Field Operational Test of a new Delay-Based Traffic Signal Control Using C2I Communication Technology

Kurzfassung

This paper presents the setup of a field operation test of a novel delay-based traffic signal control. That signal control utilizes vehicles’ delay times for the green time adjustment. The delay times in this test are measured by C2I-equipped test vehicles and are transmitted to a common signal controller. The signal controller is upgraded with a road side unit (RSU). The RSU includes a communication and an application unit. The communication unit is required to receive the communication telegrams from the vehicles with their coded delay times. The delay-based control logic is executed on the application unit which is basically a small computer. The RSU is linked to the signal controller via one of the controller’s standard interfaces. The utilized interface is a port which is usually used for connecting induction loops with the signal controller. The delay-based signal control sends an impulse from the RSU to the induction loop port to trigger the signal controller for a phase change. The test site is located at the non-public property of the German Aerospace Center (DLR) in the city of Braunschweig, using the facilities of the Application Platform for Intelligent Mobility (AIM). Test cases are defined to evaluate if the control logic reacts in the expected way. The overall objective of the field operational test is to prove the technical feasibility of the delay-based control by applying only standard equipment. The successful proof is the requirement for a continuative and extensive field operational test in the public space which will investigate the control’s impacts on traffic flow, waiting times and emissions.