Integrated and adaptive traffic signal control for diamond interchange : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Mechatronics Engineering at Massey University, Albany, New Zealand

New dynamic signal control methods such as fuzzy logic and artificial intelligence developed recently mainly focused on isolated intersection. Adaptive signal control based on fuzzy logic control (FLC) determines the duration and sequence that traffic signal should stay in a certain state, before switching to the next state (Trabia et al. 1999, Pham 2013). The amount of arriving and waiting vehicles are quantized into fuzzy variables and fuzzy rules are used to determine if the duration of the current state should be extended. The fuzzy logic controller showed to be more flexible than fixed controllers and vehicle actuated controllers, allowing traffic to flow more smoothly. The FLC does not possess the ability to handle various uncertainties especially in real world traffic control. Therefore it is not best suited for stochastic nature problems such as traffic signal timing optimization. However, probabilistic logic is the best choice to handle the uncertainties containing both stochastic and fuzzy features (Pappis and Mamdani 1977) Probabilistic fuzzy logic control is developed for the signalised control of a diamond interchange, where the signal phasing, green time extension and ramp metering are decided in response to real time traffic conditions, which aim at improving traffic flows on surface streets and highways. The probabilistic fuzzy logic for diamond interchange (PFLDI) comprises three modules: probabilistic fuzzy phase timing (PFPT) that controls the green time extension process of the current running phase, phase selection (PSL) which decides the next phase based on the pre-setup phase logic by the local transport authority and, probabilistic fuzzy ramp-metering (PFRM) that determines on-ramp metering rate based on traffic conditions of the arterial streets and highways. We used Advanced Interactive Microscopic Simulator for Urban and Non-Urban Network (AIMSUN) software for diamond interchange modeling and performance measure of effectiveness for the PFLDI algorithm. PFLDI was compared with actuated diamond interchange (ADI) control based on ALINEA algorithm and conventional fuzzy logic diamond interchange algorithm (FLDI). Simulation results show that the PFLDI surpasses the traffic actuated and conventional fuzzy models with lower System Total Travel Time, Average Delay and improvements in Downstream Average Speed and Downstream Average Delay. On the other hand, little attention has been given in recent years to the delays experienced by cyclists in urban transport networks. When planning changes to traffic signals or making other network changes, the value of time for cycling trips is rarely considered. The traditional approach to road management has been to only focus on improving the carrying capacity relating to vehicles, with an emphasis on maximising the speed and volume of motorised traffic moving around the network. The problem of cyclist delay has been compounded by the fact that the travel time for cyclists have been lower than those for vehicles, which affects benefit–cost ratios and effectively provides a disincentive to invest in cycling issues compared with other modes. The issue has also been influenced by the way in which traffic signals have been set up and operated. Because the primary stresses on an intersection tend to occur during vehicle (commuter) peaks in the morning and afternoon, intersections tend to be set up and coordinated to allow maximum flow during these peaks. The result is that during off-peak periods there is often spare capacity that is underutilised. Phasing and timings set up for peaks may not provide the optimum benefits during off-peak times. This is particularly important to cyclists during lunch-time peaks, when vehicle volumes are low and cyclist volumes are high. Cyclists can end up waiting long periods of time as a result of poor signal phasing, rather than due to the demands of other road users being placed on the network. The outcome of this study will not only reduce the traffic congestion during peak hours but also improve the cyclists’ safety at a typical diamond interchange

Measuring stress and cognitive load effects on the perceived quality of a multimodal dialogue system

In this paper we present the results of a pilot study investigating the impact of stress and cognitive load on the perceived interaction quality of a multimodal dialogue system for crisis management. Four test subjects interacted with the system in four differently configured trials aiming to induce low/high levels of stress and cognitive load. To measure the level of stress and cognitive load physiological sensors and subjective ratings were collected. After each trial the subjects filled in an evaluation questionnaire regarding the system interaction quality. In the end we conducted an in-depth interview with each subject. The trials were recorded with a webcam to facilitate the behaviour analysis. Results showed that both factors have an influence on the way subjects perceived the interaction quality, whereas the cognitive load seems to have a higher impact. Further quantitative experiments are needed in order to validate the results and quantify the weight of each factor. \u

