Traffic-Light-Detector
++ Reduce traffic congestion effects due to human reaction times at intersections + with traffic lights by utilizing a computer system based on direct communication + method of changes in the circumscribed route intersection. +
+Motivation for the project:
++ As civilisation develops, it develops coherent, large-scale socio-economic + formations that contribute to the development of well-being and the concomitant + development of conurbation. The market demand for infrastructure motivates + individuals to privatise their vehicles, which, in turn, rapidly increases the + accident rate. A scientific study entitled "Accident analysis & prevention"1 (2.5) + indicates that there is a statistically significant observation between the potential + of a road user and prior involvement in an accident, as well as an observable + characteristic: following the direction of a high-flow motorway, defined as the + time between the subject and the subject's vehicles. +
++ Based on research, it can be hypothesised that reducing the likelihood of + first-time accidents has a more significant effect on road safety than developing + systems to improve the safety habits of drivers involved in accidents. With this + assumption, the problem of eliminating the impact of human reaction time on the + realisation of traffic congestion can be defined as a motivated project by applying + computer solutions based on the direct communication methodology of the intersection + changes, on a route section equipped with a traffic signal traffic regulator. +
++ Furthermore, studies such as + "In-depth investigations of PTW-car accidents caused by human errors (Moto-Auto)"2 + indicate that in different traffic intersection configurations, + a statistical predominance of frontal collisions, more precisely around 45%, is observed in 1/9 of + the collision types (frontal collisions) in 60% of the configurations. +
++ Road accidents also represent a share of society's costs, or more precisely, + costs can be broken down into several categorisations - by the number of people + involved, by the type of cost, by the impact of the accident on lives. A study + on the cost of traffic accidents, "The cost of traffic accident and equivalent + accident number (Case study in developing country - Indonesia)"3 estimates the + cost of a single fatal accident in all categories at around 17 869,19 €, which + justifies the monetary motivation and commercial potential of the solution. +
++ There are several reasons, as mentioned in the scientific study + "Traffic conflict standards for intersections"4, + why an intersection may be categorised as a high hazard area in a delineated format. + Firstly, a segment where different groups of road users overlap, more specifically + different types of vehicles, including private and commercial, as well as pedestrians + converging from several directions can make it difficult for drivers to anticipate the + actions of other road users, increasing the potential for collisions. Secondly, + intersections have a number of hierarchical and complex traffic control systems, + such as signs, traffic signals and traffic regulators, which allow for the possibility + of inaccurate interpretation of the situation. Finally, intersections are characterised + by distracted drivers, for example, looking for a turn, trying to read signs or understand + the traffic, listening to music on a mobile device or having a conversation, which + increases the likelihood of an accident. +
++ Providing drivers with direct communication of intersection changes is important, + based on the "Situational Awareness and Safety"5 study , as it contributes to + smooth and efficient traffic movement. If drivers are unsure about a traffic light, + they may hesitate or stop unnecessarily, which can cause congestion and delays. + In addition, providing a direct method of informing drivers of green lights can + help prevent accidents and improve overall road safety. By providing clear and + concise information to drivers, we can help ensure that traffic flows smoothly + and that everyone on the road can get to their destination safely. +
++ Since the judgement that reducing the likelihood of first-time accidents has a significant + effect on the safety of road users can be put forward reasonably and as a leading reason + points to the fact that the realisation of traffic congestion increases the potential for + accidents and that traffic conflicts exist with a particularly increased likelihood at + intersections, the following position can be put forward, that a statistically tested + hypothesis on the correlation of traffic congestion on traffic accidents in studies + such as the "Current Understanding of the Effects of Congestion on Traffic Accidents"6 + justifies the relevance of the project to the wider community and points to the need + for an adapted, modular solution. +
+Existing solutions:
++ The motivation and potential solutions for the project were also presented in different + formats of existing solutions. Each solution described offers a different format of user + interface, practical application and results. +
++ Tesla's "Traffic Light and Stop Sign Control"7 provides direct information to the user on + the status of the traffic light controller and adjusts the response of the vehicle, more + specifically, if the vehicle is analytically detected as unable to manoeuvre within the time + allowed by the controller, the control system will reduce speed and stop the vehicle at the + first permissible position according to the controller's conditions. The solution offers efficient + and optimal functionality with extensive technical support and a clear and easy to use user interface. + The most significant drawback of the solution offered by Tesla is the limited vehicle support + of the control system, more precisely, the system is only available for Tesla cars equipped + with the required sensors. +
