Introduction

Anti-collision and data transfer system designed to increase the safety of road intersections regulated by traffic lights, by transmitting signals of presence from a vehicle approaching the intersection to another vehicle approaching the same intersection from another direction, using Visible Light Communication (VLC) technology.

Technical features

The proposed system aims at reducing the number of road accidents near intersections by digitally transmitting information from one vehicle (black, first image) to another vehicle (red, first image) approaching an intersection. The aim is to warn the CPU or the driver of the red car (and / or vice versa) with information on the presence / speed of the black car in a short time (a few ms) so that the red car can promptly adopt automated counter-reactions to avoid a collision. The system can also be used for the transfer of generic information between vehicles. The presence and speed of the black car are detected by a system of road sensors, and transmitted to the red car through a digital optical signal encoded in the light emitted by the traffic lights in transverse directions (for example towards the oncoming red car), by means of a modulation of light intensity at frequencies invisible to the human eye. This signal can be re-transmitted to the following vehicles, for example by modulating the light intensity of the rear lights.

Possible Applications

• Automotive / Autonomous drive vehicles;
• Urban illumination and signalling systems;
• Intelligent transportation systems;
• Integration with emerging communication platforms (5G/6G/Internet of Things);
• Road Safety.

Advantages

• Reduction in the number of accidents at road intersections;
• Low latency (<1 ms) communication between vehicles approaching an intersection;
• Reduction of bandwidth congestion in radio frequency wireless systems;
• Communication towards specific spatial directions by using light.