence for the positive effect of these measures especially on the number of the pedestrian related accidents. In the next phase a site survey was conducted in order to estimate the irregular crossing manoeuvres of car drivers and pedestrians at designated pedestrian crossings. Having analysed the irregular movements according to the type of crossing it was found, that car drivers behave the most irregularly at crossings without a refuge island. Crossings equipped with flashing yellow lights, refuge islands and traffic lights require a much more appropriate behaviour from car drivers. In the next phase of the research the waiting time of pedestrians and the delay of vehicle drivers again at pedestrian crossings were surveyed. Our results suggest that there is a need for a strong contribution of the human and the engineering fields to obtain an even more positive change in the safety of vulnerable road users.

Optimal Lowest-Voltage-Switching for Boundary Mode Power Factor Correction Converters

This paper presents an optimal lowest-voltage-switching technique for boundary mode power factor correction (PFC) converters. The proposed approach minimizes the switching loss of the power MOSFET without additional discrete components. Optimal zero-voltage-switching or valley-switching can be achieved for universal input range. The gate driver delay can also be taken into account. A boundary mode boost PFC converter with the proposed optimal switching technique has been implemented using a 0.5-μm N-well process. Experimental results show that the proposed approach can realize optimal soft switching, and improve the efficiency of the boost PFC converter. The proposed lowest-voltage-switching technique can be applied to other resonant converters as well.