Connected autonomous cars will not need stoplights and that’s just the start of changes to the transporation infrastructure.

Imagine a scenario where sensor-laden vehicles pass through intersections by communicating with each other, rather than grinding to a halt at traffic lights. A newly published study co-authored by MIT researchers claims this kind of traffic-light-free transportation design, if it ever arrives, could allow twice as much traffic to use the roads.

The study is based on mathematical modeling. The researchers examined a scenario in which high-tech vehicles use sensors to remain at a safe distance from each other as they move through a four-way intersection. By removing the waits caused by traffic lights, these so-called Slot-based Intersections (SIs) speed up traffic flow.

Peter Dizikes | MIT News Office

Full Story: http://news.mit.edu/2016/no-traffic-lights-communicating-vehicles-intersections-more-efficiently-0317

(Thanks to David Nelson for sharing)