Opticom ™ GPS Priority Control System 3M™ Opticom™ GPS Priority Control System Driver Training

Opticom™ GPS Priority Control System

3M™ Opticom™ GPS Priority Control System

Driver Training


What Is It• The Opticom GPS system assists authorized priority

vehicles through signalized intersections by providing temporary right-of-way through the use of common traffic controller functions.


Vehicle Equipment• Radio/GPS unit

• Radio/GPS antenna

• Vehicle Control Unit


Intersection Equipment• Radio/GPS Unit • Phase Selector• Card Rack


How Does it Work• Vehicle radio obtains position, speed, heading

and turn signal status from GPS satellites

• Vehicle radio transmits this information and ID to intersection

• Intersection radio receives information and sends a priority request to the equipment in the traffic controller cabinet

• The traffic controllers is programmed to provide a green light for the approaching vehicle

• Activity is logged


How Does it Work


How Does it Work• First-come, first-served

– Whichever vehicle is in range first will be granted the priority request

– Second vehicle will be serviced when the first clears the intersection

• Multiple vehicles traveling in the same direction will all be granted the green light

– Will hold for six seconds after vehicle enters the intersection

• Drive as though the system is not there

• Drive the green lights


Turn Signal Use• Always use your turn signal

• System will relay your request around the corner to the next equipped intersection but only if turn signal is used

• Activate turn signal as far in advance as possible


Vehicle transmits location,speed, heading, IDinformation and turn

signal status to OpticomGPS equippedintersection A

Intersection A relays priorityrequest to the next OpticomGPS equipped intersection(B) in the direction of the

approaching vehicle's turnsignal

Opticom GPS equippedIntersection B starts

priority

A

B

1

32

Turn Signal Use


How Far Back will it Activate• Opticom GPS has a 2,500 ft minimum range

• Most intersections set to activate at:

– 30 seconds OR 1000 ft• Whichever threshold is achieved first

• Actual time to display green will vary based on point in controller cycle when green is requested– Should always see green before entering intersection

• Will go all red prior to displaying green– May not see


Intersection Signal Timings• Example: A signal can have a 24-second delay

before turning green– 6 seconds – Minimum green– 12 second – Pedestrian clearance – 4 seconds – Minimum yellow– 2 seconds – All red clearance– Equals a 24 second delay


How Will Other Drivers React

• If light just went red, drivers may not expect it to turn green so quickly and hesitate before moving again

• Other emergency drivers may assume they have control

• Drive defensively


Activation Lights

• Activation lights are intended to let you know that the system has been activated

• Confirmation lights are blue globes or the old lights• Confirmation lights will illuminate during

preemption– You may not see them

• Another vehicle may have activated the system and may get the green before you

• Drive the signal lights not the activation lights!



How Do I Activate the System

• System is wired to go active when lightbar is activated•Control unit must be on

• When GPS indicator is green, system is fully active• May take 10-15 seconds


Vehicle Control Unit

ON/OFF POWERDISABLEGPSRADIO

3Opticom™ GPS

PC


3Opticom™ GPS

PC

Equipment turned off

• Green: power, GPS, radio and switch indicators• Normal Operation


Disable Feature

• Unit will be disabled when you open officers door or driver door on BN91

• To reactivate close the door and cycle lightbar


System Disabled

POWERDISABLEGPSRADIO

Opticom™ GPS

PC

3

• Flashing switch & disable indicators• Unit is disabled

• No preemption will be requested in disable mode


Things to Always Remember

• Drive as though the system is not there• Drive the “green lights”• Always use your turn signal• Verify that equipment is off or disabled when you

get to the scene


Equipped Intersections• Avery & Shier-Rings• Avery & Rt 33EB ramp• Avery & Rt 33WB ramp• Avery & Perimeter Loop• Avery & Perimeter Drive• Riverside & Hard Road• Rt 33 & Frantz• Bridge & High• Emerald & Shier-Rings• Emerald & Dublin


Equipped Vehicles• Battalion 91• Ladder 91• Engine 91• Squad 91• Engine 92• Medic 92

• Ladder/Quint 93• Engine 93• Medic 93• Engine 95• Medic 95


Troubleshooting• Is problem present in all vehicles or only certain

vehicles?

– If no vehicles activate a specific intersection, problem is likely in the intersection

• Is problem present at all intersections?

– If specific vehicle will not activate any intersection, problem is likely in vehicle

• Notify BC Aston for vehicle problems

• Notify the 40hr BC for intersection problems


Vehicle Equipment Problems


Opticom™ GPS

PC

3

• Amber GPS Indicator• No GPS, radio not transmitting

• Cycle ON/OFF switch

• Notify BC Aston if continues


Vehicle Equipment Problems

• Amber GPS and Radio Indicators• No communication between vehicle control unit

and radio

• Cycle ON/OFF switch

• Notify BC Aston if continues


Opticom™ GPS

PC

3


Security• System is highly secure• Equipment only sold to authorized agencies• No other system available to activate• Very difficult to “hack”


• Provides temporary intersection control on demand

• First-come, first-served

• Drive as if there is NO priority system

• Drive the “green lights”

• Always use your turn signal

• Operate with due regard

In Summary

Documents

Opticom ™ GPS Priority Control System 3M™ Opticom™ GPS Priority Control System Driver Training