STC delivers distributed solar-powered Hawk Crossing System to Raytheon
TEMPE, AZ - 11/02/2009 - Solar Traffic Controls has delivered and overseen
installation of a variation of the solar-powered Hawk crossing signal to
Raytheon Missile Systems in Tucson, AZ. Each crossing consists of four
poles: two red lamp poles with pedestrian indicators and two advance amber
flasher poles. All units are linked to each other via wireless link. All
are solar powered.
The Hawk mid-block crossing system includes red and yellow lamps along with
pedestrian indicators. In standby mode, the traffic beacons appear dark to
the approaching traffic while the pedestrian indicator displays a Don't Walk
(DW) indication to the pedestrians. When the pedestrian button is pressed,
the amber lamps go to a flashing state, followed by a solid amber display
while the pedestrian indicator shows a solid DW indication. The amber lamps
go dark and solid red beacons are displayed to traffic and the Walk
indication is given to the pedestrian. This is followed by flashing red
indications to traffic and a flashing DW indication to the pedestrian. At
the conclusion of the flashing red interval, the traffic lamps go dark and
the pedestrian section displays a solid DW. After the display cycle is
completed the system goes into a lockout period to allow accumulated traffic
to pass before another activation cycle.
The distributed version of the Hawk which Raytheon chose to install was
based on separating the amber lamps from the reds. The amber lamps were
located 100 to 200 feet in advance of the crossings, which were all on low
speed roadways within Raytheon's facility. The units located at the
crosswalk consisted of a dual 12-inch red traffic indication; DC pedestrian
indication; Polara Bulldog push button and STC solar-powered control
circuitry.
The advance units consist of 12-inch dual amber flashers with standard Solar
Ped-X controls running modified software for this application. In standby,
the system presents dark signals to approaching traffic and a solid DW to
pedestrians. Upon activation, the advance amber lamps go into flash mode,
the red lamps go solid and the DW remains solid. A field adjustable "red
clear" timer was the first timing interval to run and was included to allow
cars to come to a stop at the crosswalk prior to walk interval. This timer
is field programmable from 3 to 20 seconds depending on vehicle speeds.
During the walk interval, the advance ambers continue to flash, the reds
remain solid and the walk indication is displayed to the pedestrian. The
walk interval timer can be set from 10 to 60 seconds to allow some
adjustment for user needs. The DW interval then follows when the pedestrian
indicator shows a flashing red DW; the red lamps go to a flashing red state
and the advance amber lamps continue to flash. At the conclusion of the DW
interval, the traffic lamps go dark, standby state, and the DW indication
goes solid. At this time the system is prevented from triggering again for
a minimum of 10 seconds, programmable to 30 seconds, to allow vehicles to
clear the zone prior to another activation. Even though the amber lamps are
separated from the reds, the programming used is almost identical to the
Solar Ped-X Hawk software which is presently under test at STC.
Fielding this system and managing power issues required the development of a DC pedestrian indicator. The engineering staff at STC laid out the circuit
boards and did the necessary development to ensure a reliable design as it
will be necessary for the Solar Ped-X Hawk units to be introduced in 2010.
It is projected this will be a standard product in the STC line by the end
of the first quarter, 2010. STC also developed a removable handheld
interface terminal which allows a user to adjust values and monitor the
system operation from the master control unit located at one of the red
units.
CAD drawings are included to help clarify the project. Due to the sensitive
nature of the work at the facility and adjoining military base, photos
cannot be included.
About Solar Traffic Controls
Solar Traffic Controls (STC) designs and manufactures solar-powered traffic
control systems for city, state and federal DOTs. Its primary products are
solar-powered flashing beacon systems used for school zones and 24-hour
applications. Go solar: STC's equipment and services will save you time,
effort and money.
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