The Evolution of Automatic Pedestrian Detection
(Passive Activation - LightGuard System "Smart Crosswalk")
By Mike Harrison, CEO LightGuard Systems, Inc.
After LightGuard Systems experienced a high degree of success in having motorists "yield to the presence of a pedestrian" when entering a "Smart Crosswalk" system, one area of interest became more and more apparent to us. The existing system required some form of interaction by the "user" or pedestrian entering the crosswalk. We set out to develop a system that could take this out of the equation, and activate the system automatically or passively without the action or even acknowledgement by the pedestrian that they were entering the crosswalk.
Numerous studies have proven that the statistical "average" number of pedestrians who would make the effort to locate and push the activation feature was around 60%. This is a figure that then through logic, leaves the other 40% at greater risk, in not having the system in operation for their intended crossing. We felt we needed to increase the potential for a higher degree of safety, without the need or interaction of the pedestrian intending to cross.
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