LED-Outlined Traffic Signs on the ISU Campus Jacob Bonner Dustin Nekvinda Hieu Pham Brian Schnurr David Wallace May 07-01

2 System Operation Master

3 System Operation Master

4 Presentation Outline Problem description Problem description Definitions Definitions Acknowledgement Acknowledgement Operating Environment Operating Environment Intended Users/Uses Intended Users/Uses Assumptions and Limitations Assumptions and Limitations Expected End Product Expected End Product Present Accomplishments Present Accomplishments Project Definition of Activities Project Definition of Activities Resources and Schedule Resources and Schedule Closing Material Closing Material

5 Definitions Programmable Integrated Chip (PIC) - A small chip that can be programmed to control data flow and overall system functionality. Programmable Integrated Chip (PIC) - A small chip that can be programmed to control data flow and overall system functionality. Manual On Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) - The MUTCD defines the standards used by road managers nationwide to install and maintain traffic control devices on all streets and highways. Manual On Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) - The MUTCD defines the standards used by road managers nationwide to install and maintain traffic control devices on all streets and highways. DOT - Department of Transportation DOT - Department of Transportation DPS - Department of Public Safety DPS - Department of Public Safety FP&M - Facilities Planning and Management FP&M - Facilities Planning and Management CCEE - Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering CCEE - Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering

6 Introductory Material Problem Statement Problem Statement Operating Environment Operating Environment Intended Users & Uses Intended Users & Uses Assumptions & Limitations Assumptions & Limitations End Product & Deliverables End Product & Deliverables

7 Problem Statement Rob Stupka Rob Stupka Pedestrian traffic is extremely high on campus. Pedestrian traffic is extremely high on campus. Need to alert drivers of pedestrian. Need to alert drivers of pedestrian. The signs have lights that will flash to get the driver’s attention. The signs have lights that will flash to get the driver’s attention.

8 Operating Environment Iowa State University campus. Iowa State University campus. The signs will be able to stand up to Iowa weather conditions. The signs will be able to stand up to Iowa weather conditions. Solar powered Solar powered

9 Intended Users/Uses Alert drivers of situations that may involve pedestrians. Alert drivers of situations that may involve pedestrians. To allow pedestrians to cross the street more safely. To allow pedestrians to cross the street more safely. Iowa State University Department of Public Safety. Iowa State University Department of Public Safety. Motorists Motorists Students, faculty and visitors to campus. Students, faculty and visitors to campus.

10 Assumptions LED cluster in each corner LED cluster in each corner Automatic flashing during regular 10 minute class breaks Automatic flashing during regular 10 minute class breaks Solar powered Solar powered Wireless communication Wireless communication Sunlight availability Sunlight availability Unprecedented extreme weather conditions Unprecedented extreme weather conditions LEDs must be seen at required distances and not blind motorists at night LEDs must be seen at required distances and not blind motorists at night Limitations

11 End Product & Deliverables Prototype Prototype Two working signs with components. Two working signs with components. One working master control circuit. One working master control circuit. Design Report Design Report Documentation and schematics Documentation and schematics Parts list and assembly instructions. Parts list and assembly instructions.

12 Project Activity Approaches Considered/Used Approaches Considered/Used Accomplishments Accomplishments Project Activities Project Activities Project Definition Project Definition Research Research Design Design Implementation Implementation Testing/Results Testing/Results Other Other

13 Approaches Considered/Used LEDs – 106,200 milli-Candela LEDs – 106,200 milli-Candela Advantages Advantages High level of illumination (925 ft) High level of illumination (925 ft) Low energy consumption Low energy consumption Disadvantage Disadvantage High current (90mA) High current (90mA) Flasher-dimmer module Flasher-dimmer module Advantage Advantage Energy saving Energy saving DOT regulation – 50 to 60 flash per minute DOT regulation – 50 to 60 flash per minute

14 Evaluated power system options Evaluated power system options Hard wired AC Hard wired AC Solar power Solar power Acquired software from May06-06 to calculate solar power needs Acquired software from May06-06 to calculate solar power needs Determined necessary battery and panel size Determined necessary battery and panel size PIC requirements PIC requirements Approaches Considered/Used (cont.)

15 Approaches Considered/Used (cont.) Programmable integrated chip – PIC16F877A Programmable integrated chip – PIC16F877A Advantages Advantages Low cost ($9) Low cost ($9) Powerful (RAM, data size, speed) Powerful (RAM, data size, speed)

16 Approaches Considered/Used (cont.) Communication Infrared (IR) WiFiBluetooth (RF Tranceiver) CostLowHighestLow Vulnerable to object interference YesNoNo Vulnerable to freq. interference NoYesNo Multi-connection (greater than 2) NoYesYes Outdoor Range 300 ft. Many miles 500 ft. Power consumption LowestHighestLow

17 Accomplishments Sign display Sign display Capture motorist attention Capture motorist attention Inform pedestrian Inform pedestrian Reliable power source Reliable power source Battery - primary Battery - primary Solar - secondary Solar - secondary

18 Accomplishments (cont.) Communication network Communication network Coordination -transmit/receive Coordination -transmit/receive Signal identification Signal identification Programmable integrated chip (PIC) Programmable integrated chip (PIC) Real time Real time On demand - pushbutton On demand - pushbutton Automatic on/off Automatic on/off

19 Project Activities (1/6) Project Definition Composed project plan Composed project plan Designed physical sign system Designed physical sign system Wrote controller software Wrote controller software

