Could AI (artificial intelligence) help improve traffic safety? Of course! And that is exactly what is happening at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa.
The university was awarded $750,000 from the U.S. DOT (Dept. of Transportation) and has developed an advanced AI system using multiple types of sensors to detect and prevent potential crashes at intersections.
Here’s how it works: Sensor fusion and a combination of data from other technologies such as LiDAR, RGB cameras, thermal cameras, and traffic signal data, creates 3D tracking to predict potential collision paths.
Here is how this can help:
- Run on less expensive hardware.
- Maintain accuracy across different conditions.
- Scale the technology to intersections across the country.
Looking to the future, the DOT may advance the project to another potential stage, which would focus on developing and testing other prototype systems in real-world conditions.