Patent secured for traffic management system utilizing AI technology
A new traffic management system created in collaboration with experts from the University of Huddersfield’s artificial intelligence department has been awarded a patent. The system, developed by Simplifai Systems in partnership with Professor of Artificial Intelligence Mauro Vallati and the AI for Urban Traffic Management and Control research team, aims to reduce congestion and air pollution through the use of artificial intelligence.
The system has already undergone a successful trial on a busy route in Huddersfield, and the patent approval is a significant step forward in further advancing this innovative solution. Simplifai, located at the university’s 3M Buckley Innovation Centre, was established as a result of the collaboration, which falls under the umbrella of the Centre for Autonomous and Intelligent Systems.
By leveraging AI, the collaboration has already begun transforming traffic flow on roads, introducing a new form of smart urban traffic management. This technology builds on existing data from traffic authorities and enables simulations to be conducted prior to major local events, for example.
Professor Vallati explained that the AI solution they have created optimizes traffic signals to minimize congestion and pollution, greatly improving the quality of life for urban dwellers. By setting objectives such as maximizing traffic flow while adhering to speed limits, the system generates traffic signal strategies, designating the appropriate duration for each signal in order to optimize movements at junctions.
Through accessing real-time data on congestion, traffic lights, bus movements, incidents, and air quality, the AI-powered system devises strategies to solve traffic control issues. By adjusting traffic light timings, the system can alleviate congestion hotspots and improve traffic management surrounding events, roadworks, or incidents, while also working to reduce air pollution.
In April 2023, Hull City Council awarded Simplifai a contract to utilize their AI system in a two-year trial aimed at improving traffic flow in and around Hull as part of a government-funded traffic signals project. Looking ahead, the team hopes to expand the implementation of their smart traffic management system to other towns and cities, including the entirety of West Yorkshire.
The patented traffic management system utilizing AI technology demonstrates the potential for artificial intelligence to revolutionize urban traffic control, significantly improving mobility and environmental conditions. As further advancements are made, cities worldwide may adopt similar solutions to create more efficient and sustainable transportation systems.
