Nothing is more annoying than hitting every red light when you are in a hurry to get somewhere. Even if you aren’t late for an important meeting, hitting traffic lights can be quite the inconvenience. Catching every green light actually isn’t chance, but in fact it’s a science that Audi seems to have figured out. Although no vehicles have been introduced with this technology quite yet, its anticipation and ingenuity should definitely be noted. So how exactly does it work?
It’s all about timing. Most traffic signals today work on a preset timer that may change throughout the day, depending on the time of day or the traffic systems’ reaction to patterns in car movements. The secret to only hitting green lights is to know how each system is timed and the speed you need to be going to avoid having to stop. The new Audi system eliminates the guessing that usually comes with light judgment and turns it into an equation that can apparently be solved.
Audi’s system works by using the Internet available in the vehicle to contact the central traffic computer located in the area you are driving in. It then requests for the preset traffic light sequence and uses the information to calculate the advised speed needed to hit all green lights, or as many as possible. This speed is then displayed to the driver, along with a countdown until the next green light if you are currently sitting at a red one. New models will also contain a start and stop mechanism for when you do hit a red light that will kick on when the light is seconds from changing to green
Although this tool is great for all of us who are impatient and hate having the inconvenience of stopping at red lights, there are more benefits to this technology than just making our commute easier. One of the biggest problems when it comes to fuel efficiency is the stopping and starting that drivers do while driving through populated areas. By predicting green lights and the speeds needed to hit them, drivers will have to stop less, meaning less gas is needed to pick the engine back up to speed. This should result in better fuel economy for any vehicle equipped with the technology, no matter what type it is. The hope is that this new technology will reduce the emissions from vehicles, cutting down significantly on pollution if the adoption of this equipment becomes widespread.
A prototype of this potentially groundbreaking technology made its appearance in January at a Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Although no figures have been released for the trial runs taking place all over the world, Audi has made claims that this innovative system is ready to be placed in all its models in production once local legislation grants its approval.
Written by Marc Laferierre, owner of Dents Unlimited. Dents Unlimited offers the best auto repair Columbia MO has to offer, where their expert staff can get your car back on the road in no time.