1. Traffic Sensing Bicycle Light
ECE 445 Proposal, Spring 2019
Kent Kalpakjian, Micron Technology
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2. Traffic Sensing Bicycle Light
Introduction
Each year more than 800 cyclists are killed in accidents involving a motor vehicle
This is despite increased cyclist awareness and the introduction of bike-only lanes
How can motorists be made more aware of cyclists in their direct path?
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3. Traffic Sensing Bicycle Light
Proposal
Design, build, and test a rear-facing bicycle light that senses traffic coming from behind and alerts the car driver
The light would support 3 modes of operation based on the distance and relative speed of approaching vehicle:
Mode
Rear Distance
Relative Speed
Alarm type
Normal
> D1 feet
< S1 mph
Standard flashing red
Warning
< D1 feet
> S1 mph
Add High intensity white strobe light
Danger
< D2 feet
> S2 mph
Add audible alarm
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4. Traffic Sensing Bicycle Light
Proposal
< S1
Normal
> D1
> S1
Warning
< D1
> S2
Danger
< D2
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5. Traffic Sensing Bicycle Light
Requirements and Challenges
Requirements
Battery powered
3 modes of operation
Trimmable parameters for range and speed
Challenges
How to distinguish between cars approaching from behind versus cars that are passing by at a safe distance, parked, or travelling in the opposite direction?
How to distinguish between a car in the rear versus a fellow cyclist in the rear?
What is the effective weighting of the Distance and Relative Speed parameters?
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