Finally, a traffic light that makes driving better

Amidst the proliferation of smart devices, traffic lights have largely remained conventional, their colors changing based on preprogrammed timing that can go years without being adjusted. But there's a noteworthy exception, and it's located in Pittsburgh. There, Carnegie Mellon University professor of robotics Stephen Smith's startup is being put to the test, and the results garnered since its 2012 implementation are encouraging. The Surtrac system uses artificial intelligence (AI) to coordinate with other traffic lights via radar sensors and cameras at each light, reports IEEE Spectrum. It's estimated to have cut emissions by a fifth and idling time by more than 40%; driving time is down 25%.