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The first AI traffic light in Germany

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The first AI traffic light in Germany


The city of Hamm has been testing the first traffic lights controlled by an AI for almost two months. Instead of always showing the same green phases, the traffic lights' AI adapts the duration of the green phases to the current traffic situation. The city is very satisfied with the results.
Since the introduction of the AI traffic lights both bicycle traffic and pedestrian traffic have been greatly promoted. For example, the traffic light can extend the green phase at the start or end of school to allow larger groups of students to cross the street together. But cyclists approaching the intersection are also detected by the AI and included in the time of the green phase.
A total of six cameras are mounted on the traffic light poles to observe the immediate intersection and two cameras are mounted at an extra distance and can be located 70 meters away so that traffic approaching the intersection can also be observed. The first two cameras detect cyclists well in advance of the traffic light. Two more cameras in the traffic light area register the cyclists again, when he is near the intersection, so he can get a green light on time. If a larger group of pedestrians is waiting, they get a preferred green light without having to press a button. So unlike a normal traffic light, the traffic light decides spontaneously how long road users have green light and are allowed to cross the street. The system uses technology from Austria and the Munich-based company Yunex.
Since the results of the KI traffic lights are so convincing, further KI traffic lights are already planned. One specific traffic light is to be installed at Ostwennemarstraße, as there has been an increase in accidents there recently.


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