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

  • Machine vision takes ITS further than the eye can see
    January 5, 2016
    Vitronic’s John Yalda looks at how machine vision has become an integral part of many ITS deployments and why it complements, rather than replaces, ANPR. New and conventional business concepts like online shopping and mail order business are becoming more established in the cultures of fast-growing economies and increasing the demand for flexibility in the freight transportation and logistics industry. Road transport has become the preferred infrastructure for freight forwarding and several studies predict
  • InfoConnect delivers accurate travel information on all levels
    August 1, 2012
    Deryk Whyte provides an overview of how the New Zealand Transport Agency's InfoConnect concept was developed. Historically, the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) (formerly Transit New Zealand) has faced challenges in communicating effectively with road users, its customers, about highway-related events or incidents in a timely, accurate manner. Prior to 2007, Transit relied on a third-party organisation to collect and disseminate national road condition information. This often resulted in incomplete infor
  • IntelliDrive and HOT lanes - the next generation?
    January 30, 2012
    Janet Banner, Metropolitan Transportation Commission, and Christopher Hill, Mixon Hill, Inc., outline efforts to explore the use of IntelliDrive technologies in HOT lane applications. On 21 October last year more than 100 transportation professionals came together for a workshop, either in person or via a webinar, to discuss the potential role of IntelliDriveSM technologies in enhancing the operations of High-Occupancy Toll (HOT) lanes. The discussions focused on a White Paper, commissioned by the Metropoli
  • East Africa uses cargo tracking to foils criminals and collect tax
    June 10, 2015
    Shem Oirere looks at the beneficial effect of cargo tracking. The mandatory installation of electronic cargo tracking and security (ECTS) systems in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda has helped enhance revenue collection, enforce cargo handling requirements, improved the business environment of the respective countries’ trade routes and helped cargo hauliers cut costs. This is being spearheaded by the state-owned tax collection agencies and the improved custom duty collection has not only enabled a reduction of im