Australia’s Road and Maritime Services(RMS) installed electronic paper signs to improve traffic conditions and simplify road sign deployment. It is the first time that electronic ink(e-ink) has been used in traffic signs.
The idea cam from RMS staff who s who saw the potential of e-reader technology to display real-time information during special events, noted an RMS spokesperson.
The wireless signs use solar power, communicate via a cellular network and have optimized power. The signs integrate displays from US manufacturer E Ink and a platform for managing e-paper traffic signs developed by Visionect. The signs only turn on to update data during short times to conserve energy. The signs also detect tampering to allow municipalities to repair damage. The front panel lights up when it is too dark to read the sign.
The capital of New South Wales now has 100% self-sustainable traffic signs that are powered by solar energy.
The fully customizable e-traffic signs help cities save on temporary road sign placement. The city of Los Angeles puts up over a half a million temporary parking restrictions signs every year to the cost of $9.5 million. Implementing permanent e-paper signs via cellular network would be more efficient and cheaper.
The signs connect over the internet to show updated information and improve traffic and safety.
The electronic traffic signs communicate with proximity or temperature sensors, support interactions through near field communication tools and connect them to the internet.
Customizable real-time information of traffic coordinated with smart road signs enables user-triggered content on the road signs.
Other New High-Tech Road Sign Prospects
Bluetooth is being used to monitor traffic and display information to drivers in the city of Aarhus, Denmark.
Researchers at the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute are in the early stages of research in which, instead of putting the road signs on the road, interactive signs appear inside the car. If no other car is present at the intersection, the will driver can drive on through.
A Silicon Valley startup is re-engineering traffic signs, taking them inside cars based on data for more safety. The name of the company is Signal Labs and the app is called Signal.
Recently, BMW announced that a BMW App ElnLighten will let drivers know when the light is going change. It connects to the city’s infrastructural.