Enhancement and Field Test Evaluation of New Battery-Less Wireless Traffic Sensors

Details

• Creators:
  Pruden, Sean ; Vijayaraghavan, Krishna ; Rajamani, Rajesh
• Corporate Creators:
  University of Minnesota. Department of Mechanical Engineering
• Corporate Contributors:
  University of Minnesota. Center for Transportation Studies ; University of Minnesota. Intelligent Transportation Systems Institute ; United States. Department of Transportation. Research and Innovative Technology Administration
• Subject/TRT Terms:
  • Piezoelectric transducers
  • Energy transfer
  • Field tests
  • Measurement
  • Sensors
  • Traffic flow
  • Weigh in motion
  • Weigh in motion scales
  • Battery-less wireless traffic flow sensor,
• Publication/ Report Number:
  CTS 11-22
• Resource Type:
  Tech Report
• Geographical Coverage:
  Minnesota
• Corporate Publisher:
  University of Minnesota. Intelligent Transportation Systems Institute
• Abstract:
  This project focused on the enhancement of a previous battery-less wireless traffic flow sensor so as to enable it to provide weigh-in-motion (WIM) measurements and provide enhanced telemetry distance. The sensor consists of a 6-feet-long device which is embedded in a slot in the road flush with the pavement. As a vehicle travels over the sensor, vibrations are induced in the sensor. Using piezoelectric elements, energy is harvested from the vibrations and used to power the electronics in the sensor for signal measurements and wireless transmission. The sensor’s performance was evaluated by embedding it in a slot in concrete pavement and driving various vehicles of known weight over it at a number of different speeds on different days. The sensor was found to meet the specification of 500 feet telemetry distance. It was able to provide WIM measurements with an accuracy of better than ±15% in the absence of vehicle suspension vibrations. However, much of the WIM data during the latter period of sensor testing was obtained in the presence of significant suspension vibrations. The project also evaluated the use of 4 consecutive WIM sensors in the road to remove the influence of suspension vibrations.
• Format:
  PDF
• Funding:
  CTS Project #2009028
• Download URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/59768/dot_59768_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 3.60 MB]
• Collection(s):
  University Transportation Centers ; US Transportation Collection
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:da27006934da6302769b1dc4dacfbba91d731be5e918b6cb4bdfad058370f306