Collision Avoidance Exercise Controller

2007 ALERT International conference

It was a pleasure to be part of the 2007 ALERT International conference in Charlotte, NC. At the conference, we had a drawing for a free 120 volt CAEC (Collision Avoidance Exercise Controller). Congratulations to Randy S Jacoby for winning the 120 volt controller. Thanks to David Thaw and the CMPD for allowing us to demonstrate our 12 volt Collision Avoidance Exercise Controller system on the CVOC (Charlotte Vehicle Operations Course). All participants of the CVOC tours on Tuesday got to see our controller system in action.

Because of limited space at the CVOC on Tuesday, we scaled our exercise down and used about half of the available 300 ft of cable. Although the exercise was scaled down, it still showed the effectiveness of the 12 volt Collision Avoidance Exercise Controller system. Click on the picture below to see a video of the demonstration.

ALERT Demo Video

Accident avoidance training

The Collision Avoidance Exercise Controller was made to improve and expand the ability to teach collision avoidance for drivers training. The exercise is also called perception reaction, evasive action, accident avoidance, accident evasion, evasive maneuver, as well as many other names. The basic idea of this exercise is to simulate a condition where the driver needs to make a quick decision and reaction to avoid a collision.

The Collision Avoidance Exercise Controller uses a vehicle detector to determine when a vehicle has entered the exercise, delays a user selected time delay, and then illuminates lights in lanes to represent objects blocking those lanes.

The Collision Avoidance Exercise Controller controls three traffic lights in three lanes. The controller illuminates lights in lanes to simulate that there is an object blocking that lane. The driving student must recognize the lane that the light is not illuminated and maneuver the vehicle through that lane or stop if all lights are illuminated. The controller has a variety of modes that the instructor can select to tailor an exercise.

The controller has an input for vehicle detection and a selectable time delay (0.0 to 9.9 seconds) so the instructor can adjust for different speeds and length of track.

Time delay from vehicle detection to lights being illuminated can be selected with dial switches in tenths of seconds increments from 0-9.9 seconds. The current mode is also set with a dial switch. Current mode and time delay is displayed on LCD screen.

Modes of operation:

Mode	Street Lights	Response
Left	Left light "off" Center light "on" Right light "on"	Maneuver vehicle through left lane
Center	Left light "on" Center light "off" Right light "on"	Maneuver vehicle through center lane
Right	Left light "on" Center light "on" Right light "off"	Maneuver vehicle through right lane
Stop	Left light "on" Center light "on" Right light "on"	Stop vehicle
2 Way Random	Random Left or Right Mode	Random Left or Right Mode
3 Way Random	Random Left, Center, or Right Mode	Random Left, Center, or Right Mode
2 Way Random with Stop	Random Left, Right, or Stop Mode	Random Left, Right, or Stop Mode
3 Way Random with Stop	Random Left, Center, Right, or Stop Mode	Random Left, Center, Right, or Stop Mode

Collision Avoidance Exercise Controllers Available:

12 volt Collision Avoidance Exercise Controller system package includes:

12 volt Collision Avoidance Exercise Controller (includes a cigarette plug and 120 v plug)
Vehicle detector with reflector and 20 ft extension cable
Right, Left, and Center LED traffic lights with enclosures and connectors (25 ft of cable on left and right lights)
300 ft of cable to power lights with connectors

12 Volt Controller
	This system gives the availability to setup up a collision avoidance exercise anywhere you have a cigarette plug (most vehicles), or 120-volt household electricity. Purchase of controller comes with cigarette plug and wall transformer power plug. The controller powers three 12 volt red 8" led traffic lights. For vehicle detection, an air hose vehicle detector or our retro-reflective vehicle detector can be used.
	Accessories needed Three 12 VDC lights – The controller is setup to use three specific 12 VDC LED 8" red traffic lights (see below). Cabling – a custom 4 conductor cable with connectors is needed to power the three traffic lights. It is available in different lengths (see below) Vehicle detector – either use an air hose vehicle detector , retro-reflective vehicle detector, or the test button on the controller can be used to simulate a vehicle detection
120 Volt Controller
	The 120 volt controller is powered by a standard 120-volt household plug. There are three standard 120-volt outlets on the controller to plug the left, center, and right lights into. The outlets can drive 2 amps a piece. Any lights can be run off this controller, as long as they are 120-volt and require less than 2 amps. For vehicle detection, an air hose vehicle detector or our retro-reflective vehicle detector can be used.
	Accessories needed Three 120 VAC lights—Each outlet on the controller can drive 2 amps. Use your own lights or you can purchase red street lights from us which comes wired with 6’ household plug and enclosure (see below) Extension cable—You will need to provide your own cable to run from the controller to each of the three street lights Vehicle detector—either use an air hose vehicle detector, retro-reflective vehicle detector, or the test button on the controller can be used to simulate a vehicle detection (see below)
Vehicle Detector
	Retro-reflective sensor with polarized filter Range up to 12 meters Reflector included 2 meters cord with connector included
Retro-Reflective Sensor Extension
	6 meter extension cable for the Retro-reflective vehicle detector
Red LED 8" Traffic Light
	120 VAC
3 Red LED 8" Traffic Lights
	12 VDC Left and right lights are wired with 25’ of cord and a connector to attached to the center light (available in different lengths) Center light has a connector to attach a cord from controller unit and connectors for the left and right lights
Traffic Light Cable
	Cable for connecting 12 volt controller and three 12 VDC traffic lights (available in custom lengths)