Adaptive integral sliding mode control for active vibration absorber design

A new tuning method for active vibration absorber design is presented in this paper. A robust, adaptive control scheme based on a variable structure with an adaptive discontinuity surface is designed and simulated. Robust synthesis of an adaptive discontinuity surface based on an augmented state-space is discussed. The proposed tuning scheme has three superior features compared with the existing counterparts in that: (i) it is completely insensitive to changes in the stiffness and damping of the absorber, (ii) it is capable of suppressing cyclic vibrations over a wide range of frequencies, (iii) its real-time operation requires only one adjustable gain

All-optical switching of magnetic domains in Co/Gd heterostructures with Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya Interaction

Given the development of hybrid spintronic-photonic devices and chiral magnetic structures, a combined interest in all-optical switching (AOS) of magnetization and current-induced domain wall motion in synthetic ferrimagnetic structures with strong Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya Interaction (DMI) is emerging. In this study, we report a study on single-pulse all-optical toggle switching and asymmetric bubble expansion in specially engineered Co/Gd-based multilayer structures. In the absence of any external magnetic fields, we look into the AOS properties and the potential role of the DMI on the AOS process as well as the stability of optically written micro-magnetic domains. Particularly, interesting dynamics are observed in moon-shaped structures written by two successive laser pulses. The stability of domains resulting from an interplay of the dipolar interaction and domain-wall energy are compared to simple analytical models and micromagnetic simulations

Design of a digital control unit for a seismic digital tape system

This paper describes the interface between the NOVA digital computer and the Texas Instrument tape unit which handles field data recorded simultaneously from a maximum of 31 channels. The interface is the means through which the NOVA computer can control the tape unit and recover data. To provide necessary background information a review of the characteristics of the tape unit and the input-output operation of the NOVA computer are given. As the first part of the design, the general interface design is presented and the functions of its units are described. After discussion of functional assignment of each unit, coordination between them is discussed on the transfer level so that the Boolean equations describing the interface operation can be derived. The interface can run the tape transport in forward or reverse to find a desired record. It can select the data of any specified channel in any desired record from some specified point in the record. The flexibility of an interrupt system is available for the data processing --Abstract, page iii

Study of antineutrino oscillations using accelerator and atmospheric data in MINOS

textThe Main Injector Neutrino Oscillation Search (MINOS) is a long baseline experiment that was built for studying the neutrino oscillation phenomena. The MINOS experiment uses high intensity muon neutrino and antineutrino beams created by Neutrinos at the Main Injector facility (NuMI) at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (Fermilab). Neutrino interactions are recorded by two sampling steel-scintillator tracking calorimeters: 0.98 kton Near Detector at Fermilab, IL and 5.4 kton Far Detector at the Soudan Underground Laboratory, MN. These two detectors are functionally identical, which helps to reduce the systematic uncertainties in the muon neutrino and antineutrino disappearance measurements. The Near Detector, located 1.04 km from the neutrino production target, is used to measure the initial beam composition and neutrino energy proximal to the neutrino source. The collected data at the Near Detector is then used to predict energy spectrum in the Far Detector. By comparing this prediction to collected data at the Far Detector, which is 735 km away from the target, it enables a measurement of a set of parameters that govern the neutrino oscillation phenomenon. The flexibility of the NuMI beam configuration and the magnetization of the MINOS detectors facilitate the identification of v[subscript mu] and v̄[subscript mu] charged-current interactions on an event-by-event basis. This enables one to measure neutrino and antineutrino oscillation parameters independently and therefore allows us to test the CPT symmetry in the lepton sector. To enhance the sensitivity of the oscillation parameters measurement, a number of techniques have been implemented. Event classification, shower energy estimation and energy resolution bin fitting, which are described in this dissertation, are three of these techniques. Moreover, the most stringent constraints on oscillation parameters can be achieved by combining multiple data sets. This dissertation reports the measurement of antineutrino oscillation parameters using the complete MINOS accelerator and atmospheric data set of charged-current v̄[subscript mu] events.Physic

High-bandwidth uni-traveling carrier waveguide photodetector on an InP-membrane-on-silicon platform

A uni-traveling carrier photodetector (UTC-PD), heterogeneously integrated on silicon, is demonstrated. It is fabricated in an InP-based photonic membrane bonded on a silicon wafer, using a novel double-sided processing scheme. A very high 3 dB bandwidth of beyond 67 GHz is obtained, together with a responsivity of 0.7 A/W at 1.55 μm wavelength. In addition, open eye diagrams at 54 Gb/s are observed. These results promise high speed applications using a novel full-functionality photonic platform on silicon