Development of a Low-Cost LIDAR System for Bicycles

Transportation surveys illustrate that one of the most significant deterrents to bicycles as a form of conveyance is the concern with safety. Moreover, crash statistics also indicate that motor vehicles pose a severe risk to bicycles. As a result, this paper focuses on the development of a bicycle-mounted traffic monitoring system with the potential of providing early crash warnings to bicyclists. The system designed has a low monetary cost ($280.84) and is small enough to mount on a bicycle (94 mm × 56 mm × 89 mm). Moreover, it has sufficient range to track cars before they get dangerously close to the bike. The foundation of the system includes a Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) module that includes direct compatibility with microcontrollers. This LIDAR module interacts with a camera, stepper motor, and small computers through interfacing hardware and software. While robust, one limitation of the system is processing power. Specifically, its ability to detect cars is contingent on the performance of the computer that processes a video stream from the camera. With increased computing power, the system is capable of detecting lanes aiding in the search for cars, subsequently eliminating most false positives. Hence, augmenting processing capabilities of the current system would allow the vehicle recognition software to be more sensitive, ensuring that an automobile on the road is always detected.