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Intelight ESB Traffic Signal
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This is an Intelight Electronic Steerable Beam (ESB) Traffic Signal. This is a programmable visibility signal just like the 3M and McCain versions, except this one is alot more high tech. Designed to be 100% LED with programmable arrays that can steer the light beam. Each signal has built in communications to a central office as well as video cameras mounted in the door. The cameras are used for detection and homeland security.
Intelight bought the signal design from another company, Optisoft, after Optisoft went bankrupt.
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And this looks nice. And what would the cameras be used for? Like what would they do?
If detection is used on the cameras, a processor made by Intelight is installed in the traffic signal controller cabinet to detect vehicles approaching the intersection. They would work just like regular detection cameras operate, except in a smaller package installed inside the signal itself.
"Base model" Intelights are sold without cameras installed leaving nothing inside those little windows on the door.
If the amplifier is set too low, it wont detect smaller vehicles, if its set too high it starts to interfere with other loops sending out false calls. To run the loop lines from cutting the pavement, installation, and the loop amps in the cabinet is around $1,500. Cheap, actually, compared to most other detection methods.
I operate video detection in my own collection so I know first hand how it operates. It is alot easier to work with. You just plug in the laptop with the software installed, set up the cameras and features, and download it to the video processor in the cabinet. You draw in zones using the software which are basically big square boxes that you want detection to be placed at. Then you match that zone to an output so the controller knows which output has a call. It does have its disadvantages though...like cameras getting mis-aimed. My video stuff is fairly old now so I got it cheap, but the newest equipment is around $8-10,000
Another company, called WaveTronix is developing radar traffic detection which is alot easier to work with than video. But it isn't cheap either.
We got a good number STILL IN USE in Baltimore City...There are also other types I found in the city but was not able to get pictures of them....yet......
Loop detection is the cheapest and the quickest to install. Its also one of the oldest and most common forms for traffic actuated intersections.
Gullwhiz--that is very old. I'm talking about modern radar equipment. Here are some specs on the Wavetronix equipment