THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF A SELF-TUNING VEHICLE DETECTOR FOR TRAFFIC SIGNALS

A solution to the problem of loop detectors going out-of-tune due to the deterioration of the road structure is proposed and results from an experimental installation at a junction in Portswood, Southampton are discussed. The self-tuning detector measures the change in inductance due to the presence of a metal object and automatically retunes and relocks itself as loop characteristics change due to environmental conditions. Thus the life of the equipment can be prolonged by the use of preventative maintenance. The road surface was poor and all the existing loops had developed a low impedance to ground at the experimental site. Using the self-tuning system on the existing loops has resulted in the continued use of all but two of the 13 detectors. As the typical retune time is eight seconds, the detector is inoperative only for a very short period. It does however give a demand and fault output when retuning. The number of retunes varies considerably between detectors, presumably because of the bad site conditions. It should be possible to significantly extend the life of new detectors by using the system, offsetting the move to microwave detection.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/00410683
• Corporate Authors:

  Printerhall Limited

  29 Newmart Street
  London W1P 3PE,   England 
• Authors:
  • BAKER, C S
  • Jefferis, B
• Publication Date: 1982-5

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References;
• Pagination: p. 272-274
• Serial:
  • Traffic Engineering & Control
  • Volume: 23
  • Issue Number: 5
  • Publisher: Hemming Group, Limited
  • ISSN: 0041-0683
  • Serial URL: http://www.tecmagazine.com/

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Automatic control; Automation; Durability; Engine tuning; Loop detectors; Sensors; Traffic signals; Urban areas; Vehicle detectors; Vehicles
• Geographic Terms: United Kingdom
• Old TRIS Terms: Tuning
• ITRD Terms: 3882: Automatic; 6120: Sensor; 565: Traffic signal; 8119: United Kingdom; 313: Urban area; 1255: Vehicle
• Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Vehicles and Equipment; I73: Traffic Control;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00368771
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• Report/Paper Numbers: HS-033 310
• Files: HSL, ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Nov 30 1982 12:00AM