ETH Zurich: Licensing or collaboration opportunity for new traffic control technology

Modern intersections are controlled in a largely centralized and predetermined cyclic manner with traffic adaptive green wave control systems. Shortcomings of the current system are the predominant focus on the main roads and restrictions like a common cycle time on all intersections and the periodic service of road sections. ETH Zurich has developed a new technology with the belief that traffic flows can be greatly improved by moving away from imposing such control schemes and by letting the traffic streams control the traffic lights (decentralized bottom-up control).

The new technology is performing traffic control with a wholistic approach. The control concept does local optimization with maximum flexibility, taking care of all traffic streams,including public transportation, cyclists, pedestrians and side streets. Impressive improvements can be achieved by traffic lights going on and off in a self-controlled way, not based on periodic patterns but based on priorities assigned to arriving vehicle platoons. This may seem chaotic, but it has been proven to be highly effective.

The system automatically adopts to variations in turning flows, unexpected situations like accidents or temporary road works. The traffic lights are controlled by the traffic streams. With this self-controlled system, traffic flows can be greatly improved as was shown in an extensive pilot study in Dresden (Germany).Results showed significant improvements (less delay) compared to stateof- the-art green wave control: 56 per cent improvement for trams and busses,36 per cent improvement for pedestrians and cyclists and 9 per cent improvement for cars and trucks. When public transport is less prioritized, vehicle flows can be improved by about 30 per cent.

ETH Zurich is looking for a licensing or collaboration partner for the presented opportunity. If you are interested to learn more about the technology please contact: [email protected]