Skip to main content

Malaysia Uni creates single-display traffic light

Researchers at the Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM) have created what they claim is the world’s first traffic light that uses a single display, but plays the same role, or even better compared to traditional three display sets. The multi-colour display is a low-power unit (6-12V DC) that costs significantly less to manufacture (split board, fewer LEDs, small PCB boards, and a common board for all three colours) and maintain and requires only two output controllers to display the three different co
June 22, 2012 Read time: 2 mins
Researchers at the 5998 Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM) have created what they claim is the world’s first traffic light that uses a single display, but plays the same role, or even better compared to traditional three display sets. The multi-colour display is a low-power unit (6-12V DC) that costs significantly less to manufacture (split board, fewer LEDs, small PCB boards, and a common board for all three colours) and maintain and requires only two output controllers to display the three different colours. Importantly, the colour-blind have been catered for through the use of different symbols to indicate the change in light colours.

According to the researchers, the system can be integrated easily into existing traffic light systems, regardless of control type and cabling. Voltage and existing cabling methods can be modified to be compatible with the single-display traffic light system.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Adopting universal technology platforms for tolling
    July 16, 2012
    Dave Marples of Technolution argues that the continuing development of tolling-specific onboard equipment is leading us up a blind alley. We should, he says, be looking to realise universal platforms with universal application. The near-future automobile contains information systems of a sophistication to rival a jet airliner of only a few years ago, yet is 'piloted' by a considerably less well-trained individual of highly variable mental and physical capacity, and operated in a hostile, unpredictable and p
  • Why integrated traffic management needs a cohesive approach
    April 10, 2012
    Traffic control is increasingly being viewed as one essential element of a wider ‘system of systems’ – the smart city. Jason Barnes, Jon Masters and David Crawford report on latest ideas and efforts for making cities ‘smarter’ Virtually every element of the fabric and utilitarian operations that make urban areas tick can now be found somewhere in the mix that is the ‘smart city’ agenda. Ideas have expanded and projects pursued in different directions as the rhetoric on making cities ‘smarter’ has grown. App
  • Connected offers free I2V connectivity
    November 1, 2016
    A new system could reduce the cost of implementing I2V communications across a city to less than that for a single intersection, as Colin Sowman hears. It may seem too good to be true but US company Connected Signals is offering city authorities the equipment to provide infrastructure to vehicle (I2V) communications for free. The system enables drivers to receive information about the timing of signals they are approaching via the EnLighten smartphone app (or connected in-vehicle display).
  • The need for a higher voltage power net for vehicles
    June 27, 2012
    Electrification of the automobile is not limited to the electric vehicles (EVs). As a new report from Frost & Sullivan points out, conventional cars of today are partly electric in their own way, with most systems in the vehicle having electrical and electronic connections for better functionality. Certain high-end vehicles possess more than 90 electronic control units (ECUs) to control the various modules within the car, making the car both sophisticated and complicated. However, added functions such as el