The Need
Traffic signal controllers have been around as long as the vehicle, and the intent is to communicate to the driver "Go" or "Stop". But our vehicles have become much more advanced in the last couple decades, and they could use traffic signal information to improve performance, fuel efficiency, and prepare for the unknown.
Isn't there already a solution?
Traffic engineers are currently working on devices that will communicate the traffic signal state to the vehicles, but this will take time to deploy and a significant amount of investments. But we are able to communicate this information now with existing technologies and communications to provide some benefits of connected vehicle technologies.
Doesn't a traffic signal know when it is going to change?
Yes, and no. A traffic signal controller is basically a logic control that responds to if's, then's, and when's. If a traffic signal controller is fixed time, then the controller will behave the same way every day. That is an easy thing to predict. Crowdsourcing the data is possible to learn this information, but when the traffic signal controller is actuated (the control responds to the traffic demand), then the problem becomes much more complicated.
Special Events
Fire trucks, ambulances, police vehicles, heavy rail, light rail, transit vehicles, and even passenger vehicles or pedestrians can cause the traffic signal controller to deviate from the normal plan. The traffic signal must respond to these multiple users, often in a special manner or sequence, and these events are random. This is why real-time communication to the traffic signal controller is necessary. Special events, like sporting events, are also a key component to predicting the traffic signal controller.
Isn't there already a solution?
Traffic engineers are currently working on devices that will communicate the traffic signal state to the vehicles, but this will take time to deploy and a significant amount of investments. But we are able to communicate this information now with existing technologies and communications to provide some benefits of connected vehicle technologies.
Doesn't a traffic signal know when it is going to change?
Yes, and no. A traffic signal controller is basically a logic control that responds to if's, then's, and when's. If a traffic signal controller is fixed time, then the controller will behave the same way every day. That is an easy thing to predict. Crowdsourcing the data is possible to learn this information, but when the traffic signal controller is actuated (the control responds to the traffic demand), then the problem becomes much more complicated.
Special Events
Fire trucks, ambulances, police vehicles, heavy rail, light rail, transit vehicles, and even passenger vehicles or pedestrians can cause the traffic signal controller to deviate from the normal plan. The traffic signal must respond to these multiple users, often in a special manner or sequence, and these events are random. This is why real-time communication to the traffic signal controller is necessary. Special events, like sporting events, are also a key component to predicting the traffic signal controller.