All of us at some point have wondered how the flow of traffic vehicles is controlled? running the red light even in heavy traffic? It is a matter of curiosity among many of us, civilians, how the functioning of traffic lights work so precisely or how the timing of signal lights turn on or off right on cue, how this system functions so that lights can change or how it detects when pedestrians cross. Then again many of us don’t stay stuck at traffic signals long enough to ponder on this topic before we are rushing to our destination as the green light gives the cue.
The magic of technology behind this ingenious process that functions to keep vehicle traffic running smoothly without congestion at road junctions or cue the pedestrians to cross is quite important in present times. With an increasing number of vehicles in every family, almost every family member has their own car. This has only necessitated the need for a well-monitored traffic system so that the huge bulk of traffic can move in an orderly fashion. Office rush hours are especially a time when this is required so that accidents don’t happen in high-traffic hotspots or people don’t try to cross roads chaotically.
How Do Inductive Loop Detectors or Stick Down Loop Detectors Work?
Inductive Loop Detectors or Stick Down Loop Detectors work through an induction loop as their name may suggest. These loops are typically made of copper wires, which are placed on or just under the road to detect the movement of vehicles. The copper wire is linked to a loop detector in both Inductive Loop Detectors or Stick Down Loop Detectors, which form a magnetic field within the coil that looks like a metal stick. If you are someone who is well-read on physics then you may be able to understand the function of electromagnets better.
How these loop detectors function is simple enough as a vehicle’s metal disrupts the magnetic field of the electromagnets, which triggers a response from the sensor. This is how vehicles are identified.
These loop detection systems have various uses and are used commercially in areas like fences, parking booths, mansions, and industrial gates, and so on. Inductive loop detectors are more common at traffic signals with heavy volumes of vehicles while stick down loop detectors are more common at parking booths or gates where the flow of vehicles is lower.
How Do Inductive Loop Detectors/Stick Down Loop Detectors Help In Controlling Traffic?
Inductive loop detectors or stick down loop detectors are one of the ingenious inventions of modern technology and this technology is no less than magic with how efficiently it works to handle the traffic through sensing the flow of vehicles. This system is effective and reliable at handling and sensing the traffic flow on the roads, especially at junctions where traffic signals operate. Stick-down or inductive loop detectors function by detecting the presence of vehicles in an area. Loop detector systems thereby keep track and report vehicle flow and volume on the road, along with their classifications and any kinds of accidents or incidents. This also helps the system control traffic signals.
The key features of traffic control mechanisms that work through inductive loop detectors or stick down loop detectors include –
- The timing and duration of traffic lights are controlled through loop detectors.
- Vehicles stopping at a red light or at parking toll booths are detected through these loop detectors.
- Detection of congested or stacked-up traffic at particular signals.
We hope this would help you understand the basics of induction loop detectors and stick down loop detectors. These mechanisms have made it much easier to control vehicles and traffic, especially in cities.
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