Subrack for Intelligent Traffic Systems

Intelligent Traffic Systems applications—traffic controllers, edge AI nodes, sensing cabinets—require hardware that is scalable, field-serviceable, and stable under harsh outdoor conditions.

Subrack architecture addresses these needs with standardized modules, high-speed backplanes, and industrial-grade mechanical design, becoming the preferred hardware platform for smart intersections around the world.

1. Why Subracks Matter in Intelligent Traffic Systems Deployment

1.1 Technical Challenges in City-Level Installations

Intelligent Traffic Systems often face four critical engineering challenges:

● Mixed hardware, poor scalability

AI cards, communication boards, I/O modules, relays, and power units are typically built by different vendors and lack a unified structure—making upgrades and expansion difficult.

● Tight maintenance windows

Traffic controllers cannot shut down during peak hours. A 3–5 minute downtime may cause significant congestion.

● High wiring and installation cost

Each city or department uses slightly different configurations, resulting in repeated customization, on-site wiring, and long delivery cycles.

● Harsh outdoor environment

Equipment must withstand vibration, dust, humidity, heat cycles, and heavy rainfall.

Subracks are designed exactly for these pain points—turning a complex field system into standardized, serviceable hardware.

2. Modular Hardware: Turning a “Mixed Cabinet” Into a Clean Drawer System

2.1 Eurocard-based modular design (3U / 6U)

• AI inference cards, video encoding modules, 5G communication boards, power modules, and relay boards all slide into a unified subrack frame.

• “One board = One function” makes expansion or upgrade a simple plug-in / pull-out operation.

• No need to replace the whole system.

2.2 Backplane connectivity (CompactPCI / VPX)

• Power, Ethernet, CAN bus, GPIO, and high-speed signals are routed through the backplane.

• Zero loose wires, reducing assembly and wiring labor by up to 60%.

• Eliminates wiring errors commonly seen in terminal-block installations.

3. Hot-Swap Capability: 24/7 Availability for Urban Operations

● Fast field recovery (<5 minutes)

Technicians can replace faulty boards without shutting down the system.

The subrack automatically identifies the new module and restores operation—critical for traffic controllers and edge computing nodes.

● Front-panel status indicators

Power / Run / Fault LEDs combined with backplane telemetry (voltage, current, temperature) enable remote diagnosis.

● Higher first-time repair accuracy (>95%)

Maintenance teams know exactly which board is failing before arriving on site.

4. Standardized Production: Faster Delivery & Lower Inventory

● Unified 3U/4HP or 6U/8HP boards

Manufacturers can complete aging tests and pre-assembly at the factory.

On-site installation becomes “slot-based,” eliminating manual wiring.

● Cross-department compatibility

Traffic control, city management, police, and environmental monitoring can share the same subrack platform—changing only the functional board.

● Spare-parts reduction by 70%

Standardization drastically cuts storage and maintenance costs.

5. Ruggedized for Harsh Outdoor Conditions

5.1 Industrial-grade mechanical design

• Metal profile frame with EMC shielding

• Compliant with:

• IEC 61587 vibration resistance

• IK08 impact protection

• IP55 dust & water protection

• Suitable for deployment in roadside cabinets, junction boxes, and open-air sites.

5.2 Power redundancy for uninterrupted service

• Dual 48V DC inputs

• 100ms power interruption ride-through

• Locking ejector handles keep heavy boards secure even under strong vibration

• MTBF ≥ 100,000 hours, meeting GB/T 20609-2023 Traffic Controller Reliability standards.

6. Real-World Applications

6.1 SURTRAC Multi-Agent Traffic Signal System (Carnegie Mellon University, USA)

Each intersection uses an embedded subrack computer integrating detection, communication, and scheduling boards.

All boards communicate via the backplane, enabling intersection-to-intersection coordination for fully distributed green-wave control.

6.2 Railway & Multi-Sensor Smart Poles (China)

Relay logic, diagnostics, communication, and power modules are consolidated into a single subrack, reducing cabinet volume by 40% and cutting diagnostic time from hours to minutes.

This architecture is now widely used in smart poles, traffic controllers, and environmental monitoring systems.

7. Technical Specifications

Form Factor

• 3U / 6U Eurocard

• 4HP / 8HP board width

• Depth: 160mm / 220mm / 280mm

Backplane Standards

• CompactPCI

• CompactPCI Serial (CPCI-S)

• VPX (optional)

Interfaces & Buses

• Ethernet

• CAN

• GPIO

• Serial + high-speed expansion connectors

Power & Environment

• Dual 48V DC input

• Hot-swap support

• MTBF ≥ 100,000h

• IP55, IK08, IEC 61587

• Operating temperature: -40°C to +70°C (project dependent)

8. Why Subracks Are Becoming the Core Hardware Platform of intelligent traffic system?

Subrack architecture transforms complex urban hardware into a clean, scalable, reliable system:

• Modular → faster integration

• Hot-swappable → shorter downtime

• Standardized → faster delivery

• Ruggedized → fewer failures

This is why subracks are rapidly becoming the default hardware framework for traffic controllers, edge AI systems, sensing nodes, and smart-city infrastructure worldwide.