Description:FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a traffic redirecting system that is capable of automating the process of redirecting traffic during roadwork or maintenance by selecting area of the road where construction work is to be conducted, without requiring much effort from the user, thereby providing an easy and efficient traffic redirection during roadwork or maintenance.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Managing road construction projects involves significant logistical challenges, particularly when it comes to directing traffic around construction zones. Road construction often necessitates the closure of lanes or entire sections of road. Redirecting traffic effectively requires careful planning to minimize disruptions and avoid creating bottlenecks. Ineffective traffic management leads to congestion, increased travel times, and frustration among drivers.

[0003] Traditionally, methods for rerouting traffic often rely on manually placed barricades and signage, which is time-consuming and prone to errors. These manual processes not only require considerable labor but also leave room for inconsistencies in the placement and effectiveness of traffic control measures. The complexity of modern roads, with their varying dimensions and configurations, adds another layer of difficulty to the task of effectively managing traffic flow during construction. Inaccurate or inefficient barricade placement leads to increased traffic congestion, safety hazards for both drivers and construction workers, and delays in the completion of construction projects.

[0004] WO2013006805A1 discloses the present invention is directed towards a method and system for redirecting roaming network traffic in an LTE network. The method includes observing a registration process of a subscriber in a visited network. The method further Includes upon successful registration, sending one or more messages to the visited network to induce a re-registration attempt by the subscriber to another visited network.

[0005] US20150106431A1 disclosed is a system for servers to redirect client requests to other servers in order to distribute client traffic among the servers. A client is assigned to a server although the client may be unaware of that assignment. When the client accesses a server, a server possibly identified to the client by a name service, the server checks the client's assignment. If the client is not assigned to this server, then in some scenarios this server redirects the client to its assigned server. The client responds by sending its request to the assigned server. In other scenarios, the first server accessed by the client proxies the client's traffic to the assigned server. A database is kept of client-to-server assignments. If the present load distribution is less than ideal (e.g., clients are assigned to an unavailable server), then the assignment database is updated to reflect how the load should be distributed.

[0006] Conventionally, there exists many systems that are capable of redirecting traffic during roadwork, however these existing systems are fails in providing a means to allow the user to select the particular area of the road where roadwork take place. In addition, these existing systems are also incapable of evaluates the dimensions of the selected area and determines the necessary resources.

[0007] In order to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks, there exists a need in the art to develop a systems that is need to be capable of offering an easy way of redirection while roadwork or maintenance conducted in accordance with user-selected area of the road. Furthermore, the developed systems required to be potent enough of monitoring dimensions of the area and traffic conditions and accordingly adjusts its guidance.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The principal object of the present invention is to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art.

[0009] An object of the present invention is to develop a device that is capable of providing a streamlining the process of diverting traffic, reducing the need for manual labor and minimizing the risk of human error, thereby providing an efficient solution for managing traffic flow during roadwork or maintenance.

[0010] Another object of the present invention is to develop a device that is capable of providing a user-friendly interface that allows users to easily select the specific area of the road where construction or maintenance will take place, thereby providing improved safety for drivers and workers.

[0011] Yet another object of the present invention is to develop a device that is capable of continuously monitoring traffic conditions and adjusts guidance and resource accordingly, ensuring optimal traffic flow and safety.

[0012] The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0013] The present invention relates to a traffic redirecting system that is capable of providing a user-friendly interface that redirects traffic during roadwork or maintenance by selecting the area of the road where construction work is conducted, thereby reducing the need for manual labor.

[0014] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a traffic redirecting system, comprising a housing developed to be positioned directly above the ground surface of the road where construction work is to be conducted, multiple motorized wheels are arranged beneath the housing for moving the housing across the road surface, an artificial intelligence based imaging unit installed on top of the housing to capture images of the road surface from the various angle, a touch interactive display panel mounted on the housing, providing a visual representation of the 3-Dimensional mapping of the road surface, which is evaluated by an inbuilt microcontroller as well as allowing the user to select a specific area where the construction work is to be conducted, a LiDAR sensor installed on the housing to measure the dimensions of the user-selected area, a primary and secondary barricading units are stored inside the housing for deployment and each barricading unit is equipped with a processing unit that receives commands from the microcontroller via wireless communication.

