SMART SIGNAL TECHNOLOGY

Richard W. Wall, Ph.D.NIATT

D t t f El t i l & C tDepartment of Electrical & Computer Engineering

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Presentation OutlinePresentation Outline• Rules, regulations, and standards• Current pedestrian control practices and• Current pedestrian control practices and technology

• Problem definition• Problem definition• Proposed solution

l• Implementation strategy• Research activities at the University of Idaaho• References

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Washington LawsWashington Laws• Drivers must yield to pedestrians at intersections – Vehicles shall stop at intersections to allow pedestrians and bicycles to cross the road within a marked or unmarked crosswalk (RCW 46.61.235). 

• Pedestrians must obey traffic signals– Pedestrians must obey traffic‐control signals and traffic control devises unless otherwise directed by a traffic or police officer (RCW 46.61.050). 

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Idaho LawsTITLE 49 

MOTOR VEHICLES  CHAPTER 8 SIGNS, SIGNALS AND MARKINGS 

49‐803. PEDESTRIAN‐CONTROL SIGNALS.Whenever a pedestrian‐control signal showing the words "Walk" or "Wait" or "Don't Walk" is in place, the signal shall indicate the following:signal shall indicate the following: (1) Flashing or Steady "Walk". A pedestrian facing the signal may proceed across the highway in the direction of the signal, but shall yield the right‐of‐way to vehicles lawfully within the intersection at the time the signal is first shownfirst shown.(2) Flashing or Steady "Don't Walk" or "Wait". No pedestrian shall start to cross the highway in the direction of the signal, but any pedestrian who has partially completed crossing shall proceed to a sidewalk or safety i l d hil th "D 't W lk" "W it" i l i h iisland while the "Don't Walk" or "Wait" signal is showing. 

49‐702. PEDESTRIANS' RIGHT‐OF‐WAY IN CROSSWALKS.(1) When traffic‐control signals are not in place or not in operation the driver of a vehicle shall yield the right‐of‐way, slowing down or stopping, ifdriver of a vehicle shall yield the right of way, slowing down or stopping, if need be, to yield to a pedestrian crossing the highway within a crosswalk.(2) No pedestrian shall suddenly leave a curb or other place of safety and walk or run into the path of a vehicle which is so close as to constitute an immediate hazardimmediate hazard.

Problem • Infrastructure design

– Archaic design methodologies

– vehicle centric

• Inaccurate information for abnormal operations

• Technical limitations

– Countdown pedestrian signals

MMU cannot validate pedestrian display and audible– MMU cannot validate pedestrian display and audible messages

• Inconsistent compliance to MUTCD 

• Driver attitude

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Current Engineering Practices

Current Engineering Practices

Traffic Controller Cabinet – before - - after

Infrastructure ComplexityInfrastructure Complexity

Contradictory InformationContradictory Information

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Driver AttitudeDriver Attitude

Driver AttitudeDriver Attitude

The Source of the ProblemsThe Source of the Problems• Lack of communications

– Single function outputsg p– No feed back

• Legacy traffic control engineering practices– MUTCD

• Based on technical constraints• Lacks human factor justification (my opinion only)j ( y p y)

– NEMA• SDLC based upon 35 year old technology• Independent processor control of signals not observable byIndependent processor control of signals not observable by MMU

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Solution RequirementsSolution Requirements• Better communications

– Higher bandwidth

– More information

– Bi‐direction communications

• Economics: Low costEconomics: Low cost– Equipment

– InstallationInstallation 

– Operations and maintenance

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Smart Signals Research HistorySmart Signals Research History• Smart Signals

2004 05: Plug and Play Traffic signals using IEEE– 2004‐05: Plug and Play Traffic signals using IEEE 1451

• Ethernet distributed control

– 2005‐06: Smart Signals Demonstration• Addressed countdown pedestrian timer

– 2006‐07: NTCIP distributed architecture• TS2 compatible

2007 2008 Ad d APS– 2007‐2008:  Advanced APS • Distributed network control based upon NTCIP• TS1 – TS2 compatibleTS1  TS2 compatible

