AI Intersections
Does this represent the future of traffic intersection management?
This appears to be based on a research paper I reviewed more than a year ago. It's interesting to see a purely theoretical idea come one step closer to the "real world"... even if that is only in a commercial, which is still a long way from everyday implementation.
Intersection computer models
The title of the prior work is Multiagent Traffic Management:A Reservation-Based Intersection Control Mechanism. While a bit of a mouthful, it depicts an intersection where vehicles make a reservation for safe passage. That reservation guarantees that no other car will be in the way when the car reaches the intersection. It doesn't mean the intersection will be empty, though. Other cars may be passing in front and behind you as you travel through the intersection... perhaps with spacing of only a fraction of a second.
In the traffic light model, cars are delayed by an average of 9.45 seconds relative to how quickly they could travel without an intersection present. In the AI intersection reservation system model, cars are delayed an average of 0.076 seconds - significantly less than when using a traffic light.
All the details are in the PDF. But what's really fun is to see the models in action. The most complex is an amazing 6-lane intersection simulation using the reservation model. If that isn't enough, there is a user-customizable model available from the main page.
Computer AI not required?
This is a really crazy intersection in India. It may appear chaotic and the chances for an accident seem high, yet the only "AIs" involved are the human drivers.
What else can we expect?
- a vehicle that can detect a drowsy driver and check/increase alertness through seat and/or steering wheel vibrations, increasing-volume audible alerts, or even giving the driver a blast of cold air. More crude systems might require the driver to acknowledge the alert by pressing a button, but more advanced systems can use the driver's facial expressions to determine alertness.
- a vehicle that can speed up or slow down to match the posted speed limit
a car that can drive itself into a parking space
- advances in navigation, where the navigation system compensates for real-time traffic congestion, road work, accidents, etc using a WIFI network link
- Perhaps the ultimate in car AI is one that can drive itself. Even on a limited basis this would provide a lot of added convenience. Current technology already exists to allow a car to drive itself on highways. That could help take the monotony out of longer journeys. Also, imagine if you could "page" your car as you are heading out of your office or as you are paying at the check-out line of the grocery store; the car could meet you at the curb.
And of course, don't forget about KITT, the car of Knight Rider fame. KITT will return with an all new look in the 2008 release of a new Knight Rider movie.
