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

  • Prevention is better than cure says Antaira’s David Zaveski
    November 2, 2016
    Antaira’s David Zaveski looks at how to improve the resilience of Ethernet systems. Detection and monitoring, and the subsequent management of transport systems, is becoming ever more sophisticated and also integrated as ITS spreads wider across cities and along highways and rail corridors.
  • TransCore wins three ITS contracts from Nevada DOT
    April 25, 2012
    TransCore has won three separate contracts to provide ITS design, construction and integration services for the Nevada Department of Transportation. The projects include a 30-mile extension of the FAST traffic management system along I-15 from outside Las Vegas to the California border; a 15-mile expansion of the FAST traffic management system along I-515 on the eastern side of the Las Vegas metropolitan area; and a 10-mile segment of I-80 in Reno, Nevada, as part of a roadway reconstruction project.
  • Managed motorways, hard shoulder running aids safety, saves time
    January 30, 2012
    The announcement that, in 2012/13, work to extend Managed Motorways to Junctions 5-8 of the M6 near Birmingham in the West Midlands is scheduled to start marks the next step for the UK's hard shoulder running concept, first introduced on the M42 in 2006. The M6 scheme is in fact one of several announced; over the next few years work will start on applying Managed Motorways to various sections of the M1, M25 London Orbital, M60 and M62. According to Paul Unwin, senior project manager with the Highways Agency
  • Connected vehicle technology challenge winners
    April 18, 2012
    The US Department of Transportation’s (DOT’s) Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA) has announced six winners of a national competition seeking ideas for using wireless technology to enable vehicles to communicate with each other. The winning ideas may be incorporated into ongoing research on using technology to improve vehicle safety and transportation operations.