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NTCIP Smart SignalsNTCIP Smart Signals• Ethernet Distributed control• Uses NTCIP MIB objects• Uses NTCIP MIB objects• Safety Critical Network based upon IEEE 1588 PTP• Utilizes 200MB Ethernet over power line for field pwiring– Minimum network security issues– High data ratesHigh data rates– Long distance (tests > 2500’)– Uses existing infrastructureM difi d E li ASC/3 TS2 ll• Modified Econolite ASC/3 TS2 controller– Required software modification for pedestrian timing objects

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Smarts Pedestrian Signals DemoSmarts Pedestrian Signals Demo

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Remote Pedestrian ControlRemote Pedestrian Control

NTCIP Smart Signals

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Smarts Pedestrian Signals HardwareSmarts Pedestrian Signals Hardware

• Proprietary Pedestrian SignalProprietary Pedestrian Signal– Full LED array

Contrast control– Contrast control

• Rabbit Semiconductor RCM3000 P ($65)RCM3000 Processor ($65)– 28Mhz 8bit Z80 

• Netgear HDX101 Powerline HD Ethernet adapter ($65)

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Smarts Pedestrian Signals SoftwareSmarts Pedestrian Signals Software

Standard Object ID Table Entries1201 1.3.6.1.4.1.1206.4.2.6.3.6.0 controller-localTime1202 1.3.6.1.4.1.1206.4.2.1.1.1.0 maxPhases1202 1 3 6 1 4 1 1206 4 2 1 1 3 0 Ph G1202 1.3.6.1.4.1.1206.4.2.1.1.3.0 maxPhaseGroups1202 1.3.6.1.4.1.1206.4.2.1.1.5.1.7 phaseControlGroupPedCall 1202 1.3.6.1.4.1.1206.4.2.1.1.4.1 phaseStatusGroupEntry: Red,

Yellow Green PedCallYellow, Green, PedCall, PhaseOns, PhaseNexts

1202 1.3.6.1.4.1.1206.4.2.1.1.2.1 phaseEntry: Walk; Pedestrian Clear; Minim m Green;Clear; Minimum Green; Startup; Options; Ring

Pro-i

1.3.6.1.4.1.1206.3.5.2.1.19.1.2,1 3 6 1 4 1 1206 3 5 2 1 19 1 3

PedStatusState, P dS Ti

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prietary 1.3.6.1.4.1.1206.3.5.2.1.19.1.3 PedStatusTimer

Smarts Pedestrian Signals Software

Pedestrian 

Pedestrian Status

Information Flow Diagram• 220 ms network update

Signal Status

Timer

Control Network

NTCIP based communication

Local Time

Pedestrian Call

Encrypted Power line Ethernet Communications‐Encrypted Power‐line Ethernet Communications‐

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Smart Signals ResearchSmart Signals Research• Advanced Smart Signals Pedestrian Call System

– Campbell CompanyCampbell Company– ADA APS operations

• Audio beaconingNi h i d• Night time mode

• WWVB time synchronization– MMU type functionality– Uses existing pedestrian button wiring

• No external wiring to pedestrian signals• Low voltage Ethernet over power lineLow voltage Ethernet over power line • Intellon MX5500 200 MB communications

– WEB based installation and maintenance

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AAPS

Smart Smart Ped Signal

Advanced Smart Signals Pedestrian Call System© University of Idaho 2008

APBTS1/TS2 – 170/270/2070Traffic Controller EoP APSAd d

Signals Network Smart Ped Signal

APB

Signal Load Switches

Existing Pedestrian

Modem APS

EoPModem APS

AdvancedPedestrianAssistant

APBSwitches

Advanced P d t i

Call Inputs

EoP

EoPModem APS

3232

APBExisting

Traffic and

Pedestrian Controller

Cabinet APC

oModem

EoPModem APS

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Traffic and Pedestrian

SignalsPower Maintenance

Interface

Modem

Advanced Pedestrian Controller (APC)

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Advanced Pedestrian Controller (APC)• CPU Network controller

– $90 ‐ 200MHZ Linux kernel– Free development environment

32MB SDRAM / 16MB Flash / 256 MB SD card– 32MB SDRAM / 16MB Flash / 256 MB SD‐card– 2 ‐ 10/100 Mbps Ethernet ports

