Thermal cameras to turn lights green for cyclists

godtabh

Link


Technology at its best!

Only problem is many cyclists dont actually stop at red lights (so I am told!)

Interesting idea. SCOOT and similar technologies can be very effective at smoothing out congestion on the road network. The idea is that every one gets an equal opportunity based on arrival rates to the junction. Manages flows much better.

Alek

Why thermal? This may increase the cost a lot! With modern image recognition technology a normal imaging camera should be sufficient to tell a motorcyclist from a cyclist. And it is aimed at the cycle lane after all.

ballooba

I find at some junctions I have to lean off the bike and press the pedestrian button, otherwise I have to wait for a car to trigger the lights.

Rojo

ballooba wrote: »

I find at some junctions I have to lean off the bike and press the pedestrian button, otherwise I have to wait for a car to trigger the lights.

Yes, benildus avenue leading on to drummartin link road is a nightmare for this!

BoardsMember

The cross roads in Glencullen, you could be there for an eternity having come up devils elbow or from blue light.

Lumen

Alek wrote: »

Why thermal?

Because cyclists are hot.

Alek

Touché !

rollingscone

Alek wrote: »

Touché !

That's enough touchy touchy out of you. Remember what the judge said.

godtabh

Lumen wrote: »

Because cyclists are hot.

I'm average looking at best

Civilian_Target

Alek wrote: »

Why thermal? This may increase the cost a lot! With modern image recognition technology a normal imaging camera should be sufficient to tell a motorcyclist from a cyclist. And it is aimed at the cycle lane after all.

Even on a recumbent tandem?

m5ex9oqjawdg2i

After a recent experience at a traffic light near my workplace. I understand that there are some scenarios which encourage cyclists to break red lights. I am at a T junction turning right. I am before the white line at the front. The arrow for left turning vehicles turns green, but my arrow remained red. Whatever system which is being used at this junction did not pick me up and trigger the green light. Had to wait for a car to pull up behind me before it worked. It's not the first time it happened, but it was much more noticable.

ted1

Alek wrote: »

Why thermal? This may increase the cost a lot! With modern image recognition technology a normal imaging camera should be sufficient to tell a motorcyclist from a cyclist. And it is aimed at the cycle lane after all.

Thermal wouldn't add much to the cost

Alek

Thermal wouldn't add much to the cost

Compared to regular digital sensors sensitive to visual spectrum, thermal (not infrared!) cameras are prohibitively expensive. We are looking at minimum 2000euro+ for a decent unit. AFAIK they also have to be thermally stabilized in outdoor applications, which adds to the cost.

(on the second thought... I can imagine a very low-res thermal camera can be perfectly fine for this purpose, and it would be definitely cheaper.)

slowcyclist

Lumen wrote: »

Because cyclists are hot.

I'm usually hot (and sweaty).

Atlantic Dawn

You need to just position your bike on the sensors in the road that the cars trigger the lights on, they are pressure sensitive.

CramCycle

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

You need to just position your bike on the sensors in the road that the cars trigger the lights on, they are pressure sensitive.

They are not pressure sensitive, they use an induction coil, unless extremely sensitive, many modern carbon bikes won't trigger them.

magicbastarder

or slightly less modern aluminium bikes.

CramCycle

magicbastarder wrote: »

or slightly less modern aluminium bikes.

If you get a nice Hub dynamo and they haven't buried it to far or made it too insensitive, it will do the job.

cruizer101

Just in relation to lights not changing there is a product for that. Here is a link to a review of one such product. In theory you could get a nice strong magnet and stick it on the bottom of your bike and it should help.
http://www.carbibles.com/productreviews_signalsorcerer.html