InSync:Fusion
For the first time in history, the cutting-edge versatility of video detection is combined with traditional detection methods to create the most accurate adaptive traffic control system ever.
Introducing InSync:Fusion
Communities nationwide are already experiencing the benefits of InSync, the #1 selling adaptive traffic control system in the country. Independent studies prove that InSync:
- Reduces stops by 60-90%
- Reduces fuel consumption by at least 20%
- Reduces emissions by at least 30%
Now, Rhythm Engineering has gone one step further. InSync:Fusion integrates video detection with inductive loop detection and other existing methods of detection to bring vehicle data collection to an unprecedented level of accuracy.
Fusing Multiple Sources of Vehicle Data Collection
Video detection of vehicles is the best technology for real-time adaptive traffic control. Instead of using outdated analog hardware, InSync makes existing traffic cabinets digital. This allows you to watch traffic camera feeds from any Internet-connected computer and even adjust settings remotely.
Yet video of any kind has some inherent limitations. Circumstances beyond the traffic engineer’s control – such as shadows caused by large trees and shrubs, inclement weather or camera angles that create occlusion – can cause false calls.
By integrating detection data from inductive loops and other existing methods with InSync’s state-of-the-art video detection, InSync:Fusion is able to overcome the limitations that plague other video detection systems. This “fused” approach essentially eliminates the possibility for false calls, creating an adaptive traffic control system that is nearly 100% error-free.
The world’s best technology for real-time adaptive traffic control just became more powerful.
Plug-and-play means nothing gets thrown away
If you’re like most municipalities, you’ve already invested hundreds of thousands of dollars into your existing traffic cabinet hardware. Now you’re finding that the system is inadequate and unable to respond to traffic needs in real-time, resulting in congested roadways, long traffic delays and frustrated motorists.
InSync:Fusion is a plug-and-play system that overlays existing traffic cabinet hardware through an Ethernet and web-centric system that allows remote viewing, tweaking and traffic data retrieval to simplify the work of traffic engineers and technicians. You won’t have to throw away any of the hardware in which you’ve already invested; in fact, InSync:Fusion optimizes your existing system.
InSync:Fusion’s components are quick and easy to install and integrate seamlessly with existing hardware. It’s compatible with all cabinets and controllers, does not require any hardware upgrades, is easy to configure, requires little training and virtually no staff hours to maintain.
The components include an Axis 221 IP digital camera placed in a weatherproof enclosure that connects via Ethernet cable to the InSync:Fusion processor. The processor is placed inside the traffic cabinet and communicates to the signal controller. Once Ethernet communication (wireless, Ethernet over copper, fiber optic cable) is deployed between intersections, InSync:Fusion can be configured, monitored and managed through a user-friendly web page using a standard browser such as Internet Explorer or Firefox.
InSync:Fusion does not require installation of additional detectors, servers nor proprietary central system or software to operate. Vehicle counts, stop delay and Level of Service data for specific phases, times of day or days of the week or month can be conveniently downloaded into graph or spreadsheet form for the ease of evaluating InSync’s effectiveness.
InSync:Fusion Moving Traffic in Georgia
Columbia County, Georgia recently had InSync:Fusion adaptive traffic control installed at 11 intersections.
“We’re already noticing a difference where InSync:Fusion is deployed,” said Glen Bollinger, traffic engineer. “Rhythm Engineering went above and beyond by creating this new solution. I don’t know of anyone who is combining both video detection and inductive loop detection to optimize traffic signals. This helps us move even more traffic.”
By upgrading to InSync:Fusion, Columbia County has essentially eliminated any error in vehicle data collection.
“Rhythm Engineering could have said, ‘Well everyone lives with a certain error rate with video detection.’ But they didn’t. They came up with this new solution. I definitely plan on putting InSync:Fusion on more intersections.”
In addition to the innovation that results in industry-changing product developments, what Bollinger appreciates about Rhythm Engineering is the unmatched customer service.
“The InSync product is so versatile,” said Bollinger. “We can make changes, adjust it, make it do what we need to do. I can call up technical support, tell them what intersection I’m looking at, then we work together on a solution. Rhythm always gets back with me and follows up. They make sure I’m happy. Rhythm Engineering has really impressed me.”
