The Unit

Valeo Innovation Challenge 2017

Technological Innovation

Valeo Innovation Challenge 2017

Phase 1

Team name: The Unit

Project title: Smart Autonomous Traffic Light Assist (SATLA)

Abstract (15 lines max):

Human prone errors in driving brought on by distractions and other factors, at intersections cause an
inertial effect and hamper the ability for cars to make it through the traffic junction. Human drivers
tend to cross the intersection via a trickle effect. By the time that the last of the cars at the signal reach
the traffic light, the traffic light has changed back to red again. We aim to tackle the problem by
introducing a degree of autonomy to the cars for the duration that they start from the signal until they
have cleared the signal. The solution: will be able to dramatically cut down on traffic wait times
multifold, enable more clearance of cars per traffic-light cycle, prevent accidents, improve traffic flow,
reduce pollution and rid drivers of mental stress. The project uses central computer controlled
sensors, vehicle to vehicle communication and feedback mechanisms.

Our project is inspired by :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHzzSao6ypE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wm-pZp_mi0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MA_nzGJZ3FE
 1. What is the problem? Or what is the situation to improve? (half page a page)
Ever found yourself at the end of the traffic at the traffic signal? Even though the signal up
ahead, turns green, the cars tend to trickle through the junction and by the time you reach the traffic
signal, the signal turns red again. Frustrating isnt it? This process can happen several times at
busier junctions. The problem is caused heavily caused due to the fact that humans are creatures of
error and are easily distracted. Even though the signal turns green human drivers get occupied
using their phones or simply day dreaming. Many a times the driver behind has to honk in order to
get the person ahead, to start moving. Such human error cause obstructions in traffic flow and
consumes valuable clearance time for the traffic.

Additionally, human drivers keep a minimalistic distance from the car up ahead.If one car brakes,
the braking backlog travels down the entire column of traffic. Sudden braking due to the resulting
small braking distance, causes many accidents and this further clogs up traffic scenarios.

Humans drive their cars at varying acceleration during the initial start of traffic flow at the traffic light.
The result is hampered traffic. If synchronized traffic is achieved, it will not only allow the drivers to
navigate more smoothly and safely, but also allow more cars to pass through a green signal in the
same time. See the video below for a visual idea:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L45HwjzMu0g

Long waits at traffic junctions causes huge amounts of time being wasted. According to the report
an average commuter wastes a full week in traffic annually.
(http://www.cnbc.com/2016/08/09/commuters-waste-a-full-week-in-traffic-each-year.html)

That time can be better spent productively with family, friends or business. Long waits cause mental
stress and physical exhaustion. Furthermore, the idling engines waste fuel and release greenhouse
gases and air pollutants.

See the link for details:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHzzSao6ypE

2. What is/are the current solution(s), if any? (1 page)

For now, cars around the world are human driven and humans can follow best practices such as
keeping a reasonable distance from each other and avoid bottlenecking traffic flow by being
attentive to the signal at all times. To avoid accidents and improve traffic movements, laws such as
prohibiting use of gadgets have been established. Police is strict about use of mobile phones and
other handheld gadgets in almost every country, with deterrents including fines. However, humans
continue to use mobile phones and other gadgets on the road. Some traffic signals may alert drivers
by emitting a sound but this is implemented to a very limited extent.

Secondly, laws against changing lanes abruptly have been enforced as well. The car which wants to
turn right or take a U-turn are to be present in the right most lane while cars turning left are to be
present in the left most lane. Not following this rule could result in accidents and slow traffic
movement because one car could disrupt the flow of the whole traffic. Emergency braking due to an
abrupt lane change could result in rear-end crashes which further disturbs the flow of traffic. Auto-
braking has been included in the cars[1]. They use the proximity sensors in the bumpers to detect
the distance with the next car and help the driver in maintaining a safe distance. Currently, to tackle
this issue fines and warnings are given to the driver.

One of the solutions to both the issues described above could be solved by self driving cars which
we would see a lot of in the future. Self driving cars can maintain a safe distance between
themselves and would minimize the possibility of accidents due to human error. Since self driving
cars are computer controlled, they should not be able to break the laws that have been established.
The main concern about this solution is self driving cars are very limited as of yet. There is still a lot
of research and development to be done to make the technology mainstream.

Another solution to improve flow of traffic at the signals is self regulating traffic lights. These traffic
 lights make use of the fact that flow of traffic is not the same from each side, hence the time
given for each side should be adjusted according to the flow from that side. Self regulating
traffic lights are being tested in some European countries to improve traffic flow. Sensors at the
traffic lights detect the presence of traffic and adjust the timing of the signals based on the data
collected.

