SMS (Speed Monitoring System)SMS (Speed Monitoring System)

Collin Smythe

Paul Rice

Laura Deaner

Alex Cancado

Presenters:

C.L. Murphy

Rob Floodeen

Societal ProblemSocietal Problem

People tend not to pay attention to the speed they are driving, particularly when they have to slow down for school zones

Speeding in school zones causes too many pedestrian injuries and/or fatalities

People tend not to pay attention to the speed they are driving, particularly when they have to slow down for school zones

Speeding in school zones causes too many pedestrian injuries and/or fatalities

A Serious Problem?A Serious Problem?

Largest number: collisions involving kids (ages 5 to 19) between 3 and 4 pm(State of Washington, 1990 – 1995)

A Serious Problem?A Serious Problem?

Motor vehicle crashes - #1 cause of death for children ages 5 to 18 in the U.S.

1996 – 758 children (ages 5 to 17) were injured and 11 killed in school zones in Washington

1998 – 66% of the total pedestrian fatalities in the U.S. were under the age of 20

Motor vehicle crashes - #1 cause of death for children ages 5 to 18 in the U.S.

1996 – 758 children (ages 5 to 17) were injured and 11 killed in school zones in Washington

1998 – 66% of the total pedestrian fatalities in the U.S. were under the age of 20

Proposed SolutionProposed Solution

Provide an inexpensive, portable system that

will increase driver awareness of speeding

in school zones and other critical areas

Provide an inexpensive, portable system that

will increase driver awareness of speeding

in school zones and other critical areas

Major ObjectivesMajor Objectives

Reduce the number of accidents in school zones

Increase compliance to speed limit without ticketing

Increase awareness of speeding in areas with many pedestrians

Provide an inexpensive but reliable means of safety

Reduce the number of accidents in school zones

Increase compliance to speed limit without ticketing

Increase awareness of speeding in areas with many pedestrians

Provide an inexpensive but reliable means of safety

How SMS WorksHow SMS Works

Cars pass over tubes onthe road – the tubes sendsignals back to a processingbox

The box outputs to a roadsign, similar to this one –the sign displays speed

SMS Design AdvantagesSMS Design Advantages

Less maintenance than radarWorks in the rain

No calibration required

Speed readings are more reliable than radar

Cancer-free system

Less maintenance than radarWorks in the rain

No calibration required

Speed readings are more reliable than radar

Cancer-free system

Major Functional ComponentsMajor Functional Components

• Softwareo 2 drivers (for 2 interfaces)o Processing module

• Documentation (reference manual)

• Sensor cableso 2 road tubes for each lane of traffic

• Processing boxo 1 serial port (for sign interface)o 4 air-switches (for tube interface)o 1 easily accessible user interface

• Keypad• LCD display

• Road display sign

How Processing Box WorksHow Processing Box Works

Captures the air pulses from the tubes

Calculates the car’s speed

Calculates the display time for that speed

Sends the output to the display sign

• Translates those pulses into digital signals

Processing Box SpecsProcessing Box Specs

Operating Temperature: -30C to +70C

Charging: Sealed rechargeable gel cell, lasts 10 hours

Communications: Serial port, 2400-115K baud

Clock: Real time clock w/ lithium battery backup

Internal Memory: 22K RAM (standard)

Processing Box CaseProcessing Box Case

12-button keypad

4 x 16 alpha-numeric LCD

Lockable sheet metal housing

Material: Aluminum, painted – durable sheet metal housingDimensions: 7.8"L x 8.2"W x 5.2"HWeight: 9.5 lbs, with battery

Display SignDisplay Sign

ATV Speed Display Sign, from Decatur Electronics:

• 2 10-inch-tall mechanical digits

• Flip-up “YOUR SPEED” sign

Other (Possible) Display SignsOther (Possible) Display Signs

Any sign with a serial port interfacecan be used – only a new devicedriver would be required

This is an exampleof a trailer hitch thatwe plan on using

Larger signs may be needed for some areas:

Road Tubes & SwitchesRoad Tubes & Switches

• Placed on the road• Sends signal to air-switch

• Captures tube signal• Generates an electric pulse

Typical SMS LayoutTypical SMS Layout

2 systems are requiredfor 2-way traffic

Each box supports a maximum of 2 lanes

2 road tubes required for each lane

*Highest speed is displayed

Setting Up SMSSetting Up SMS

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

1.

Is SMS Worth It?Is SMS Worth It?

By increasingdriver awareness,SMS will helpdecrease thenumber of seriousaccidents

- Why Bother? -- Why Bother? -

Safer children in school zones

After an accident, Cox High School is installingan expensive system of flashing lights inits zone ($86,000)

Required ResourcesRequired Resources

• Computers$1,200 x 3

• Set of road tubes (dependent upon number of lanes)

$50• Processing box (including CPU / board)

$525• Display sign

$1,000 - $2,500

• Computer Engineer$29,000

• Programmer$18,000

• Tester$3,200

• Technical Writer$7,920

• Marketing$20,000

Estimated SalariesEstimated Salaries

0

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

30,000

C.E.

Program

Tester

Marketing

Writer

C.E.ProgramTesterMarketingWriter

Estimated HoursEstimated Hours

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

C.E. Program Tester Writer

C.E.

Program

Tester

Writer

Average Total CostAverage Total Cost

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

$200 $500 $800

ATCW/OSmallLarge

-Projected Milestones-Hand Out

-Projected Milestones-Hand Out

Hire Staff

Software Development

Test, Test, more Tests

Finish Documentation and ship

Hire Staff

Software Development

Test, Test, more Tests

Finish Documentation and ship

Project RisksProject Risks

Road tube specification and/or sign specification might be changed

For several lanes and lots of cars, our single display sign might not be as effective as we would like

Stopping traffic to set up system might be troublesome

Road tube specification and/or sign specification might be changed

For several lanes and lots of cars, our single display sign might not be as effective as we would like

Stopping traffic to set up system might be troublesome

Possible Funding AgenciesPossible Funding Agencies

IDEA (Innovations Deserving Exploratory Analysis) Programs

Managed by the Transportation Research Board

Provide start-up funding for promising but unproven surface transportation systems

Allstate Foundation

AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety

IDEA (Innovations Deserving Exploratory Analysis) Programs

Managed by the Transportation Research Board

Provide start-up funding for promising but unproven surface transportation systems

Allstate Foundation

AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety

ReferencesReferences

Web Sites:

www.metrocount.com

www.askca.com

www.nhtsa.dot.gov

www.comfutureil.com

www.jamartech.com

Interviews:

Jim Ball, from MetroCount

Osborne Jones, from MetroCount

City of VA Beach

Santa Fe Systems

Dennis Ray