METHOD AND DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING TRAFFIC IN ORDER TO REDUCE AIR POLLUTION

Abstract

A method for controlling traffic in order to reduce air pollution includes reading in at least one pollution signal that represents at least one parameter of a movement of a vehicle in a predetermined relation to a threshold value and a geographical position of the vehicle; and, based on the pollution signal, outputting a change signal for changing at least one parameter of at least one infrastructure unit in surroundings of the position in order to control the traffic.

Claims

1-10. (canceled)

11. A method for controlling traffic to reduce air pollution, the method comprising: obtaining at least one pollution signal that represents at least one parameter of a movement of a vehicle in a predetermined relation to a threshold value and a geographical position of the vehicle; and based on the at least one pollution signal, outputting a change signal for changing at least one parameter of at least one infrastructure unit in surroundings of the position to control the traffic.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the at least one parameter includes a representation of a braking movement of the vehicle.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the at least one parameter includes a representation an acceleration or deceleration movement of the vehicle on an uphill grade.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the at least one pollution signals on which the outputting is based includes a plurality of pollution signals that are all associated with, within a tolerance range, the same geographical position.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the infrastructure unit includes a signal system.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the infrastructure unit includes a traffic control system.

17. The method of claim 11, further comprising generating, based on the obtained at least one pollution signal, an electronic map including a representation of one or both of (a) the at least one parameter of the movement and (b) the geographical position relative to the map.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the map depicts a territorial unit.

19. A device for controlling traffic to reduce air pollution, the device comprising: at least one interface; and a processor; wherein the processor is configured to: obtain, via the at least one interface, at least one pollution signal that represents at least one parameter of a movement of a vehicle in a predetermined relation to a threshold value and a geographical position of the vehicle; and via the at least one interface and based on the at least one pollution signal, output a change signal for changing at least one parameter of at least one infrastructure unit in surroundings of the position to control the traffic.

20. A non-transitory computer-readable medium on which are stored instructions that are executable by a processor and that, when executed in the processor, causes the processor to perform a method for controlling traffic to reduce air pollution, the method comprising: obtaining at least one pollution signal that represents at least one parameter of a movement of a vehicle in a predetermined relation to a threshold value and a geographical position of the vehicle; and based on the at least one pollution signal, outputting a change signal for changing at least one parameter of at least one infrastructure unit in surroundings of the position to control the traffic.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a device for controlling traffic in order to reduce air pollution according to an example embodiment of the present invention.

[0020] FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a method for controlling traffic in order to reduce air pollution according to an example embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a method for creating a pollution map in order to identify at least one pollution site using a method for controlling traffic in order to reduce air pollution according to an example embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] FIG. 4 shows a visualization of pollution signals in a map according to an example embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a device 100 for controlling traffic in order to reduce air pollution according to an example embodiment of the present invention. Device 100 includes a read-in unit 120 and an output unit 125. Read-in unit 120 is designed for reading-in at least one pollution signal 130 that represents at least one parameter of a movement 132 of a vehicle 133 in a predetermined relation to a threshold value and a geographical position 135 of vehicle 133. Output unit 125 is designed for outputting a change signal 140 by utilizing pollution signal 130, change signal 140 being designed for changing at least one parameter of at least one infrastructure unit 142 in surroundings of position 135, in order to control the traffic.

[0024] According to this example embodiment, read-in unit 120 is designed for reading in a pollution signal 130, in the case of which the parameter of movement 132 of vehicle 133 represents a braking movement 145 of vehicle 133. According to this example embodiment, pollution signal 130 is output by a pollution device 150 of vehicle 133. According to this example embodiment, braking movement 145 is sensed by an acceleration sensor 152 of vehicle 133 and is made available for pollution device 150. Braking movement 145 is effectuated by a driver 155 of vehicle 133. According to this example embodiment, change signal 140 is output because read-in pollution signal 130 indicates that the braking movement has fallen below a threshold value of 2.5 m/s.sup.2. According to this example embodiment, change signal 140 is output to an infrastructure unit 142 in the form of a light signal system, whereby the light signal system is controlled from a red phase to a green phase.

[0025] According to an example embodiment, output unit 125 is designed for outputting a change signal 140 for changing a parameter of an infrastructure unit 142 in the form of a traffic control system.

[0026] In an example embodiment, read-in unit 120 can also be designed for reading in a pollution signal 130, in the case of which the parameter of movement 132 of vehicle 133 represents an acceleration or deceleration movement of vehicle 133 on an uphill grade. According to this example embodiment, output unit 125 is designed for outputting change signal 140 when at least a plurality of pollution signals 130, which encompass the same position 135 within a tolerance range, has been read in.

[0027] According to an example embodiment, output unit 125 or one further unit of device 100 is designed for generating, by utilizing the at least one pollution signal 130, a map signal for displaying and/or storing the parameter of movement 132 and/or position 135 in a map after pollution signal 130 has been read in. Such a map is represented in FIG. 4.

