Vehicle Sensing and Communications using LED Headlights to Enhance the Performance of Intelligent Transportation Systems: Proof of Concept, Implementation, and Applications

Through the application of sensors, communications, and information technology, intelligent transportation systems (ITS) offer proven solutions and strategies for improving transportation safety, mobility, and environmental sustainability. However, existing vehicle-sensing/tracking and communications technologies suffer from certain limitations and disadvantages that can degrade the quality of information obtained from these systems in various environments. One possible solution is to use light emitting diode (LED) headlights, which are increasingly common to most vehicle manufacturers, to transmit information without a notable effect on the visibility of objects or the human eye. This can be made possible through modulation, where LED headlights can be switched on and off fast enough to transmit data. Therefore, LED vehicle headlights have great potential for sensing and communication purposes in ITS applications due to: 1) availability of the LEDs (hardware) in vehicles, 2) unique properties of visible light optical propagation, 3) immunity to the electromagnetic interference, 4) operation in unlicensed bands, 5) inherent safety and security, and 6) high degree of spatial confinement that allows high reuse factor. As such, this project will investigate the use of vehicle LED headlamp devices for improving the accuracy and reliability of traffic data measurements required for developing effective ITS technologies and solutions. The research team considers utilization of vehicle’s LEDs’ lights as a complementary and/or an alternative technology to current RF wireless communications and image-based data acquisition methods for ITS applications.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • 18ITSOKS01

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Completed
• Funding: $141400
• Contract Numbers:

  69A3551747106

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Department of Transportation

  Intelligent Transportation Systems Joint Program Office
  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590

  Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology

  University Transportation Centers Program
  Department of Transportation
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Managing Organizations:

  Department of Transportation

  Intelligent Transportation Systems Joint Program Office
  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590

  Transportation Consortium of South-Central States (Tran-SET)

  Louisiana State University
  Baton Rouge, LA  United States  70803
• Project Managers:

  Ahmed, Samir

• Performing Organizations:

  Oklahoma State University, Stillwater

  School of Civil & Environmental Engineering
  207 Engineering South
  Stillwater, OK  United States  74078
• Principal Investigators:

  Ekin, Sabit

  Ahmed, Samir

• Start Date: 20180315
• Expected Completion Date: 20190915
• Actual Completion Date: 20190915
• USDOT Program: University Transportation Centers

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Data collection; Headlamps; Information processing; Information technology; Intelligent transportation systems; Light emitting diodes; Speed detectors; Traffic data; Wireless communication systems
• Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Highways; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01664118
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Transportation Consortium of South-Central States (Tran-SET)
• Contract Numbers: 69A3551747106
• Files: UTC, RIP
• Created Date: Mar 18 2018 7:15PM