20 Solar Power Need Calculator

21 Battery – Seal absorbed glass mat Battery – Seal absorbed glass mat Advantage Advantage Seal completely Seal completely Operating temperature (-25° C to 80° C) Operating temperature (-25° C to 80° C) Less maintenance Less maintenance Disadvantage Disadvantage More expensive More expensive Big and heavy Big and heavy Project Activities (2/6) Research Charge controller – SunGuard Charge controller – SunGuard Advantage Advantage Improve performance (30% per day) Improve performance (30% per day) Over current protection Over current protection Over voltage protection Over voltage protection Low cost ($27) Low cost ($27)

22 Project Activities (2/6) Research (cont.) Power source Power line Solar power Cost$2,250$796 Green power NoYes PortableNoYes ReliableYes Some time Battery Battery Store power Store power

23 Project Activities (3/6) Design

24 Project Activities (4/6) Implementation Master system -Using PIC microcontroller’s internal clock for time keeping Master system -Using PIC microcontroller’s internal clock for time keeping Slave system – Using a signaling LED cluster vs. countdown timer. Slave system – Using a signaling LED cluster vs. countdown timer. High cost -$650 to $1,300 High cost -$650 to $1,300 Bulky on the sign Bulky on the sign False sense of security False sense of security

25 Project Activities (5/6) Testing Three main test areas Three main test areas Subsystems component testing Subsystems component testing Integrated systems testing Integrated systems testing Outdoor site testing Outdoor site testing

26 Project Activities (5/6) Testing - Subsystems

27 Project Activities (5/6) Testing – Subsystem Integration

28 Project Activities (5/6) Testing – Site Testing

29 Project Activities (6/6) Other Using round tube instead of Telespar Using round tube instead of Telespar Evaluated software language (C, ASM, JAL) Evaluated software language (C, ASM, JAL)

30 Resources & Schedule Personal Effort Personal Effort Financial Requirements Financial Requirements Schedule Schedule

31 Personal Effort Total Hours: 975.5

32 Financial Requirements ItemCost SignsDonated LED’s$ Battery$ Solar Panel$ Solar Panel Mounts$ HardwareDonated Communications$ PIC$20.00 Enclosure$ Controller$ Total$1, Total Cost: $13,056

33 Schedule

34 Closing Material Project Evaluation Project Evaluation Commercialization Commercialization Additional Work Additional Work Lessons Learned Lessons Learned Risk & Risk Management Risk & Risk Management Closing Summary Closing Summary Questions Questions

35 Project Evaluation May07-01 Design Evaluation Functionality Relative Importance (%) Evaluation Score (%) Resultant Score Signs will flash when requested from the pushbutton30%100%30% Automatically flashes signs during high traffic times (class transitions)20%100%20% Signs successfully send and receive information with the master controller20%100%20% System will be able to operate only on solar power15%100%15% System will comply with all known traffic laws and standards10%100%10% Systems will be able to operate under all weather conditions5%100%5% Total100%

36 Commercialization This product is already commercially available. This product is already commercially available. Around $6,250 Around $6,250 May price is much cheaper May price is much cheaper Around $1,400 (w/o labor) Around $1,400 (w/o labor) TAPCO signMay sign

37 Additional Work Audio system for the blind Audio system for the blind Logging system for tracking use of system Logging system for tracking use of system Proximity sensor to automatically turn the system on Proximity sensor to automatically turn the system on WWVB and Real Time Clock WWVB and Real Time Clock

38 Lessons Learned (1/5) What Went Well Client-team interaction Client-team interaction Team communication Team communication On schedule throughout most of project On schedule throughout most of project Constantly working even when parts were missing Constantly working even when parts were missing

39 Lessons Learned (2/5) What Did Not Go Well Delayed arrival of components Delayed arrival of components Could not get the system installed in time Could not get the system installed in time Testing was delayed Testing was delayed Inadequate research prior to initial ordering Inadequate research prior to initial ordering Area researched ≠ area implemented Area researched ≠ area implemented Communication with supporting departments Communication with supporting departments

40 Lessons Learned (3/5) Technical Knowledge Gained PIC programming and functionality PIC programming and functionality Communication technologies Communication technologies Mechanical engineering skills Mechanical engineering skills MUTCD regulations MUTCD regulations

41 Lessons Learned (4/5) Non-Technical Knowledge Gained Project management Project management Schedule management using Gantt charts Schedule management using Gantt charts Communication management between multiple departments Communication management between multiple departments DPS DPS FP&M FP&M CCEE CCEE DOT DOT

42 Lessons Learned (5/5) Things Done Different Next Time Divide into sub-sections earlier Divide into sub-sections earlier Make sure components are finalized with client so ordering can take place sooner Make sure components are finalized with client so ordering can take place sooner Start testing earlier Start testing earlier

43 Risk & Risk Management Anticipated potential risks Loss of team member Loss of team member Every member knows what the other is doing Every member knows what the other is doing Not encountered Not encountered Unanticipated encountered risks Flasher/Dimmer module was incorrectly labeled and destroyed. Flasher/Dimmer module was incorrectly labeled and destroyed. Team pulled same module from another project Team pulled same module from another project Lack of interest by certain contacts involved with the project. Lack of interest by certain contacts involved with the project. Client was addressed and assured the team of the project’s importance Client was addressed and assured the team of the project’s importance

44 Closing Summary System is intended to save lives System is intended to save lives Provide a means of warning Provide a means of warning No guarantees No guarantees Give a chance to avoid tragedy Give a chance to avoid tragedy

45 Any Questions?