Traffic management device and system
First Claim
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1. A method of operating a traffic control system that controls movement of vehicles on one or more portions of a roadway, comprising:
- communicating discrete instructions to a plurality of vehicles;
exchanging traffic control data with the plurality of vehicles, the traffic control data comprising at least one of current and desired speed and at least one of current and future position, wherein one or more of the plurality of vehicles is entering the roadway; and
on contiguous portions of the roadway not having any intersections, instructing the one or more vehicles entering the roadway when to change speed so as to join a pod composed of some of the plurality of vehicles, wherein each pod is composed of vehicles traveling at the same speed and in the same lane,wherein the one or more vehicles desiring to enter the roadway are instructed to change speed to enter a pod in an order dependent upon at least one of the destination of each vehicle and the driving skill of each vehicle.
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Abstract
A smart traffic control device transmits information to approaching vehicles regarding its current and future state enabling vehicles to control their speed to avoid arriving at the traffic control device until it permits the passage of traffic, thus avoiding stopping, idling and reaccelerating when reaching the traffic control device. In other embodiments the traffic control device or systems receives information from vehicles, transmitting it to other vehicles.
42 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A method of operating a traffic control system that controls movement of vehicles on one or more portions of a roadway, comprising:
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communicating discrete instructions to a plurality of vehicles; exchanging traffic control data with the plurality of vehicles, the traffic control data comprising at least one of current and desired speed and at least one of current and future position, wherein one or more of the plurality of vehicles is entering the roadway; and on contiguous portions of the roadway not having any intersections, instructing the one or more vehicles entering the roadway when to change speed so as to join a pod composed of some of the plurality of vehicles, wherein each pod is composed of vehicles traveling at the same speed and in the same lane, wherein the one or more vehicles desiring to enter the roadway are instructed to change speed to enter a pod in an order dependent upon at least one of the destination of each vehicle and the driving skill of each vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8)
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7. A method of operating a traffic control system that controls movement of vehicles on one or more portions of a roadway, comprising:
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communicating discrete instructions to a plurality of vehicles; exchanging traffic control data with the plurality of vehicles, the traffic control data comprising at least one of current and desired speed and at least one of current and future position, wherein one or more of the plurality of vehicles is entering the roadway; and on contiguous portions of the roadway not having any intersections, instructing the one or more vehicles entering the roadway when to change speed so as to join a pod composed of some of the plurality of vehicles, wherein each pod is composed of vehicles traveling at the same speed and in the same lane, wherein a portion the vehicles are grouped into a first pod and a second pod, the method further comprising; instructing the first pod to wait a buffered distance from an intersection on the roadway; and instructing the second pod to travel at a common speed so as to arrive at the intersection when a control signal is still green, instructing the first pod to increase speed so as to travel behind the second pod and traverse the intersection together as a group of vehicles instructed to travel at the same speed, in the same direction, and on the same road, each vehicle in a pod being separated from other vehicles in its associated pod by at least a first distance. - View Dependent Claims (10, 12)
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9. A method of operating a traffic control system that controls movement of vehicles on one or more portions of a roadway, comprising:
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communicating discrete instructions to a plurality of vehicles; exchanging traffic control data with the plurality of vehicles, the traffic control data comprising at least one of current and desired speed and at least one of current and future position, wherein one or more of the plurality of vehicles is entering the roadway; on contiguous portions of the roadway not having any intersections, instructing the one or more vehicles entering the roadway when to change speed so as to join a pod composed of some of the plurality of vehicles, wherein each pod is composed of vehicles traveling at the same speed and in the same lane; and instructing the one or more vehicles entering a first pod to change speed so as to enter the first pod in reverse order according to each of the one or more vehicles'"'"' intended exit location. - View Dependent Claims (11, 13)
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Specification