- by Bill Bunson
Radar could prevent motorway pileups
05 February 2003: Early-warning radar beacons for motorways could prevent motorway pile-ups in fog or rain, according to researchers.
The devices are being developed at an American university. They are similar to reflective road studs and are placed alongside traffic lanes to constantly monitor the speed of passing vehicles.
If they sense rapidly slowing or stationary cars, they flash a particular colour alerting drivers to the conditions ahead.
The designers say the beacons could also designate evacuation routes, moving traffic away to clear access for emergency vehicles. They might also be used to control vehicle flow at traffic lights, adjusting red and green signals automatically to clear build-up from a busy direction.
The system relies on ultra-wideband radar, which broadcasts very rapid pulses at passing traffic and measures the time it takes for each signal to bounce back.
Dave Bloomquist, a member of the development team at the University of Florida at Gainesville said: “The radar sends out billions of pulses each second. This means the volume and speed of the traffic is not a problem.''
Units would be placed along the roadside at intervals of just over 30 metres and would monitor the traffic continuously. Each beacon would be powered by a solar cell and back-up battery, and would be able to display green, red and yellow lights.
Collected data could also be used to measure traffic volume, helping road planners work out future transport policies.
They are hoping to have a prototype system up and running within the next year to 18 months.
The beacons could cost as little as E22 each.
©2003 irishcar.com