[0015] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the proposed device further comprises of a motorized track wheel is installed beneath the barricading units, enabling the units to move independently, an extendable plate equipped with each primary barricading unit to create a physical boundary around the user-selected area via a drawer arrangement, an extendable flap is equipped with each secondary barricading unit to form a periphery around the primary barricading units, a speaker installed on each of the secondary barricading units to produce clear voice commands to guide drivers navigating the road, a platform arranged with an opening via a motorized hinge joint that enables the primary and secondary barricading units to exit the housing, a pair of motorized grippers installed on the lateral sides of each primary barricading unit to grip the successive grippers of adjacent primary barricading units, a proximity sensor installed on each primary barricading unit for monitoring the distance between the unit and any approaching vehicle, multiple LED lights installed on each primary barricading unit, causing them to emit a bright red light and a battery is associated with the device to supply power to electrically powered components which are employed herein.

[0016] While the invention has been described and shown with particular reference to the preferred embodiment, it will be apparent that variations might be possible that would fall within the scope of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where:
Figure 1 illustrates an isometric view of a housing associated with a traffic redirecting system.
Figure 2 illustrates an isometric view of primary barricading unit associated with the proposed system; and
Figure 3 illustrates an isometric view of secondary barricading unit associated with the proposed system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] The following description includes the preferred best mode of one embodiment of the present invention. It will be clear from this description of the invention that the invention is not limited to these illustrated embodiments but that the invention also includes a variety of modifications and embodiments thereto. Therefore, the present description should be seen as illustrative and not limiting. While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative constructions, it should be understood, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific form disclosed, but, on the contrary, the invention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the claims.

[0019] In any embodiment described herein, the open-ended terms "comprising," "comprises,” and the like (which are synonymous with "including," "having” and "characterized by") may be replaced by the respective partially closed phrases "consisting essentially of," consists essentially of," and the like or the respective closed phrases "consisting of," "consists of, the like.

[0020] As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” designate both the singular and the plural, unless expressly stated to designate the singular only.

[0021] The present invention relates to a traffic redirecting system that is capable of offering an easy and efficient way of traffic redirection while roadwork or maintenance conducted by allowing a user to select area of the road, thereby minimizing the risk of human error.

[0022] Referring to Figure 1 and Figure 2, an isometric view of a traffic redirecting system is illustrated, comprising a housing 101, an artificial intelligence based imaging unit 102 installed over the housing 101, a touch interactive display panel 103 mapped over the housing 101, plurality of the primary and secondary barricading units 201, 301 stored within the housing 101, a motorized track wheel 202 is installed beneath each of the primary and secondary barricading units 201, 301 an extendable plate 203 configured with each of the primary barricading units 201, an extendable flap 302 configured with each of the secondary barricading units 301, a speaker 303 installed over each of the secondary barricading units 301, a platform 104 is configured with an opening crafted at the housing 101, a pair of motorized gripper 204 each installed with lateral sides of the primary barricading units 201 and plurality of LED lights 205 installed over each of the primary barricading units 201.

[0023] The device disclosed herein, comprises of a housing 101, which is a sturdy, weather-resistant enclosure that is positioned directly above the ground surface of the road where construction work is to be conducted. The housing 101 serves as the base structure of the system, providing stability on the surface, wherein multiple motorized wheels 202 are arranged underneath the housing 101 for allowing precise movement and translation of the housing 101 across the road surface, providing a smooth and stable motion as the housing 101 is repositioned to accommodate changing traffic patterns or construction zones.

[0024] An artificial intelligence based imaging unit 102 installed on top of the housing 101, designed to capture high-resolution images of the road surface from the various angle. The artificial intelligence based imaging unit 102 is constructed with a camera lens and a processor, wherein the camera lens is adapted to capture a series of images of the road surfaces. The processor carries out a sequence of image processing operations including pre-processing, feature extraction, and classification.

[0025] The image captured by the imaging unit 102 is real-time images of the road surface. The processed images are then transmitted to a microcontroller, which is linked with the processor uses this data to create a highly accurate 3-Dimensional mapping of the road surface. The mapping includes detailed information about the road's topography, including elevation, curvature, and surface texture.

[0026] After evaluating a 3-Dimensional mapping of the road, the microcontroller actuates a touch interactive display panel 103 mounted on the housing 101, providing a visual representation of the 3-Dimensional mapping of the road surface. The display panel 103 allows the user to intuitively select the specific area of the road where construction work is to be conducted, using touch gestures to define the boundaries of the work zone.

