Leading German developer of sensor technology SICK has launched the TIC502 lidar traffic monitoring and warning system capable of all-weather traffic control, day or night, in any climate zone.
Designed for highway toll and management operators, as well as by original equipment manufacturers and integrators of traffic monitoring systems, the SICK TIC502 incorporates vehicle speed detection with 3D profiling and counting of fast-lane, free-flowing and static traffic.
The unit facilitates the real-time management and electronic toll charge assessment of all vehicle types, according to standard international transport classifications. The TIC502 twin-lidar sensor system has high all-weather capability between -40oC and +60oC, expanding the company’s well-established traffic management sensor range to cover very wide climatic conditions.
The TIC502 can also be integrated with an additional 2D lidar sensor to count axles for complete traffic profiling and assessment in a single system. Typical applications include electronic highway toll collection, traffic management and jam detection, including tunnel, bridge and ferry operations.
The TIC502 lidar system comprises two lidar sensors on an angled baseplate for direct, over lane mounting and a TIC Traffic Controller for installation in the highway control room. The Master lidar unit can be paired with the TIC502 Slave 2D lidar unit for axle counting duties using the same Traffic Controller, which can monitor up to four lanes.
The system scans vehicles at up to 100 times a second to generate a 3D profile of each vehicle and assesses vehicle class according to TLS8+1, TLS5+1, TLS2+1 or Swiss10, into up to 30 different classes. The live 3D view of traffic is integrated into one, easy-to-use display, and is auto-calibrated with moving traffic.
In addition to its own data collection, the TIC502 data can be used as a trigger for DSRC (dedicated short-range radio communications) and ANPR (automatic number plate recognition) cameras, allowing it to be integrated with different traffic management systems.
“The TIC502 generates 3D profiles and combines comprehensive and highly reliable data and warnings with excellent availability in all weather and all seasons,” explained Neil Sandhu, SICK UK’s national product manager for imaging, measurement, ranging and systems.
“The unit can also be easily retrofitted on structures, such as overhead gantries, bridges or tunnel entrances, to upgrade existing traffic monitoring and control. The facility for adding an extra lidar sensor to the TIC502 allows accurate axle counting, which is often used for improved toll assessment of very heavy transport vehicles, without needing the use of a full vision system.
