Start-up firm Umbrellium has come up with an innovative pedestrian crossing system that uses a series of bright LEDs to bring up warnings for motorists.
Called the Starling Crossing (STigmergic Adaptive Responsive LearnING Crossing), the system uses a series of panels that are illuminated by LEDs to give a wide range of instructions, which conventional road markings just can’t do.
Using cameras and sensors to detect when and how many people are crossing, the road markings can be made wider to allow for more foot traffic and bring up alerts for when someone walks into the road unexpectedly. It can also change its shape and colour depending on the time of day or the weather it is being used in.
The smart system also uses neural sensors that can detect the difference between vehicles and people, showing up appropriate instructions for each mode of transport. It also disappears when it isn’t needed.
It also creates a blind-spot zone for motorists who can’t see cyclists in their rear or wing mirrors so that they can be on the road safely without a chance of collisions.
Umbrellium say that road crossings haven’t fundamentally changed since the 1940s and that: “We have created a responsive road surface that puts people first by updating the design of pedestrian crossings to account for streets with more cars, pedestrians and technology, and a different societal relationship to urban transport infrastructure.”
The system was developed by Umbrellium in conjunction with insurance firm Direct Line.
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