[0028] Described device 100 can also be referred to as a device for predicting local critical concentrations of vehicle emissions in order to smoothen road traffic.

[0029] Braking and starting are essential vehicle operating states, in which very high emissions are generated. Smoothing traffic flows, i.e., minimizing the braking operations, thereby directly results in a reduction of vehicle-induced air pollutants. Using a braking hot spot map in the form of the map, a traffic control center, for example, is directly capable of controlling, with the aid of device 100, the smoothness of the traffic flows, for example, via phase changes of infrastructure units 142 such as signal systems or traffic control systems. Acceleration values of vehicles 133 on uphill grades also provide indications of the amount of emissions. The vehicle movement data are updateable in short cycles and, therefore, are well suited for carrying out an evaluation across an entire city area and not only in a selective manner. This is the case because, when traffic flows are redirected, new peril points and locations having increased or critical emissions arise. Vehicle 133 is utilized in this case as an indirect sensor.

[0030] Further possible measures are a reduction of the vehicle speed either by way of the traffic control center or directly by way of speed recommendations, via device 100, concerning vehicles 133 networked by driver assistance systems. Further measures can be a shortening or lengthening of control phases of the signal systems. Direct feedback via instantaneous vehicle movement data is also possible. A change of the measures would therefore be immediately apparent. In this way, for example, a number of the forceful brake applications at a location within hours can be utilized as an indicator of whether the traffic-related measures result in an improvement. Moreover, emergency services can conduct an optimization of the deployment control based on the knowledge of accident-prone locations. This includes, for example, a stationing of emergency vehicles such as ambulances and/or emergency physicians based on the knowledge of the locations of frequent forceful brake applications.

[0031] FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a method 200 for controlling traffic in order to reduce air pollution according to an example embodiment. This can be a method 200 which is implementable by device 100 described with reference to FIG. 1. In a step 205 of reading-in, at least one pollution signal is read in, which represents at least one parameter of a movement of a vehicle in a predetermined relation to a threshold value and a geographical position of the vehicle. In an outputting step 210, a change signal is output by utilizing the pollution signal, the change signal being for changing at least one parameter of at least one infrastructure unit in surroundings of the position in order to control the traffic.

[0032] Optionally, method 200 includes a step 215 of generating, in which, by utilizing the at least one pollution signal, a map signal is generated, which is designed for displaying and/or storing the parameter of the movement and/or the position in a map, step 215 of generating being carried out in response to step 205 of reading-in.

[0033] FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a method 300 for controlling traffic in order to reduce air pollution including further optional steps according to an example embodiment. Step 210 can be step 210 of method 200 described with reference to FIG. 2. In a step 305, at least one present braking situation including, for example, brake applications more forceful than 2.5 m/s.sup.2, is ascertained from vehicle movement data by the pollution device described with reference to FIG. 1. In a step 310, a braking hot spot map is created and, for example, visualized, by the pollution device. Locations having increased braking activity, forcefulness, and number, are made available, in step 205, to the device, which was described with reference to FIG. 1, of the traffic control center or a provider for vehicle push services for driver assistance systems and the braking hot spot map is regularly updated in a step 320. In step 210, measures trigger, for example, a reduction of the vehicle speed, for example, via the device of the traffic control center, at the braking hot spots.

[0034] Due to the generation of such a braking hot spot map, the city or another entity for ensuring optimal traffic flow control is directly able to detect the entire urban area or location for which the traffic flow is to be optimized. Previously, only spot measurements were carried out at a few local points.

[0035] Moreover, measures (for example, changing the traffic routing) implemented by such an entity or city can also be directly evaluated with respect to their effect and, in fact, in a spatially larger area. By comparison, only delayed feedback and local individual measurements are possible nowadays, without being able to utilize synergetic effects.

[0036] Steps 325 and 330 represent further possible measures, for example, of the traffic control center. In step 325, an evaluation of the change of the local braking hot spots is carried out with respect to improvement or worsening. On the basis of this evaluation, step 210 can be carried out or adapted. In step 330, gathered information, for example, that braking is frequently carried out at a position due to the presence of a kindergarten, is utilized, for example, for construction site management or planning routes to school.

[0037] FIG. 4 shows a visualization of pollution signals 130 in a map 400 according to an example embodiment. This can be a plurality of instances of pollution signal 130 described with reference to FIG. 1. According to this example embodiment, this is a geographical map 400 of the city of Stuttgart, in which, for example, a plurality of pollution signals 130 over a period of time of two days is displayed. According to this example embodiment, pollution signals 130 can also be referred to as movement data, filtered according to more forceful braking operations including a position.

[0038] If an example embodiment includes an and/or linkage between a first feature and a second feature, this is intended to be read that an example embodiment includes both the first feature and the second feature and a further example embodiment includes either only the first feature or only the second feature.