In what is potentially a world-first, researchers have launched a pilot program which replaces physical traffic light systems with virtual alternatives.
Traffic light systems often play a crucial role in traffic flow. When road systems are organized effectively, they can provide a way to increase the efficiency of travel. However, in poorly-managed setups, traffic lights may leave drivers cursing at the wheel behind a red light on a deserted road or may also cause huge traffic jams.
Love or hate them, for many road systems worldwide, they are necessary -- but this does not mean they cannot be improved.
The challenge of improving road traffic flows and the effectiveness of traffic control methods is at the heart of a new research project led by engineer Rusheng Zhang, together with a team from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh.
As reported by MIT Technology Review[1], the researchers developed an alternative called Virtual Traffic Lights (VTL).
The infrastructure-free traffic control scheme relies on vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communications, a core component of modern cars and the development of autonomous vehicles.
V2V is able to share GPS data, maps, speed, and the intended direction of moving cars.
According to a paper describing the system[2] (.PDF), Dedicated Short Range Communications (DSRC) technology can be used in conjunction with V2V to coordinate traffic at intersections without the need for physical traffic lights.
V2V communication provides data from vehicles, which is then used by the DSRC-based VTL to coordinate moving traffic.
A pilot program has been launched in Pittsburgh. Two vehicles were set up to approach a junction, one of which acted as the "lead" car.
The leader was given a virtual red light display, which left the following vehicle with a green