Presumably using RFID, sensors, and other neat things, these test Audi cars in Germany will be able to count down every stoplight they encounter.
I think this is a really great idea so people can rest their eyes a little bit more at stoplights.
On the other hand, I think it could also cause more accidents since people “know” when the light will turn green.
It’s a good thing this will be implemented in Germany and when they are done beta-testing, maybe we might get it here in the U.S. too.
The experimental ‘Travolution’ system, developed with Audi support by traffic management experts in the brand’s German home town of Ingolstadt, will not only improve synchronisation and phasing of traffic light networks to reduce stopping times, but could also dramatically reduce the number of actual stops needed by creating a communications link between cars and the traffic light network.
Communications modules built into each traffic light are able to send messages to cars in the vicinity, alerting them to the time remaining until their next green phase. The car’s onboard system is then able to calculate the speed which the driver must maintain in order to pass through the light during this green phase, and displays this via the Multi Media Interface display.
A network of 46 of the ‘intelligent’ traffic lights has been installed in the centre of Ingolstadt, the software to which they are all linked optimising their phasing to bring stopping times down to a minimum, reducing fuel consumption and pollution in the process.
One Response to Audi and Germany’s Travolution System lets you Predict when the Light will turn Green!
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Love the overall concept but I too think more accidents will happen, especially when the system starts to experience gliches and breakdowns.