"An overhead Laser Scanner and a Doppler Radar provide an Accurate Vehicle Profile."

The laser profiling systems combine doppler radar and a overhead mounted laser scanner profilers to automatically classify vehicles into user defined categories (autos, trucks, buses, motorcycles, etc.).The TDS laser scanner based automatic vehicle profiling system also utilizes pattern recognition for class differentiation.

Data from the overhead scanner is used to form a matrix depiction of the vehicle as seen from the overhead position of the laser. The vehicle detection process is initiated when careful examination of the laser scanner output indicates the presence of a vehicle. During periods when no vehicle is being detected by the laser scanner, the processor periodically polls the laser scanner looking for any indication of a vehicle presence. When the curtain is penetrated, the processor uses velocity information from the Doppler radar to determine the position of the vehicle relative to the initial location point set by the curtain. Based upon this position, the laser scanner is polled at regular predefined distance intervals (as opposed to time). A complete set of data points is transmitted from the laser scanner to the signal/data processor at each sample distance. From this information a vehicle profile is generated. This process continues until the laser scanner no longer contains any indications of a vehicle. At that point the vehicle profile is terminated.

The real time flow of data from a treadle provides for the determination of axle distances from the front edge of the vehicle. The length of the vehicle is determined from the number of individual data sets that are recorded. A dual tire detector can also be added to the system in the event that dual tires play a role in the classification scheme.

Actual Profile - Single Lane Laser Profiler System

 

Development History

• 1999 -

  Transport Data Systems developed and tested an AVC system using a single overhead laser scanner, a Doppler radar and a four strip treadle. Using live traffic on the New Jersey Turnpike, the system demonstrated a classification accuracy of greater than 99.5%. This work was performed for MFS Transportation Systems as part of the Regional Consortium project. The application was written to run under the Lynx real time operating system on the MFS lane controller. In addition to classifying vehicles into the New Jersey Turnpike vehicle classes, the system provides vehicle separation and vehicle location to the lane controller for transaction bounding and violation enforcement camera triggering.




• 1999 -
  

  Transport Data Systems delivered a software application to use a single overhead laser scanner as a vehicle separator covering both lanes of a dual high speed lane. This work was performed for MFS Transportation Systems as part of the Regional Consortium project. The application was written to run under C-Executive real time operating system. The application provides vehicle separation and vehicle location to the lane controller for transaction bounding and violation enforcement camera triggering.

 

• 2000 -

  Transport Data Systems provided a software application to use a single overhead laser scanner as a vehicle separator covering both lanes of a dual high speed lane. This work was performed for MFS Transportation Systems as part of the Regional Consortium project. The application was written to run under the Lynx real time operating system. The application provides vehicle separation and vehicle location to the lane controller for transaction bounding and violation enforcement camera triggering.

BROCHURES

• Single Lane Modular Automatic Vehicle Classifier System.
• Combined AVC/VES System

TECHNICAL DESCRIPTIONS

Overhead Profilers

• Model 210 - Laser Scanner, Radar, Treadle
• Model 220 - Laser Scanner, Radar, Treadle, Dual Tire Detector
• Model 230 - Laser Scanner, Radar