[0027] The touch interactive display panel 103 as mentioned herein is typically an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) screen that displays output in a visible form. The screen is equipped with touch-sensitive technology, allowing the user to interact directly with the display using their fingers. A touch controller IC (Integrated Circuit) is responsible for processing the analog signals generated when the user inputs details regarding the selection and area over the road over which the construction work is to be conducted.

[0028] The display panel 103 is synchronized with the imaging unit 102 and a LiDAR sensor installed on the housing 101, ensuring that the visual representation is accurate and up-to-date. The LiDAR sensor uses laser beam to measure the dimensions of the user-selected area, providing precise data on the length, width, and depth of the work zone.

[0029] The microcontroller processes this data, using artificial intelligence and machine learning protocol to determine the number of primary and secondary barricading units 201, 301 required to safely redirect traffic around the construction area. The microcontroller takes into account various factors, including the size and shape of the work zone, traffic volume, and speed limits, to ensure that the correct number and configuration of barricades are deployed. The primary and secondary barricading units 201, 301 are stored inside the housing 101, ready for deployment.

[0030] Each barricading unit is equipped with a processing unit that receives commands from the microcontroller via wireless communication, which allows for precise control and coordination of the barricading units. A motorized track wheel 202 is installed beneath the barricading units, enabling the units to move independently. The processing units direct the track wheels 202 to exit the housing 101 through a specially designed opening and position the barricades around the user-selected area. The track wheels 202 consist of rugged threads or cleats that provide traction to move the units out of the housing 101. The wheels 202 are connected to an electric motor which propels the units forward or backward. This allows the units to move efficiently across surfaces.

[0031] The motorized track wheels 202 provide smooth and precise movement, allowing the barricades to be accurately placed. The processing units continuously monitor the position and status of each barricade, ensuring that they are correctly deployed and functioning as intended.

[0032] As the barricades move into position, the barricades form a secure and visible boundary around the construction area, guiding traffic safely around the zone. The wireless communication between the processing units and microcontroller enables real-time monitoring and control, allowing for adjustments to be made as needed to ensure optimal traffic flow and safety. The efficient and coordinated deployment of the barricades minimizes disruption to traffic, reducing congestion and delays.

[0033] Each primary barricading unit is equipped with an extendable plate 203, designed to create a physical boundary around the user-selected area as per the detected dimensions of the area, extending to the required length to enclose the zone. The extensions of the extendable plate 203 is powered by a drawer arrangement equipped with plate 203.

[0034] The drawer arrangement consists of a drawer that typically slides on the rails inside the plate 203. These rails provide a smooth and stable path for the compression and expansion of the plate 203. When the microcontroller actuates the drawer arrangement, the motor starts rotating and the rotational motion is converted into linear motion through the use of gears. As the motor rotates, the drawer moves either outward or inward along the sliding rails. This expansion and compression increase and decreases the size of the plate 203 for forming a boundary around the detected dimensions of user-selected area.

[0035] The processing units, in synchronization with the microcontroller, command the track wheels 202 to position the primary barricading units 201 around the user-selected area. As the units move into place, the extendable plates 203 deploy, creating a continuous boundary that clearly defines the construction zone. As the primary barricading units 201 take position, the extendable plates 203 interlock to form a solid barrier, preventing vehicles from entering the construction area. The plates 203 surface is typically marked with high-visibility materials, further enhancing the visual warning to drivers.

[0036] Now, each secondary barricading unit is equipped with an extendable flap 302 to create a periphery around the primary barricading units 201. The flap 302 actuates to extend and form a path around the user-selected area, allowing vehicles to safely navigate around the construction zone. The extensions of the flap 302 is powered by a drawer arrangement to extend and retract the flap 302 for creating the periphery around the primary barricading units 201. The extendable flaps 302 are designed to be flexible and adjustable, allowing them to conform to different road shapes and sizes. The flaps 302 extension and retraction are precisely controlled by the processing units, ensuring accurate and consistent deployment.

[0037] The processing units command the track wheels 202 to position the secondary barricading units 301 around the primary barricading units 201 at a pre-defined distance, creating a buffer zone between the construction area and traffic flow. As the secondary units move into place, the extendable flaps 302 deploy, forming a continuous periphery that guides vehicles around the primary barricades.

[0038] The secondary barricading units 301, with their extendable flaps 302, work in synchronization with the primary barricades to create a clear and safe traffic path. The flaps 302 surface is typically marked with high-visibility materials, further enhancing the visual warning to drivers. The combination of primary and secondary barricades, with their extendable plates 203 and flaps 302, provides a comprehensive and effective traffic management solution, ensuring a safe and efficient flow of vehicles around the construction area.

