Smart Technologies for Traffic Signals

A pilot in Pittsburgh is using technology that is smart to improve traffic signals, thereby reducing the time it takes for vehicles to stop and idle as well as overall travel time. The system was developed by an Carnegie Mellon professor in robotics and combines signals from the past with sensors and artificial intelligence to improve the flow of traffic on urban road networks.

Sensors are used by adaptive traffic signal control systems (ATSC) to monitor and adjust the timing and phasing of signals at intersections. They may be based on different types of hardware, such as radar, computer vision, and inductive loops embedded in the pavement. They also can capture vehicle data from connected cars in C-V2X or DSRC formats, with data pre-processed on the edge device, or dispatched to a cloud location for further analysis.

Smart traffic lights can regulate the time of idle and RLR at busy intersections technologytraffic.com/2021/07/08/generated-post/ to keep vehicles moving without slowing down. They can also detect safety issues like the violation of lane markings and crossing lanes and notify drivers, helping to reduce accidents on city roads.

Smarter controls can also help to tackle new challenges like the growth of ebikes, escooters and other micromobility options that have become increasingly popular since the pandemic. These systems can track these vehicles’ movements and use AI to help manage their movements at intersections that are not appropriate for their small size.