Research Reveals Need for Additional Stoplight Color: White in Traffic Lights
In a groundbreaking development, a research team from North Carolina State University has proposed the addition of a new light to traffic intersections: a white light. This innovative concept, aimed at easing traffic delays and increasing fuel efficiency, could significantly transform driving in the U.S. and beyond.
The white light is designed to coordinate traffic in scenarios involving autonomous vehicles (AVs), a part of a new idea known as the mobile control paradigm. This paradigm allows for the seamless management of traffic, particularly in situations where AVs are prevalent.
Darren Orf, a writer and editor about sci-fi and how our world works, contributed to this article. Orf explains that the white light is intended to inform human drivers about the actions of AVs at intersections, thereby reducing delays and improving fuel efficiency.
The concept of a fourth light for traffic intersections was first introduced in 2020. However, the initial centralized system, which involved a traffic light receiving AV signals and calculating the best route, was found to cause processing delays, making the concept impractical.
To overcome this challenge, the team designed a more distributed system for the white light concept. This system allows the traffic light to communicate with multiple AVs simultaneously, improving its efficiency and effectiveness.
The white light operates as a normal traffic signal when the percentage of self-driving cars is low. However, as the number of AVs at an intersection increases, the white light is intended to be used. The researchers found that the white light concept improves traffic delays by 3% when only 10% of cars are AVs, and the improvement increases to 10.7% when there are 30% AVs.
While the white light is not yet implemented in regular traffic intersections, near-term pilot programs could begin. The team's results were published in the journal IEEE Transactions on Intelligent Transportation Systems.
The implementation of the white light could pave the way for other advancements in transportation, such as the development of electric roadways and dedicated lanes for AVs. Moreover, the white light concept could be implemented in a controlled environment like ports where commercial vehicles, more likely to be AVs, would benefit.
In conclusion, the proposed white light traffic signal is a promising solution to ease traffic delays and increase fuel efficiency in AV scenarios. As the number of AVs on our roads continues to grow, the white light could become a common sight at traffic intersections, revolutionising the way we drive.
