► Audi launches new traffic light info tech
► Gives driver a countdown until green light
► Now available in Las Vegas on A4s and Q7s
Many will be familiar with the endless boredom that comes from waiting for traffic lights to turn green. But what if you could see exactly how much longer you had to spend waiting for that elusive green light?
Well, Audi has taken this into account with its new vehicle to infrastructure (V2I) traffic light information system which provides the driver with a real-time countdown.
The scheme, badged the very Ronseal-esque Traffic Light Information, has launched in Las Vegas, US, on selected A4 and Q7 models and will be rolled out into Europe in due course.
How does Audi’s traffic light tech work?
In partnership with Traffic Technology Services, Audi says that the car will receive real-time signal information from the advanced traffic management system that monitors traffic lights. So, when the driver arrives at a ‘connected’ traffic light the car will provide a countdown through the car’s trip computer and head-up display.
‘For the first time, our cars are exchanging data with traffic infrastructure in real time,’ said Andreas Reich, head of electronics pre-development at Audi. ‘Drivers can adapt their behaviour to the situation and move through city traffic in a much more relaxed and controlled way. We increase energy efficiency when we connect our Audi models to smart cities.
‘Further V2I services will follow, making the car into an interactive mobile device. We see autonomous driving as the end of this development.’
Traffic light information will be available on US-spec Q7, A4 and A4 Allroad models built after 1 June 2016 – only in conjunction with Audi’s Connect Prime services.
This is only v1.0…
Audi’s general manager for Connected Vehicles, Pom Malhotra said: ‘In the future we could envision this technology integrated into vehicle navigation, start/stop functionality and can even be used to help improve traffic flow in municipalities.’
Malhotra also suggested that the tech would ‘lead to better overall efficiency and shorter commuter times.’