Personal Freeway Assistant.
An Information-as-a-Service data feed bringing dynamic roadway sign information directly to the driver.
What problem does the Personal Freeway Assistant solve?
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Our Personal Freeway Assistant brings freeway information to the driver in their dashboard or via our mobile app. Dynamic lane control and speed limits ease the flow of traffic, but adaptive cruise control relies on cameras for sign status. With PFA, we provide 99% sign information accuracy updated automatically.
Active Traffic Management (ATM) for freeways, including dynamic lane control and dynamic speed limits, has become the tool of choice for stabilizing freeway traffic flow over the last 30 years. The implementation of speed funnels ahead of hazardous locations (i.e., incidents, road works, etc.) resulted in significant safety benefits. To date, ATM systems have been installed on approximately 20% of European freeways. |
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Isn't there already a solution to capture dynamic speed limits?
While image recognition technology does enable certain vehicles to interpret dynamic freeway signs, our cloud-based platform delivers the same information regardless of inclement weather or camera capture. Knowing vehicle position and trajectory, we are able to deliver the relevant information to drivers when they need it.
Many newer vehicles are equipped with automatic traffic sign recognition systems. Image recognition techniques process the video streamed from the vehicle’s cameras to identify speed limits and visualize them to the driver. However, this self-contained technology has its limits given visual blockages by surrounding vehicles and the inability to capture signs in overhead or roadside positions with more than 3 travel lanes. Furthermore, advance knowledge of dynamic speed zones has the potential for significant fuel savings.
Many newer vehicles are equipped with automatic traffic sign recognition systems. Image recognition techniques process the video streamed from the vehicle’s cameras to identify speed limits and visualize them to the driver. However, this self-contained technology has its limits given visual blockages by surrounding vehicles and the inability to capture signs in overhead or roadside positions with more than 3 travel lanes. Furthermore, advance knowledge of dynamic speed zones has the potential for significant fuel savings.
What about the requirements for autonomous driving?
The TTS platform serves as a fail-safe information stream to autonomous vehicles that rely primarily on cameras, lidar, and other image-based processing technologies for navigation and safety. Our cloud-based platform equips autonomous vehicles with lane geometry, traffic signal changes, speed limits, and other information in any driving condition, and when image capture is blocked by large vehicles or poor weather.
Any vehicle driving in full-autonomous or semi-autonomous mode needs to observe regulatory speed limits and lane closures. However, current error rates associated with camera-based image processing are too high and thus do not permit such operation. Furthermore, court admissible logs of sign status at time of vehicle passing must be maintained. This cannot be guaranteed through camera-based systems alone.
Any vehicle driving in full-autonomous or semi-autonomous mode needs to observe regulatory speed limits and lane closures. However, current error rates associated with camera-based image processing are too high and thus do not permit such operation. Furthermore, court admissible logs of sign status at time of vehicle passing must be maintained. This cannot be guaranteed through camera-based systems alone.
How Does It Work?Working with SuppliersData suppliers for this product are the State DOTs and their traffic management centers where operators or automated algorithms can define sign settings and all states are archived for potential use in court. The TTS cloud captures the live status data directly from the traffic management centers and transfers it to our clients’ backends together with the geo-referenced location of their corresponding gantry.
Working with PartnersTTS works closely with industry leaders to ensure stable and reliable data access to the respective regional traffic management centers. One of the technology leaders in this space is Heusch/Boesefeldt GmbH, who serves as our primary partner for Germany and Austria.
CommunicationsTTS receives current states of each dynamic lane control sign according to the update frequency of the respective ATM system. Typically, this means that states are regularly updated every 15 seconds for tunnel management, 60 seconds for dynamic lane control, and 15 minutes for dynamic route guidance. Furthermore, TTS instantaneously receives and provides push notification for event-based control switches (e.g. lane closure in response to an accident).
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Developing the Technology
The foundation for this technology is a fast data transmission from traffic management center to TTS Cloud and from there to the customer backend. To accomplish this task, we rely on high performant interfaces and data connections.
Delivering the Product
Personal Freeway Assistant includes real-time sign control status as well as the geo-referenced location of each gantry and sign to travel lane assignment, all accessible via the cloud.
Deployment
TTS is initially rolling out its Personal Freeway Assistant service for Germany, Austria, the Netherlands and Belgium. The Personal Freeway Assistant will include all ATM and tunnel management systems within these geographic boundaries. Over the next few years, the service will be expanded to Switzerland, UK and Spain, with other European countries to follow afterwards.
How Can Customers Consume This Service
Display options by far exceed those for camera-based systems as the provided information not only includes the status in effect at the current driver location, but also for downstream of the current location. Furthermore, the driver sees any lane closures well in advance and truck drivers benefit from advance notification of dynamic passing bans. Overall, infotainment solutions based on Personal Freeway Assistant allow drivers to proactively adapt their driving strategy regarding speed and lane choice and thus reduce driving stress and save fuel or extend their electric drive range.
InfotainmentThe simplest of applications is visualizing Personal Freeway Assistant data to the driver. This provides the driver with information such as:
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Engine Management and Powertrain Efficiency
Personal Freeway Assistant data has the potential to significantly increase powertrain efficiency when directly integrated with the vehicle’s engine management. This holds especially true for trucks and passenger cars with electric or hybrid (including new 48V) powertrains with regenerative energy storage capacity. Advance knowledge of downstream speed limits allows for a more balanced and thus efficient speed profile resulting in noticeable fuel savings.
Routing Services
Personal Freeway Assistant data provides actionable information for dynamic routing and micro routing applications. This includes obvious elements such as dynamic route guidance system input, but also information about dynamic speed limit, lane closures, and hard shoulder running, all having direct and explicit impact on the expected travel time.
Ready to learn more?To learn more about our services and partnership opportunities, provide your preferred contact information, including time and timezone. We look forward to connecting with you.
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