[0039] A speaker 303 installed on each of the secondary barricading units 301 to produce clear and audible voice commands to guide drivers navigating the road. The speaker’s 303 primary function is to instruct drivers to follow the designated path around the construction area, ensuring a safer passage. The speaker 303 is capable of producing clear and natural sound and is capable of adjusting its volume based on ambient noise levels. The speaker 303 consists of audio information, which is in the form of recorded voice, synthesized voice, or other sounds, generated or stored as digital data.

[0040] This data is often in the form of an audio file. The digital audio data is sent to a digital-to-analog converter (DAC). The DAC converts the digital data into analog electrical signals. The analog signal is often weak and needs to be amplified. An amplifier boosts the strength to a level so that the speaker 303 drives it effectively. The amplified audio signal is then sent to the speaker 303. The core of the speaker 303 is an electromagnet attached to a flexible cone. These sound waves travel through the air as pressure waves and are picked by the user’s ear.

[0041] The microcontroller plays a crucial role in synchronizing the speaker's 303 voice commands with the state of the traffic lights 205 on the road by utilizing output from the imaging unit 102, the microcontroller continuously monitors the traffic lights 205 status, detecting changes in their color or pattern. Based on this real-time data, the microcontroller commands the speaker 303 to issue voice commands that align with the current traffic light status.

• For instance, if the traffic light turns red, the speaker 303 may instruct drivers to "Prepare to stop" or "Do not proceed." Conversely, when the light turns green, the speaker 303 may guide drivers to "Proceed with caution" or "Follow the detour path."

[0042] A platform 104 arranged with an opening that enables the primary and secondary barricading units 201, 301 to exit the housing 101. The opening is crafted with a motorized hinge joint, allowing the platform 104 to pivot and orient in an inclined manner. The microcontroller commands the motorized hinge joint to adjust the platform 104's angle, creating a smooth and efficient path for the barricading units to move out of the housing 101. The hinge joint consist of a pair of leaf that are connected with each other via a rod, wherein the rod is coupled with a motor that is interlinked with the microcontroller for adjusting the platform 104's angle to allow the barricading units to move out of the housing 101.

[0043] When the microcontroller signals the deployment of the barricading units, the platform 104 inclines, providing a gentle slope for the units to exit the housing 101. This inclined path ensures that the units move out of the housing 101 with minimal friction and resistance, reducing the risk of damage or jamming. As the barricading units exit the housing 101, the platform 104 returns to its original position, ready for the next deployment sequence.

[0044] A pair of motorized grippers 204 installed on the lateral sides of each primary barricading unit to actuate and grip the successive grippers 204 of adjacent primary barricading units 201, effectively connecting the units together. When the primary barricading units 201 are deployed, the motorized grippers 204 extend and engage with the grippers 204 on neighboring units, forming a secure and rigid connection. This connection enables the creation of a continuous barrier around the construction area, preventing vehicles from entering the zone.

[0045] A proximity sensor installed on each primary barricading unit, responsible for monitoring the distance between the unit and any approaching vehicle. The sensor continuously tracks the distance and sends real-time data to the microcontroller. When the monitored distance falls below a predetermined threshold value, indicating a potential collision risk, the microcontroller actuates multiple LED lights 205 installed on each primary barricading unit, causing them to emit a bright red light. The red light serves as a clear and attention-grabbing warning to drivers, alerting them to the reduced distance and potential hazard. The LED lights 205 are strategically positioned to provide maximum visibility, ensuring that drivers receive ample warning to adjust their speed or change course.

[0046] A battery is associated with the device to supply power to electrically powered components which are employed herein. The battery is comprised of a pair of electrode named as a cathode and an anode. The battery use a chemical reaction of oxidation/reduction to do work on charge and produce a voltage between their anode and cathode and thus produces electrical energy that is used to do work in the device.

