In this section some transportation related projects I have been working on are listed. The list is partial, and it gives a sample of the projects I am involved with.

TOOLS for the development of TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS

Current traffic controllers are programmed only to run a predefined set of control algorithms. Additionally, controllers offer limited interoperability and incremental updates are infeasible. Thus, updates require the cost of both new hardware, and porting the existing software to the new system. One would like to upgrade the controllers without worrying about interoperability, scalability, and safety issues due to faulty implementations. It would be also beneficial to enable researchers to directly implement new research ideas and algorithms on the controllers without any low level programming skills. Unfortunately this is not possible using current systems.
The tools for the development of traffic control systems (TTCS) framework is a successful attempt to address all these problems. It is a framework for the development of cross-platform adaptive control code, able to run over different controllers without any porting or hardware cost. The framework is extremely easy to use, ensures the code is able to automatically adjust to changes (e.g. introduction of new sensors, intersections or hardware failures), supports scalability, and ensures safety - preventing bugs that would put the end users (drivers and pedestrians) in dangerous situations.
A detailed description of the tools and of the algorithms they use is given in my PhD dissertation, that should be available for download in May 2008.

Berkeley ATCP2070
ATCP2070 is control software developped for Model 2070 controllers. It enable the development of control and monitoring application on 2070 controllers. The software is currently being tested on the California PATH facility and it is currently in its first release.
  • Berkeley ATCP2070: to be run on Model 2070 (conforming to TEES Erratum 2)
    Current version: release 1.0
    Installation instructions: [pdf]
    Image gallery: [    HTML]
    Binary: [zip]
    Source code: [Release 1]
    License terms: [GPLv2]
    Release date: To be released in May 2008
  • ATCP server tester: a simple GUI used to test the behaviour of an ATCP server;
    Current version: (alpha) 1.0
    Release date: To be released in May 2008
  • ATCP red violation countermeasure controller: this adaptive traffic control system detect red light violations and extends the "all red" interval in order to avoid crashes.
    Current version: (alpha) 1.0
    Documentation: [HTML]
    Multimedia: [movies] [images]
    Release date: To be released in May 2008
  • ATCP pre-timed controller: non adaptive traffic control systems can be easilly implemented using ATCP. This program control an intersection using a 2 phases pre-timed algorithm.
    Current version: (alpha) 1.0
    Documentation: [HTML]
    Multimedia: [movies] [images]
    Release date: To be released in May 2008
  • ATCP intersection monitorng: monitoring of traffic control systems can be easilly implemented using ATCP. This web-based application was used to retrieve in real-time intersection current phase and cycle length parameters from moving vehicles.
    Current version: (alpha) 1.0
    Multimedia: [movie]
    Release date: To be released in May 2007


VACS (Virtual Adaptive Traffic Controler)
VACS is the next generation of CHAL (it can be called CHAL 2.0). Many of its component have been already released, while some others are available as betas:
  • VACS server tester: a simple GUI used to test the behaviour of a VACS server;
    Current version: (alpha) 1.0
    Release date: November the 30th 2007
    Executables and documentation:
         1.0 (Nov 30 2007) [VACS server tester 1.0 executable] [1.0 documentation]
         Beta 0.3 (Nov 28 2007) [Beta 0.3 executable] [Beta 0.3 documentation]
         Beta 0.2 (Jun 10 2007) [Beta 0.2 executable] [Beta 0.2 documentation]
         Beta 0.1 (Apr 20 2007) [Beta 0.1 executable] [Beta 0.1 documentation]
  • VACS Paramics Plug-in: a paramics that turn any intersection ina Paramics project into a VACS enabled intersection;
    Current version: (alpha) 1.0
    Release date: November the 30th 2007
    Executables and documentation:
         1.0 (Nov 30 2007) [VACS Plugin for Paramics 1.0 executable] [documentation]
  • VACS videos: videos that shows some of the features offered by VACS
    ο Sensor server lookup (how to use VACS to locate the sensors in the VACS network) [ FLASH ]
    ο Actuators server lookup (how to use VACS to locate the actuators in the VACS network) [ FLASH ]
    ο Sensor server lookup and sensor data acquisition [ FLASH ]
    ο Actuator control (how to modify the control and tune the control algorithm for VACS actuator) [ FLASH ]

CHAL (Control Hardware Abstraction Layer)
CHAL v1.0 is currently available in alpha. Currently the following libraries are available:
  • Simulink integration library: a library that connect Simulink with CHAL;
    Current version: 1.0
    Release date: November 2nd, 2006
    Files: [CHAL2Simulink 1.0] [Simulink2CHAL 1.1]
    Documentation: To be released soon!
  • Paramics integration library: a library that integrates Paramics with CHAL;
    Current version: 1.0
    Release date: November 3rd, 2006
    Files: [Paramics2CHAL 1.1]
    Documentation: To be released soon!
  • 2070 integration library: a library to remotelly control a 2070 using NTCIP offering a CHAL interface [under development]
  • CHAL server tester: a simple GUI used to test the behaviour of a CHAL server;
    Current version: 1.0
    Pre-release data: April the 4th 2007
    Files: [CHALtester.exe]
  • CHAL sniffer: a simple GUI to snif CHAL messages;
    Current version: BETA 0.1
    Pre-release data: February the 23rd 2007
    Files: [CHALsniffer.exe]
  • GOOGLE MAP integration library: monitor CHAL controllers using Google Maps;
    Current version: BETA 0.1
    Pre-release data: February the 26th 2007
    Files: [LINK]
What follows are traffic control logic developped in Simulink that can be used on top of CHAL:
  • pretimed 2 phases NEMA ring; [mdl]
  • pretimed 4 phases NEMA ring; [mdl]
  • semiactuated 2 phases; [mdl]
  • 4 phases (actuated protected left); [mdl]
  • coordinated; [mdl]
This are some demo movies that shows how the Simulink design can be used to control traffic controllers (in this case simulated in Paramics) via CHAL:
Wireless communication for ITS systems

I have focused on wireless technologies to enable a variety of ITS applications:
  • IDS (Intersection Decision Support) project (VII precursor) [pdf]
  • Wireless Tokenbus MAC implementation
ITS systems

I have worked on the design of the IDS (Intersection Decision Support) project, a precursor of the VII initiative:
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