TESTING OF THE TAPESWITCH SYSTEM FOR DETERMINING VEHICLE SPEED AND LATERAL PLACEMENT (ABRIDGEMENT)

The tests are described and the results are discussed of research to evaluate the use of a pressure-sensitive electrical strip-switch, or tapeswitch detector, to simultaneously record vehicle speed and lateral placement. Three different tests were run on the tapeswitch system that simultaneously records vehicle speed and lateral placement. In the first test, the tapeswitch system was compared with time-lapse photography for recording vehicle placement and radar meter for recording speed. The tapeswitch system results are more precise for both parts of the test. This test also determined that, of the two geometric configurations tested, the extended tapeswitch system gives better results. In the second test, vehicle speed recorded by the tapeswitch system was compared with vehicle speed recorded by a towed fifth wheel. Placement was compared by using the tapeswitch system and a fine powder spread on the ground. Again, compatibility in both cases was obtained. The third test consisted of a theoretical error analysis that determined that the maximum likely error in speed was less than 0.8 km/h (0.5 mph) and error in placement was less than (61 mm) 0.2 ft. Both of these results are well within acceptable limits. Therefore, the tapeswitch system has proved to be an accurate means for obtaining vehicle speed and lateral placement simultaneously.

• Record URL:
  http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1976/615/615-001.pdf
• Summary URL:
  http://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=TESTING+OF+THE+TAPESWITCH+SYSTEM+FOR+DETERMINING+VEHICLE+SPEED+AND+LATERAL+PLACEMENT+(ABRIDGEMENT)&author=B.+Byrne&author=R.+Roberts&author=L.+King&author=R.+Arbogast&publication_year=1976
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• Supplemental Notes:
  • Publication of this paper sponsored by Committee on Highway Capacity and Quality of Service. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
• Authors:
  • Byrne, Bernard F
  • Roberts, Robert R
  • King, L Ellis
  • Arbogast, Ronald G
• Conference:
  • 55th Annual Meeting of the Transportation Research Board
  • Location: Washington District of Columbia, United States
  • Date: 1976-1-19 to 1976-1-23
• Publication Date: 1976

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Figures; References;
• Pagination: pp 1-3
• Monograph Title: Capacity and measurement of effectiveness
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 615
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Lateral placement; Motor vehicles; Radar devices; Speed; Testing; Time lapse photography; Traffic speed; Vehicle detectors
• Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00162975
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309025915
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Oct 13 1977 12:00AM