SMS (Speed Monitoring System) Collin Smythe Paul Rice Laura Deaner Alex Cancado Presenters: C.L. Murphy Rob Floodeen

Societal Problem People tend not to pay attention to the speed they are driving, particularly when they have to slow down for school zones Speeding in school zones causes too many pedestrian injuries and/or fatalities People tend not to pay attention to the speed they are driving, particularly when they have to slow down for school zones Speeding in school zones causes too many pedestrian injuries and/or fatalities

A Serious Problem? Largest number: collisions involving kids (ages 5 to 19) between 3 and 4 pm (State of Washington, 1990 – 1995)

A Serious Problem? Motor vehicle crashes - #1 cause of death for children ages 5 to 18 in the U.S – 758 children (ages 5 to 17) were injured and 11 killed in school zones in Washington 1998 – 66% of the total pedestrian fatalities in the U.S. were under the age of 20 Motor vehicle crashes - #1 cause of death for children ages 5 to 18 in the U.S – 758 children (ages 5 to 17) were injured and 11 killed in school zones in Washington 1998 – 66% of the total pedestrian fatalities in the U.S. were under the age of 20

Proposed Solution Provide an inexpensive, portable system that will increase driver awareness of speeding in school zones and other critical areas Provide an inexpensive, portable system that will increase driver awareness of speeding in school zones and other critical areas

Major Objectives Reduce the number of accidents in school zones Increase compliance to speed limit without ticketing Increase awareness of speeding in areas with many pedestrians Provide an inexpensive but reliable means of safety Reduce the number of accidents in school zones Increase compliance to speed limit without ticketing Increase awareness of speeding in areas with many pedestrians Provide an inexpensive but reliable means of safety

How SMS Works Cars pass over tubes on the road – the tubes send signals back to a processing box The box outputs to a road sign, similar to this one – the sign displays speed

SMS Design Advantages Less maintenance than radar Works in the rain No calibration required Speed readings are more reliable than radar Cancer-free system Less maintenance than radar Works in the rain No calibration required Speed readings are more reliable than radar Cancer-free system

Major Functional Components Software o 2 drivers (for 2 interfaces) o Processing module Documentation (reference manual) Sensor cables o 2 road tubes for each lane of traffic Processing box o 1 serial port (for sign interface) o 4 air-switches (for tube interface) o 1 easily accessible user interface Keypad LCD display Road display sign

How Processing Box Works Captures the air pulses from the tubes Calculates the car’s speed Calculates the display time for that speed Sends the output to the display sign Translates those pulses into digital signals

Processing Box Specs Operating Temperature: -30C to +70C Charging: Sealed rechargeable gel cell, lasts 10 hours Communications: Serial port, K baud Clock: Real time clock w/ lithium battery backup Internal Memory: 22K RAM (standard)

Processing Box Case 12-button keypad 4 x 16 alpha-numeric LCD Lockable sheet metal housing Material: Aluminum, painted – durable sheet metal housing Dimensions: 7.8"L x 8.2"W x 5.2"H Weight: 9.5 lbs, with battery

Display Sign ATV Speed Display Sign, from Decatur Electronics: 2 10-inch-tall mechanical digits Flip-up “YOUR SPEED” sign

Other (Possible) Display Signs Any sign with a serial port interface can be used – only a new device driver would be required This is an example of a trailer hitch that we plan on using Larger signs may be needed for some areas:

Road Tubes & Switches Placed on the road Sends signal to air-switch Captures tube signal Generates an electric pulse

Typical SMS Layout 2 systems are required for 2-way traffic Each box supports a maximum of 2 lanes 2 road tubes required for each lane *Highest speed is displayed

Setting Up SMS

Is SMS Worth It? By increasing driver awareness, SMS will help decrease the number of serious accidents

- Why Bother? - Safer children in school zones After an accident, Cox High School is installing an expensive system of flashing lights in its zone ($86,000)

Required Resources Computers $1,200 x 3 Set of road tubes (dependent upon number of lanes) $50 Processing box (including CPU / board) $525 Display sign $1,000 - $2,500 Computer Engineer $29,000 Programmer $18,000 Tester $3,200 Technical Writer $7,920 Marketing $20,000

Estimated Salaries

Estimated Hours

Average Total Cost

-Projected Milestones- Hand Out Hire Staff Software Development Test, Test, more Tests Finish Documentation and ship Hire Staff Software Development Test, Test, more Tests Finish Documentation and ship

Project Risks Road tube specification and/or sign specification might be changed For several lanes and lots of cars, our single display sign might not be as effective as we would like Stopping traffic to set up system might be troublesome Road tube specification and/or sign specification might be changed For several lanes and lots of cars, our single display sign might not be as effective as we would like Stopping traffic to set up system might be troublesome

Possible Funding Agencies IDEA (Innovations Deserving Exploratory Analysis) Programs Managed by the Transportation Research Board Provide start-up funding for promising but unproven surface transportation systems Allstate Foundation AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety IDEA (Innovations Deserving Exploratory Analysis) Programs Managed by the Transportation Research Board Provide start-up funding for promising but unproven surface transportation systems Allstate Foundation AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety

References Web Sites: Interviews: Jim Ball, from MetroCount Osborne Jones, from MetroCount City of VA Beach Santa Fe Systems Dennis Ray