1.http://usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/cars-
trucks/Backup_Cameras_Automatic_Braking_Parking_Assist_Is_Car_Tech_Really_Worth_the_Mon
ey/
2.http://newatlas.com/self-regulating-traffic-lights-improve-vehicle-flow/16396/

3. What is your solution? (3 pages)

Our solution is based on implementing a real-time car automation algorithm at the traffic signals.
The concept is, rather than each car moving for itself individually, we connect all the cars with a
central local server (could be a part of smart traffic light, located on it) and make them move as a
single body at a slow speed when the traffic light turns green. The algorithm will be designed and
implemented such that car movement is as smooth and uniform as possible.

This will help eliminate the human reaction time which is present between seeing the front
car move and then moving your car. On top of the time wasted, this time varies from driver to
driver. This causes a turbulent flow of traffic even though there is no physical entity hindering
it. This invisible blockage can be completely eliminated from the scenario if computers
control, lets say a whole lane, as one vehicle and help more and more cars pass a traffic
signal in a shorter time.

The cars will be fitted with proximity sensors and accelerometers as a fail-safe feature. The
traffic light upon turning green will signal the cars to start moving in tandem, at a uniform
distance from each other at a computer controlled speed. The distance and speed feedback
mechanism will be continuously controlled via sensors on the cars and at the traffic junction.
The algorithm will disallow unnecessary change of lane hence improving traffic flow.

Source: http://all-len-all.com/states-and-cities-try-smarter-signals-to-reduce-red-lights/

The sensors will be calibrated to safe threshold values so that the cars do not collide into
each other. Since the cars are all controlled by a computer system, in the case of a car
 breakdown, it will be more efficient for the algorithm to re-route the traffic accordingly and
even stop the traffic at any point of failure. In effect whole blocks/chunks of traffic will be able
to clear out from traffic junctions quickly, per traffic cycle.

The drivers will be given back manual control once the cars have cleared the traffic signal
and are moving at higher speeds. As new cars approach the signal from behind their control
will be taken over by the computer at the traffic signal and it will be guided to a suitable lane.

Initially, cars would be moving at a fixed distance; however, along the distance the velocity of the
cars infront will increase as the car moves forward, in effect creating more room between the cars.
This is necessary since we have to give back the control to the driver with ample time to adjust and
fair distance from the cars ahead and behind the car.

One would think that the cars need to be in the correct lane to facilitate the real-time system to
optimally move the cars. At the signals where standard rules are applied, cars will not be allowed to
break these rules. The applied constraints at the real-time system would ensure that the rules are
followed which could prove to be an additional benefit of our solution. The system would prove to be
highly efficient in avoiding accidents which are seen at rushy crossroads. An example of this
scenario could be car A turning right from second lane while car B going straight in parallel. To
avoid confusion or any mishap, the system will assign priority clearance to one car according to
traffic at the signal.

A step to this automation is detecting the presence of a car on the signal. Automatic car detection
and real time traffic light duration adjustments are made. The trick in this case would be detecting
position of the car. This could be achieved by use of sensors and wireless communication
mechanism. The digital image processing from the front cameras of the cars will be used for the
cars onboard computer to sense the state of the signal, this would make sure that the car does not
jump or unnecessarily wait at the signal. The real-time system would form a map/image of the cars
at the signal, which it can use to control its maneuvering in coordination and relation to the other
vehicles.

In the nutshell a smart and synchronous traffic flow will be achieved helping relieve high traffic
scenarios safely and much more efficiently.

4. What type of mock up are you considering and how do you plan to build it? (half a
page)

We aim to first simulate the traffic scenario, with the traffic light assist algorithm; and without it. We
will be refining the algorithm based on the results we get from the simulations. We will be using
software including but not limited to MATLAB, Modelica and Simulink for the purpose.

In the next phase we aim to build microcontroller based robots (to model the traffic) by networking
them with an array of sensors such as proximity sensors, accelerometers and light sensors (for
detecting traffic light change) etc. These robots will be made to simulate real cars at a traffic
junction. The algorithm will be able to coordinate the robots during their flow and we can optimize
their action for distance and velocity control to achieve the most efficient results.

PIC or Arduino micro controllers will be used with pre-made robot chassis. The microcontrollers will
be programmed to make the robots flow in a life like traffic scenario. The feedback mechanism
based on the sensors will maintain safe proximity and will only initiate flow when the green light from
the traffic signal is detected.

Our team has built several robots before and has vast experience with programming, design,
hardware, and microcontrollers. Some of our previous projects include: Maze solving and ball
potting robot, a robot for robowars, RoboDog security rover, firefighting robot, pod for the SpaceX
Hyperloop pod design competition, hand mounted transceiver circuits etc.