Traffic Light Timing With Speed Advisories for Stop-and-Go Traffic

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Solution Overview

Problem

Stop-and-go traffic patterns on urban roads lead to excessive energy consumption due to unnecessary vehicle braking, idling, and accelerations, causing negative impacts such as delayed travel time, air pollution, and increased carbon emissions.

Innovation Solution

A mobile edge computing framework that integrates real-time vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) communication and intelligent speed optimization algorithms into a mobile application, predicting queue lengths and generating optimal speed advisories for vehicles approaching intersections, thereby reducing stop-and-go behavior.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If vehicles follow conventional stop-and-go traffic patterns at urban intersections, then vehicles can react to traffic signals in real-time, but energy consumption increases due to unnecessary braking, idling, and accelerations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevehicle energy consumptionVSAvoidtravel time

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by predicting future queue lengths at downstream intersections and generating speed advisories before vehicles reach decision points. The mobile edge computing framework calculates optimal speeds in advance, allowing vehicles to maintain energy-efficient trajectories without abrupt braking or acceleration, thus reducing energy consumption while managing travel time effectively

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts speed advisories based on real-time traffic conditions, predicted queue lengths, and vehicle positions. The mobile application continuously updates optimal speed recommendations, enabling vehicles to adapt their driving behavior dynamically to minimize energy consumption during approach to intersections while maintaining reasonable travel times

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Loss of energy

If vehicles brake and stop frequently at red lights, then traffic signal compliance is maintained, but energy is wasted through braking, idling, and subsequent accelerations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy wasted in braking and accelerationVSAvoidair pollution and carbon emissions

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system converts the harmful effect of frequent stopping into a benefit by using predicted queue length information to generate speed advisories that prevent unnecessary braking. Vehicles receiving these advisories can maintain smoother trajectories, converting what would have been energy-wasting stop-and-go cycles into continuous, efficient motion, thereby reducing both energy loss and harmful emissions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The mobile edge computing framework implements feedback by continuously monitoring traffic conditions, updating queue length predictions, and adjusting speed advisories in real-time. This closed-loop system provides vehicles with ongoing feedback about optimal speeds to minimize energy waste, allowing drivers to adjust their behavior to reduce braking and acceleration events that cause energy loss and pollution

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Productivity

If a mobile edge computing framework with V2I communication is implemented, then speed optimization and energy efficiency improve, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetraffic flow efficiencyVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system introduces a mobile edge computing framework as an intermediary between traffic infrastructure and vehicles. This intermediary processes complex queue length predictions and generates speed advisories, simplifying the interaction for individual vehicles while enabling sophisticated traffic optimization at the system level, thus improving productivity without requiring complex changes in each vehicle

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The mobile application provides self-service by autonomously calculating and displaying speed advisories to drivers based on received traffic data. The system automatically processes information, generates recommendations, and adapts to changing conditions without requiring manual intervention, thereby managing system complexity internally while delivering simplified benefits to users

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS20250131819A1Energy-efficient vehicle and/or traffic light control

Publication Date: 2025.04.24 ALLIANCE FOR ENERGY INNOVATION LLC

AI summary

Systems and methods for controlling traffic flow on road(s). The methods comprise: obtaining, by a processor, traffic related information comprising a total number of vehicles that caused an activation of a sensor of a first detector located at a first intersection of a plurality of intersections; generating, by the processor, a predicted traffic volume at one or more downstream second intersections based on the traffic related information; generating, by the processor, a traffic light timing for at least two next cycles based on the predicted traffic volume; and controlling, by the processor, a traffic light of the one or more downstream second intersections in accordance with the traffic light timing to reduce a probability or likelihood that the vehicle will stop at a red light thereat..