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Advanced Pedestrian Button (APB)

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Conclusion• Pedestrians at intersections are underserved• Countdown pedestrian timers have limited• Countdown pedestrian timers have limited functionality due to current engineering practicespractices

• Better information can resolve some known issuesissues

• Research in distributed technology for traffic controls is gaining recognitioncontrols is gaining recognition  

• Powerline carrier has major role in system integrationintegration

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Smart Signals BibliographySmart Signals Bibliography• DeRuwe, Gabriel and R. W. Wall, “Pedestrian Navigation and Integration with Distributed Smart Signal 

Traffic Controls”, Submitted to 88th Annual Meeting of the Transportation Research Board, Washington, , g p , g ,DC, January 11‐15, 2009

• DeVoe, D. and R.W. Wall, “A Distributed Ethernet Network of Advanced Pedestrian Signals”, Submitted to 88th Annual Meeting of the Transportation Research Board, Washington, DC, January 11‐15, 2009

• Giri Sanjeev, and R.W. Wall, “A Safety Critical Network for Distributed Smart Traffic Signals”, IEEE Instrumentation and Measurement Society Magazine scheduled for publication December 2008Instrumentation and Measurement Society Magazine, scheduled for publication – December 2008

• DeRuwe, Gabriel and R. W. Wall, “Pedestrian Navigation and Integration with Distributed Smart Signal Traffic Controls ”, The 34th Annual Conference of the IEEE Industrial Electronics Society, Orlando, FL, November 11, 2008, Paper # HD‐010979

• DeVoe, D. and R.W. Wall, “A Distributed Smart Signal Architecture for Traffic Signal Controls”, 2008 IEEE International Symposium on Industrial Electronics, Cambridge, UK, July 2, 2008 , paper # CD‐004928

• Wall, R.W., T. Urbanik, D. Bullock, S. Allen*, M. Busby*, D. DeVoe*, A. Huska*, T. Rallens* “Distributed Traffic Signal Control: Improving Pedestrian Control as A First Step”, Transportation Research Board 2007 Annual Meeting, Washington D.C. January 21‐25, 2007, Paper No. 07‐0989

• Wall, R.W., A. Huska*, and D. Bullock, “Application of Plug and Play Distributed Signal Technology to Traffic , , , , pp g y g gySignals,” Transportation Research Board 2006 Annual Meeting, Washington D.C., January 22‐26, 2006, Paper No. 06‐2728. 

• Wall, R.W. and A. Huska*, “Design Platform for Plug‐and‐Play IEEE 1451 Traffic Signal,” The 31st Annual IEEE Industrial Electronics Conference, Raleigh, NC, Nov 6‐10, 2005, Paper No. RD‐001973.

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Pedestrian Safety LinksPedestrian Safety Links• Pedestrian Forum - Summer 2008

http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/PED_BIKE/ped/pedforum/pedforum_sum08.htm• Intersections

http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/intersections/intersectionsap.htm• Senior Pedestrian

http://www.tfhrc.gov/safety/pedbike/facts/oldped.htm• Road Engineering JournalRoad Engineering Journal

http://www.usroads.com/journals/p/rej/9710/re971002.htm• No signals

http://www.bikewalk.org/pdfs/trafficcontrol_backtobasics.pdf• SPECIFICATIONS FOR PEDESTRIAN LED COUNTDOWN TIMER FEBRUARY 14 2005• SPECIFICATIONS FOR PEDESTRIAN LED COUNTDOWN TIMER FEBRUARY 14, 2005

https://www.nysdot.gov/portal/page/portal/divisions/operating/oom/transportation-systems/repository/pcdspec.pdf

• NEMA TS2 Standard www.ite.org/standards/ITScabinet/ITS_Cabinet_v01.02.17a.doc• Low Vision Pedestrians http://safety fhwa dot gov/intersections/roundaboutsummit/rndabtatt4 htm• Low Vision Pedestrians http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/intersections/roundaboutsummit/rndabtatt4.htm

• Idaho Statutes TITLE 49 MOTOR VEHICLES http://www3.state.id.us/cgi-bin/newidst?sctid=490070002.K• Washington Department of Transportation http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/walk/laws.htm

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