New traffic light system automatically predicts when someone wants to cross road

Pedestrian crossings can be a hassle when one has to press a button and wait. Researchers are trying to find a solution for this by introducing future traffic lights that can predict when a person wants to cross roads.

Austrian scientists have developed new camera-equipped traffic lights that detect when people want to cross the road. The computer vision system scans a 26 x 15 feet area and sends a signal to the light when it sees one or more people in the right position, all within a matter of seconds.

“It requires one second to estimate the intention – after two seconds the estimation becomes reliable,” said researcher Horst Possegger. “Using the current configurations, our system signals that wish to cross three to four seconds before the button is pushed.”

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The system, as per the team, is not only three to four seconds faster than it would take to reach for a button, but is also very flexible. It has the ability to extend green light if there are large group of pedestrians, and stick to red if people change their mind before the lights are ready, wrote Engadget.

Also keeping in mind the potential privacy issues, the imagery of people never leaves the camera. The system relies only on geometric information to gauge the intent. It couldn’t recognize individuals even if it was fully connected.

Furthermore, a firm, Günther Pincher, is already testing the project and plans to roll out first such next-generation traffic lights in Vienna by the end of 2020, intending to replace the button system in selected locations.