VEHICLE AXLE DETECTOR BASED ON NON-CONTACT DETECTION

PACIFIC-SIERRA RESEARCH PROPOSES TO DEVELOP A NOVEL SENSOR MODULE FOR COUNTING VEHICLE AXLES ON ROADWAYS. THIS SENSOR WOULD NOT REQUIRE ANY MODIFICATIONS TO THE ROADBED, AND COULD BE SAFELY SETUP WITHOUT IMPEDING TRAFFIC EVEN TEMPORARILY. THE SENSOR WILL DETECT THE AXLES ON MULTIPLE LANE HIGHWAYS AND KEEP THE SEPARATE LANE COUNTS DISTINCT. THIS ROADWAY LAND AXLE DETECTOR (LAD) IS BASED ON EXISTING COMMERCIAL DETECTORS USING PSR PROPRIETARY TECHNIQUES. THESE NON-CONTACT SENSORS WILL BE VERY RELIABLE, SINCE THERE IS NO WEAR OR DAMAGE DUE TO ACCELERATION OR HIGH VEHICLE WEIGHT. THESE SMALL, INEXPENSIVE, AND LOW TECHNICAL RISK SENSORS WILL REDUCE THE PRODUCTION COSTS OF THE LAD SYSTEM, SO THAT IT CAN BE COMMERCIALIZED QUICKLY. THE SENSOR WILL BE A LOW PROFILE PACKAGE FOR EASY DEPLOYMENT WITHOUT CREATING A DANGEROUS OBSTACLE TO VEHICLES. REDUNDANCY WILL MAKE IT RESISTANT TO DEBRIS, AND THE UNIT WILL BE COMPATIBLE WITH ROAD MAINTENANCE VEHICLES LIKE STREET SWEEPERS AND SNOW REMOVAL TRUCKS. THE SENSOR OUTPUT WILL BE EQUIVALENT TO THAT FROM TAPESWITCHES. PSR PROPOSES TEAMING WITH HUGHES TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS FOR DESIGN ASSISTANCE FOR PHASE I, SO AS TO ASSURE THAT A VIABLE PRODUCT DESIGN IS PRODUCED.