Importance

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Abstract

Traffic monitoring and warning systems and vehicle ramp advisory systems are provided herein. Such system includes a set of sensor arrays comprising a set of above-road electro-acoustic sensor arrays which is disposed above a traffic lane approaching a hazard for producing signals which are indicative of whether the vehicle is an automobile or a truck and, if it is a truck, to record the presence of such truck, and to provide signals which are indicative of the speed of such truck. A processor is provided which has a memory for storing site-specific data related both to the geometry of the hazard and to signals which have been received from the set of above-road electro-acoustic sensor arrays. A traffic signalling device is associated with the traffic lane and is disposed downstream of the set of above-road electro-acoustic sensor arrays, the traffic signalling device being controlled by the processor. The processor is responsive to the signals from the set of above-road electro-acoustic sensor arrays for computing an actual speed of the truck and for computing a computed maximum safe speed for such truck at the hazard. The computed maximum safe speed of the truck is derived from the site-specific dimensional data of the hazard and from at least the initial speed of the truck, the computed maximum safe speed of the truck being a maximum safe speed for that truck safely to negotiate the hazard. The processor compares the computed actual speed of the truck with the computed maximum safe speed for the truck. Then, the processor automatically operates the traffic signalling device if the computed actual speed of the truck exceeds the computed maximum safe speed for the truck. The processor also discontinues operating the traffic signalling device if the computed actual speed of the truck no longer exceeds the computed maximum safe speed for the truck.

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First Claim