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Traffic Engineering is evolving around the world




Video location:  ChongQING CHINA, 2018 BY GRANT JOHNSON, TE

1,250,000 People Die Each Year in Vehicle Accidents.    So Many Mistakes. So Many Lapses in Judgment.  AV will SOLVE Safety Problems

11/29/2018

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There is a case that can be made for a rapid implementation of Autonomous Vehicles worldwide.  Safety is a problem.  Too many have accepted as a "default" or necessary evil the fact that every year a million people will die in vehicle related accidents.  The main reason is not a falling bridge. Not a falling tree.  Not an engine that blows up, or the brakes go out.  Those are such a rare occurrence, really.  No, the main problems can be seen in the video to the right. Things like:
  1. Distracted Driving
  2. Speeding
  3. Lack of Awareness of Impending Dangers, Lack of Caution
  4. Impaired Driving while Drunk or on Drugs
  5. Sleep Deprivation
It is well known that computers can be programmed to be aware thousands of times per second, just waiting to respond to a preprogrammed caution.  They also don't fall asleep, and there can be fail-safes built in to prevent computer problems, much like the dedicated chips that run cars in todays world for things like fuel injection, etc., etc.

Autonomous Vehicles are here.  They work.  Now it is up to the masses to embrace them, and not fear them. 

 Computers have already been operative in vehicles that "we drive" but there is a lot going on behind the scenes over which we have no control...things like:
  1. SPARK.  General Motors first introduced cars that had no mechanical spinning ROTOR in the distributor case, in 1987. The spark was computer controlled to each piston spark plug individually.  A Digital Ignition System where electronics work, and where parts hardly wear out.  Watch video >>>
  2. FUEL.  Electronic fuel injection.  In 1968, Bosch perfected their Jetronic electronic fuel injection system, using data from a pressure sensor.  It also used the RPM of the engine to control the fuel injection RATE.  All computerized.
  3. OXYGEN SENSOR,   Imagine the pollution of this sensor malfunctioned and the particular ratio of air and gasoline that is "perfect" is not met? This sensor makes sure that ratio is 14.7:1. If there is less air than this perfect ratio, then there will be fuel left over after combustion. This is called a rich mixture. Rich mixtures are bad because the unburned fuel creates pollution.
  4. POWER SLIDING DOORS.   Imagine if these were not monitored by sensors, computer controlled, they might crush people.  We trust this now.
  5. POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE.  Imagine if this device fails and you suddenly find yourself in reverse gear crashing off the highway.  We trust this now.
  6. ​STEERING WHEEL ANGLE SENSOR.  Imagine if this sensor failed and the vehicle thought straight up steering wheel meant to turn hard right. You would fly off the highway if this failed.  We trust this now.
  7. STABILITY CONTROLLER.  Imagine this failing, and you lose control of your car.  Braking is automatically applied to wheels individually, such as the outer front wheel to counter oversteer or the inner rear wheel to counter understeer.
  8. AIRBAG CONTROLLER.  No explanation needed.
  9. NUMEROUS ELECTRONICS IN VEHICLES.  
It is important to note that IF some of these electronic computer systems fail in a car, that serious accidents or fatalities could occur. 
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    Grant Johnson, registered Traffic Engineer, shares insights and experiences from around the world.

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  • Home
  • SERVICES
    • SERVICES
    • EXPERT WITNESS
    • EXPERIENCE
    • Complete Streets EVOLVED >
      • Complete Streets
    • PROJECTS >
      • TRAFFIC ENGINEERING >
        • SAFETY FIRST focus at PRISM Engineering
        • Autonomous Road Design
    • TRANSPORTATION PLANNING >
      • Autonomous Transportation Planning
    • HSR Construction Inspection Experience
  • Contact
    • About
  • TRAFFIC FACTS
    • INTERNATIONAL TRAFFIC FACTS
    • CALIFORNIA HIGH SPEED RAIL TRAIN TO NOWHERE?
    • SAFETY FIRST Examples
    • PED DANGERS: Death by Subway and Death by UBER
    • Modern Roundabout Examples by PRISM Engineering
    • Death by NYC Subway: PED DANGERS
    • AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES in Traffic >
      • AUTONOMOUS CAR DISRUPTION
      • Autonomous UBER Fatal Accident
    • How About That BIKE COMMUTE?
    • NEWS
  • CHINA TRAFFIC 2018
    • CHINA TRAFFIC 2018
    • HSR High Speed Rail
    • CHINA BLOG
  • STUDIES
    • Watsonville CEIBA School Traffic and Safety Investigation
    • Pasadena 253 S Los Robles v2