[0047] The present invention work best in following manner, where the housing 101 developed to be positioned directly above the ground surface of the road where construction work is to be conducted, multiple motorized wheels 202 for moving the housing 101 across the road surface, the artificial intelligence based imaging unit 102 to capture images of the road surface from the various angle. After capturing, the touch interactive display panel 103 providing the visual representation of the 3-Dimensional mapping of the road surface, which is evaluated by the inbuilt microcontroller and allowing the user to select the specific area where the construction work is to be conducted, the LiDAR sensor measures the dimensions of the user-selected area, the primary and secondary barricading units 201, 301 are stored inside the housing 101 for deployment. Further, the processing unit that receives commands from the microcontroller via wireless communication, the motorized track wheel 202 enabling the units to move independently, the extendable plate 203 to create the physical boundary around the user-selected area via the drawer arrangement. Simultaneously, the extendable flap 302 to form the periphery around the primary barricading units 201, the speaker 303 to produce clear voice commands to guide drivers navigating the road, the platform 104 having the opening via the motorized hinge joint that enables the primary and secondary barricading units 201, 301 to exit the housing 101, the pair of motorized grippers 204 to grip the successive grippers 204 of adjacent primary barricading units 201, the proximity sensor for monitoring the distance between the unit and any approaching vehicle, multiple LED lights 205 causing them to emit the bright red light and the battery to supply power to electrically powered components which are employed herein.

[0048] Although the field of the invention has been described herein with limited reference to specific embodiments, this description is not meant to be construed in a limiting sense. Various modifications of the disclosed embodiments, as well as alternate embodiments of the invention, will become apparent to persons skilled in the art upon reference to the description of the invention. , Claims:1) A traffic redirecting system, comprising:

i) a housing 101 positioned over a ground surface of a road over which construction work is to be conducted, wherein multiple motorized wheels 202 arranged beneath said housing 101 that actuates to provide translation to said housing 101 over said surface as per requirement;
ii) an artificial intelligence based imaging unit 102 installed over said housing 101 and integrated with a processor for capturing and processing images of said road, wherein based on said captured images, a microcontroller linked with said processor evaluates a 3-Dimensional mapping of said road;
iii) a touch interactive display panel 103 mapped over said housing 101 to display said evaluated 3-D mapping in order to enable said user to select and area over said road over which said construction work is to be conducted, wherein an LiDAR sensor installed over said housing 101 and synced with said imaging unit 102 to monitor dimensions of said user-selected area based on which said microcontroller evaluates number of primary and secondary barricading units 201, 301 required for re-directing vehicles of said road;
iv) plurality of said primary and secondary barricading units 201, 301 stored within said housing 101 and commanded by a processing unit associated with each of said primary/secondary barricading units 201,301 and wirelessly linked with said microcontroller, wherein a motorized track wheel 202 is installed beneath each of said primary and secondary barricading units 201, 301 that are directed by said processing units to move out of said housing 101 via an opening crafted over said housing 101 and position around said user-selected area;
v) an extendable plate 203 configured with each of said primary barricading units 201 that actuates in accordance with said detected dimensions to extend and create a boundary around said user-selected area, wherein said processing units commands said track wheels 202 configured with said primary barricading units 201 to position said primary barricading units 201 around said user-selected area;
vi) an extendable flap 302 configured with each of said secondary barricading units 301 that actuates to extend and create a periphery around said primary barricading units 201 to create a path around said user-selected area for vehicles movement, wherein said processing units commands said track wheels 202 configured with said secondary barricading units 301 to position said secondary barricading units 301 around said primary barricading units 201 at a pre-defined distance; and
vii) a speaker 303 installed over each of said secondary barricading units 301 to produce a voice command to guide drivers of vehicle present over said road to follow said path for a safer passage, wherein said microcontroller based on output of said imaging unit 102 determines state of traffic lights 205 present over said road and accordingly commands said speaker 303 to guide movement of said vehicles accordingly.

2) The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein a platform 104 is configured with an opening crafted at said opening by means of a motorized hinge joint that is commanded by said microcontroller to orient said platform 104 in an inclined manner to provide a path for said primary and secondary barricading units 201, 301 to move out of said housing 101.

3) The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein a motorized drawer arrangement is installed in each of said plate 203 and flap 302 that are commended by said processing units to provide appropriate extension and retraction to said plate 203 and flap 302.

4) The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein a pair of motorized gripper 204 each installed with lateral sides of said primary barricading units 201 that actuates to grip successive gripper 204 of said primary barricading units 201 in order to connect said primary barricading units 201 with each other

5) The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein a proximity sensor is installed over each of said primary barricading units 201 to monitor distance of any of said vehicle and in case said monitored distance recedes a threshold value, said microcontroller actuates plurality of LED lights 205 installed over each of said primary barricading units 201 to emit red light to warn said drivers regarding said receded distance.

6) The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein a battery is associated with said system for powering up electrical and electronically operated components associated with said system.