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.

Related Content

  • July 30, 2012
    Monitoring and transparency preserve enforcement's reputation
    What can be done to preserve automated enforcement's reputation in the face of media and public criticism? Here, system manufacturers and suppliers talk about what they think are the most appropriate business models. Recent events in Italy only served to once again to push automated enforcement into the media spotlight. At the heart of the matter were the numerous alleged instances of local authorities and their contract suppliers of enforcement services colluding to illegally shorten amber signal phase tim
  • January 7, 2014
    Bronx benefits from mesoscopic-microscopic modelling
    Michael Marsico, Andrew Weeks, Keir Opie and Murat Ayçin explain the application of hybrid traffic simulation to a planning study in New York City. Traffic modelling, particularly mesoscopic-microscopic hybrid simulation, has played a key role in planning for the future of one of America's shortest interstates, the 1.3-mile Sheridan Expressway. New York City has just completed a two-year, interagency study federally funded by a TIGER II grant on how to improve the Sheridan Expressway and its surroundi
  • February 11, 2015
    Report: wireless technologies leave vehicles exposed to hackers
    New standards are needed to plug security and privacy gaps in cars and trucks, according to a report by US Senator Edward J. Markey. The report, Tracking & Hacking: Security & Privacy Gaps Put American Drivers at Risk and first reported on by CBS News’ 60 Minutes, reveals how sixteen major automobile manufacturers responded to questions from Markey in 2014 about how vehicles may be vulnerable to hackers, and how driver information is collected and protected. The responses from the automobile manufacturer
  • January 27, 2012
    Ramp metering delivers - again
    Though still controversial, ramp metering, which has been around for nearly 50 years, continues to deliver substantial benefits, and generally for relatively small cost. Kansas City is a case in point. In March 2010, Kansas City Scout, a partnership between the Missouri and Kansas Departments of Transportation to provide ITS for the greater Kansas City Area, activated the first ramp metering system in the region. The project is located on an 8.85km (5.5 mile) section of Interstate 435 from Metcalf Avenue to