Skip to main content

Patents for ALMA advanced strategic highway lane guidance for cars and trucks

ALMAGuide, developer of the Advanced Lane Management Assist (ALMA) advanced lane guidance technology for cars and trucks on freeways, has received approval for two US patents. These describe technology that takes information from centralised traffic management control centres, conditions the data and uses proprietary algorithms and propriety data structures to tell the vehicle (either with driver or driverless) both the best lane to be in on the highway, based on traffic flow several miles ahead of the
June 17, 2016 Read time: 2 mins
RSS8449 ALMAGuide, developer of the Advanced Lane Management Assist (ALMA) advanced lane guidance technology for cars and trucks on freeways, has received approval for two US patents.

These describe technology that takes information from centralised traffic management control centres, conditions the data and uses proprietary algorithms and propriety data structures to tell the vehicle (either with driver or driverless) both the best lane to be in on the highway, based on traffic flow several miles ahead of the vehicle, and the most appropriate speed for the vehicle.  ALMA also applies and adapts the lane guidance technology for trucks.  

ALMA contains three major components: ALMA Management Center (ALMAMC), which obtains lane-based traffic data from traffic management centres or other sources, conditions it and develops parameters and other information in a reference frame that is specifically formulated to address lane selection requirements.  This information will be used by the vehicle application software.

The Guidance Assist Vehicle Module (GAVM) uses ALMAMC data and accepts information from the vehicle operator on his driving preferences and other information.  It also accepts information from the vehicle (position, speed, and destination).  It provides lane choice and target speed recommendations using cellular based technology or other communication techniques.

Since trucks require a different set of algorithms for optimal lane choice and target speed selection, the ALMA Truck Vehicle Module (ALMATR) uses data from the truck and truck operator and provides recommended lane and target speed for the truck.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Arizona chooses consortium for its largest-ever highway project
    January 4, 2016
    The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) has selected Connect 202 Partners as the preferred developer for its first highway public-private partnership, the Loop 202 South Mountain Freeway. The consortium includes Fluor Enterprises, Granite Construction and Ames Construction, with Parsons Brinckerhoff as the lead designer. The South Mountain Freeway will be constructed with four lanes in each direction - three general-use lanes and one HOV lane - and includes modern features including rubberised
  • IP technology the route to efficient multi-agency control rooms
    February 1, 2012
    As IP-based technology makes its presence felt in the control room sector, it makes for greater economies of scale and also offers a migration path for many other traffic management technologies. So says Barco's Guy Van Wijmeersch. Efficient control room collaboration and decision-making is only possible if operators and decision-makers have easy and timely access to information. In many cases, that information also needs to be accessible to multiple users at the same time. This is certainly so in the case
  • Increasing and improving disabled access to public transport
    January 25, 2012
    An overview of European efforts to increase disabled access to public transport, by David Crawford
  • Advanced in-vehicle user interface - future developments
    February 1, 2012
    Dave McNamara and Craig Simonds, Autotechinsider LLC, look at human-machine interface development out to 2015. The US auto industry is going through the worst crisis it has faced since the Great Depression. But it has embraced technologies that will produce the best-possible driving experience for the public. Ford was the first OEM to announce in-car internet radio and SYNC, its signature-branded User Interface (UI), is held up as the shining example of change embracement.