Journal Week 8 – Red Light Camera Proposal

 Ian Hodgson

Journal Week 8

Red Light Camera

Proposal

As wonderful as it is that sensors are used for things we want and love, but in today’s time they’re also used for things we hate like traffic violations.  Now whenever you pull up to a light you’ll think twice about trying to beat the light, or you can’t use the excuse the light was yellow, because now states are enforcing the use of sensors in the cameras at traffic lights.  Pretty much the sensors are used to detect when a vehicle reaches the light. and or runs the light, or just doesn’t stop at all.  Sensors are also used to detect heavy traffic to speed up the time change between lights (awesome).  Laser technology is one of the ways the sensors interact with the physical world.  In physical computing class we learned about input and out putting of information into the physical world. An inductive loop is a coil of wire set in the road.  A traffic light sensor uses the loop that it constantly tests the inductance of the loop in the road, and when the inductance rises, it knows there is a car waiting.

The induction loop /sensor trigger the service controller to activate the camera. At which point the red light is crossed the controller signals the camera / actuator with a delay to take the picture.  Then the controller calculates day time speed in relation to the red light being run.  Which is the stored in the computer’s memory.

The central Crash box houses the computer that behaves as an actuator for the red light cameras.  You see in physical computing lingo, when the computer receives input from the physical world, in this case that would be from traffic lights, and triggers (sensors) it then signals the cameras to activate. Then the controllers for the camera record the information then send it back to the computer where it’s then outputted to traffic Authorities.  Or in some cases there might be an officer present (but hiding) on the scene to address your violation. In thinking of the future, new technology would allow for more accuracy and convictions for red light offenses.  A new technology that I impose that can improve upon the current system would be the addition of motion capture.

Motion capture is a system by which they use video cameras, body suit with sensors on it to capture motion in real time and or 3D. The next phase in motion capture is “Organic Motion Capture” which is the ability to capture the movements just as normal motion capture but without the use and need for sensors, suits, or markers.  This feat is accomplished by the use of new high speed cameras and visual software (Auto-desk Motion Builder). This new technology allows for more spontaneity and realism to otherwise rehearsed skits.  How this would connect with the red light district is by capturing the speed, breaking distance, accidents caused in that area in real time. I’m also proposing that with the use of these hyper sensitive cameras we will be able to even to view inside to see who was driving the vehicle, therefore increasing the potential of traffic violation convictions. Also another use for this technology, for example can be used on England’s iron grid. England institute a system of security cameras all over as to decrease the potential for crime in the areas, by adding the motion capture to it, I believe it will be able to alert authorities while infractions occur.