Virtual Traffic Lights Using Distributed AI at Obstructed Intersections

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing virtual traffic light systems face challenges in establishing vehicle-to-vehicle communication due to obstructions at intersections, leading to ineffective leader selection and potential collisions during high traffic conditions.

Innovation Solution

A distributed artificial intelligence (DAI) approach is employed to create self-organized traffic management using vehicle-to-vehicle communication, where vehicles cooperate to select a lead vehicle for controlling intersection right-of-way, leveraging stopped vehicles at intersections to establish leaders and manage traffic flows efficiently.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If vehicle-to-vehicle communication is used for virtual traffic light leader selection, then infrastructure cost is reduced, but communication reliability deteriorates due to obstructions at intersections

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinfrastructure costVSAvoidcommunication reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a roadside unit (RSU) as an intermediary to relay communication between vehicles at intersections. When direct vehicle-to-vehicle communication is blocked by buildings or other obstructions, the RSU acts as a mediator to forward messages, ensuring that leader selection and traffic control information can still be exchanged reliably without requiring expensive infrastructure-based traffic lights.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary communication attempts between vehicles before approaching the intersection. Vehicles exchange information about their position, speed, and intended path in advance, allowing the system to predict potential communication blockages and prepare alternative routing through RSUs before the obstruction becomes problematic.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If stopped vehicles are used to establish VTL leaders, then leader selection reliability is improved, but traffic flow efficiency worsens due to additional stops

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveleader selection reliabilityVSAvoidtraffic flow efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the selection criterion from requiring vehicles to be completely stopped to selecting leaders based on proximity to the intersection and communication capability. This parameter change allows moving vehicles to become leaders, eliminating unnecessary stops while maintaining reliable leader selection through the use of RSUs to ensure communication reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements dynamic leader selection where the VTL leader can change based on real-time vehicle positions, speeds, and communication status. Rather than requiring vehicles to stop and then select a leader, the system continuously monitors parameters and dynamically assigns leadership to the most suitable vehicle, improving both reliability and traffic flow efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Device complexity

If direct vehicle-to-vehicle communication is attempted, then system complexity is reduced, but collision risk increases due to failed leader establishment

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem complexityVSAvoidcollision risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The RSU serves as a safety intermediary that guarantees leader establishment even when direct vehicle-to-vehicle communication fails. By providing a fallback communication path, the RSU ensures that a VTL leader is always established, preventing the collision risks that would result from failed leader selection in high-traffic conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system prepares backup communication paths through RSUs in advance, cushioning against the potential failure of direct vehicle-to-vehicle communication. This prior cushioning ensures that even if direct communication fails due to obstructions or interference, the leader selection process can still complete successfully, reducing collision risk.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Data Source

PatentUS12387600B2Methods and systems for self-organized traffic management at intersections using a distributed AI approach

Publication Date: 2025.08.12 CARNEGIE MELLON UNIV

AI summary

A system and method is presented for providing virtual traffic lights in non-ideal situations in which vehicle-to-vehicle communication between vehicles approaching an intersection may be blocked by buildings or other obstructions at the corners of the intersection. The method, using a distributed artificial intelligence approach, requires that vehicles approaching an intersection, unless receiving a message indicating that another vehicle at the intersection has been declared the lead vehicle for purposes of controlling access to the intersection, must slowdown or stop at the intersection and assume the role of lead vehicle.