Thanks to Columbia County’s willingness to pilot this new, groundbreaking technology, InSync:Fusion is now ready to install and deploy at intersections nationwide. Combining vehicle data from multiple sources will bring the strengths of video, inductive loops and other sources together to move traffic faster, more safely and more efficiently.
Quick and Easy to Install
A 10-intersection arterial can be installed and controlling traffic in a week’s time, versus four to six months by other similar systems. Once configured, the system will optimize traffic immediately. There are no intersection geometrics or architecture to change or basic hardware to remove or install (beyond InSync’s IP cameras and plug-in processor).
Cost Effective
InSync:Fusion sells for $5,000 when purchased with the $25,000 per intersection InSync base system. This is half the price of other adaptive systems.
Moreover, because InSync:Fusion increases roadway capacity, it can delay or eliminate costly road construction, prevent safety hazards and reduce accidents.
User-Friendly Video Transport
InSync:Fusion uses sophisticated Ethernet cameras. Because there is no analog-to-digital conversion, the cameras provide higher-quality images. The cameras use progressive scan CCD sensors, which enable moving images to be presented without distortion. The cameras deliver simultaneous Motion JPEG and advanced MPEG-4 
streams at 45 frames per second at all resolutions. Each camera can be accessed directly (bypassing the InSync processor) for video monitoring applications over the Ethernet network. Since the camera and zoom lens are available readily off the shelf, maintenance is very cost effective.
InSync:Fusion is also web-centric. All you need is a web browser such as Internet Explorer or Firefox to configure and monitor one or all four cameras simultaneously over a web browser from your office.
Innovative Technology
The system utilizes artificial intelligence to make the most effective use of signal green time along outfitted arterials. InSync:Fusion’s high quality IP digital cameras work in concert with InSync:Fusion processors to process images of real time vehicle platoons passing through or vehicle queues stopped at intersections. InSync:Fusion uses its logic to filter and prioritize the calls for a green light through the use of encoded mathematical algorithms. In effect, InSync:Fusion functions as a traffic robot that possesses both an “eye” and a “brain.”
Digital Controller Operations
Despite many technological advances in solid-state traffic signal controllers, at their core they still emulate as an electromechanical controller by operating under the constraint of cycle lengths and splits. InSync, by contrast, is a finite state-changing machine. There are a limited number of states (compatible phase pairs) in which a traffic signal can possibly operate. Likewise, there are a finite number of “sequences” of those states that are possible and/or permissible at an intersection.
InSync thinks “digitally” regarding the best choice of these possible traffic signal sequences, and changes states in immediate reaction to real time vehicle demand and requests the controller to change the signal accordingly. InSync’s processor externally influences the traditional traffic signal controller by inputting two calls (a.k.a. one concurrent, non-conflicting phase pair) at a time while temporarily suppressing all the other computed lower-priority calls from the real-time traffic. The controller will honor the request from InSync unless there is some kind of human preemption that overrides InSync’s suggestion.
InSync does not use traditional set/common cycle lengths, set splits or offsets to a fixed point in a signal cycle in order to create coordination. The system is configured to make way for any higher-priority calls that go directly into a controller (i.e. from emergency vehicles) and broader parameters that are set manually by a traffic engineer.
Global and Local Optimization
InSync’s patent-pending technology uses integrated digital sensors that know the exact number of cars waiting at each lane and the amount of time they’ve been waiting. InSync processors also communicate to neighboring signals and inform them about approaching vehicles. Using this information, InSync processors automatically optimize light changes to create a profoundly simple and robust adaptive signal control system to keep traffic moving efficiently. InSync combines an optimization methodology of global arterial signal coordination with a powerful and agile local intersection optimization algorithm to both maximize and guarantee arterial progression while reducing side street and left turn delay.
The global optimization consists of “green tunnels” that pass through the corridor, guaranteeing the arterial traffic synchronized bands of green lights that progress platoons of vehicles through the system. As the traffic changes, the duration and frequency of these tunnels can be varied to best support the traffic conditions.
At each intersection, the local optimizer plans around these tunnels to serve the existing and expected traffic in the most effective way to minimize delays. It uses real-time detection data and short-term and long-term historical trends to make the decision of what phases to bring up next and for how long.