++ Audi's "Traffic-light countdown system"8, + described by the journalism company Engadget, + proposes and offers to provide the user directly with a countdown system, more precisely + a period of time during which the traffic-light traffic regulator will remain the same or + change to another state. The solution proposed by Audi offers a user-friendly and + comprehensible user interface, including a format in which the driver's attention + can be easily and in an informed way focused on the changes in traffic. The most significant + drawback of the proposed solution is the need to equip all traffic light controllers + and cars with sensors and to develop a communication network, and the fact that Audi + only offers the technology for Audi cars at the moment. +
+Solution description:
++ In response to the problem described in the motivation, the authors considered + a solution that eliminates the impact of human reaction time on the realisation + of traffic congestion, using a computer system based on a direct gated intersection + change communication methodology, on a route section equipped with a traffic signal traffic controller. +
++ The authors propose to develop a small, easily transportable and modular device, + the basic principle of which is to use sensors embedded in the device to detect + the position of the traffic signal traffic controller corresponding to the position + of the vehicle at an intersection and to inform the driver when the signal is + detected, according to the expected signal - permission to continue the route. +
++ Ierosinātais risinājums sastāv no 4 pamatprincipiem, kas likvidē cilvēka reakcijas laika ietekmi + uz satiksmes sastrēgumu realizāciju: +
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- + The modular device shall be equipped in its basic configuration with a visual image sensor which, + according to the instructions for use integral to the device, is positioned parallel to the + direction of movement of the vehicle, which provides continuous low-quality image documentation + for the purpose of determining whether the vehicle has reached a traffic intersection. + +
- + When the device detects a vehicle approaching a traffic intersection using an image recognition + model, it increases the quality of the captured images and identifies the traffic signal traffic + regulators and their positions. + +
- + The identified regulators and their states are summarised to determine the appropriate regulator for the vehicle route. + +
- + Using the information obtained, the device analyses the situation: if the controller is observed + with the signal "OK to proceed" and the vehicle has not stopped, it does not inform, whereas if + the controller is observed with the signal "Not OK to proceed" and the vehicle has slowed down or + stopped, the device informs the driver of the signal change when the signal "OK to proceed" is + received, using the basic module for the audible signal or the optional light and other user interfaces formats. + +
Aprakstītā ierīce pamatprincipu un funkcionalitātes nodrošināšanai izmanto:
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- + Raspberry Pi 4 microcontroller - + Raspberry Pi 4 + +
- + Raspberry Pi high quality modular camera - + Sony IMX477 + +
The device can be upgraded by adding:
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- [Potential upgrades here] +
+ A basic package is offered for system communication and user information, which includes an audible signal + that plays and informs the driver of the need to concentrate on the route process, as well as on the + surrounding cars, which the device plays when a signal is received from the traffic signal traffic + controller to allow the route to proceed. +
++ As the system provides a direct form of communication about the actual changes in the route of the + vehicle on the section of the route equipped with the light-signalling traffic controller, it does + not store the collected data in the long term and deletes the data after processing the captured route + visualisations, saving and updating the vehicle situation, therefore the solution proposed by the authors + ensures complete security of the user's data. +
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+ Nicholson, A.J. and Tight, M.R. (1989) Research paper "Accident Analysis and Prevention: + Course Notes 1987/88". Institute of Transport Studies, University of Leeds, Leeds, England. + +
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+ Avinash P. Penumaka, Giovanni Savino, Niccolò Baldanzini, Marco Pierini, + In-depth investigations of PTW-car accidents caused by human errors, Safety + Science, Volume 68, 2014, Pages 212-221, ISSN 0925-7535, DOI: + 10.1016-j.ssci.2014.04.004 + +
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+ Gito Sugiyanto, Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, + Jenderal Soedirman University Purwokerto, Mayjend Sungkono, Blater, Kalimanah, + Purbalingga, Central Java, Indonesia, + + "THE COST OF TRAFFIC ACCIDENT AND EQUIVALENT ACCIDENT NUMBER + IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES (CASE STUDY IN INDONESIA)" + , ISSN 1819-6608. + +
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+ Tarek Said and Sani Zein (1999) Traffic conflict standards at intersections, + Transportation Planning and Technology, 22:4, 309-323, DOI: 10.1080/03081069908717634 + +
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+ N.A Stanton, P.R.G. Chambers, J Piggott, Situation Awareness and Security, + Security Science, Vol. 39, 3rd edition, 2001, pp. 189-204, ISSN 0925-7535, + DOI: 10.1015/S0925-7535(01)00010-8 + +
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+ Retalak, Angus Eugen and Bertram Ostendorf. 2019. "Current understanding + of the impact of congestion on traffic accidents" International Journal + of Environmental Research and the State of Society 16, no. 18: 3400. + DOI: 10.3390-ijerph-16183400 + +
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+ © Tesla 2022 instructional publication + "Controlling traffic lights and stop signs" in the Model-Y description. + +
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+ Audi's solution, described by Robert Baldwin in his 2016 + journalistic publication + + "Audi's new traffic-light countdown is the first step to smarter cities" + + +
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