Transportation engineers at North Carolina State University have proposed adding a “white light” to traffic signals, aiming to improve efficiency and reduce delays. This innovative concept would allow autonomous vehicles (AVs) to manage intersection traffic while signaling human drivers to follow the lead of AV-controlled vehicles.
The system activates the white light when a sufficient number of AVs approach an intersection, allowing AVs to coordinate traffic flow. If too few AVs are present, the traffic light functions conventionally. Simulations show the system reduces wait times, improves fuel efficiency, and enhances overall traffic movement. The idea relies on AVs communicating wirelessly with each other and the traffic signal’s computer system.
“Our earlier work introduced the idea of a fourth traffic signal called a ‘white phase,’ which taps into the computing power of autonomous vehicles (AVs) in order to expedite traffic at intersections – but we had not yet incorporated what this concept would mean for pedestrians,” said lead NC State researched Ali Hajbabaie in a press release. “We’ve now expanded our computational modeling to account for foot traffic, and the results are extremely promising for both pedestrians and vehicles.”
The researchers, led by PhD student Ramin Niroumand and Assistant Professor Leila Hajibabai, acknowledge the technology isn’t yet ready for implementation. Their study, “White Phase Intersection Control Through Distributed Coordination,” is published in IEEE Transactions on Intelligent Transportation Systems.
