Researchers say the rise of more smart and connected vehicles on American roads could lead to big changes to traffic signals
研究人员表示，美国道路上越来越多的智能互联汽车可能会导致交通信号发生巨大变化
The current US traffic signal system has been in existence for more than 100 years
目前的美国交通信号系统已经存在了100多年
But experts are now studying ways to link technology-equipped vehicles to signal systems in an attempt to improve safety and traffic flows
但是专家们现在正在研究将配备技术的车辆与信号系统连接起来的方法，试图提高安全性和交通流量
One research effort is led by a team at North Carolina State University
北卡罗来纳州立大学的一个团队领导了一项研究工作
Engineering professor Ali Hajbabaie is the leader of that research
工程教授阿里·哈巴贝是这项研究的领导者
He told The Associated Press one major change that signal systems could see is different colored lights
他告诉美联社，信号系统可以看到的一个主要变化是不同颜色的光
Most US traffic signals currently include three lights to direct drivers at intersections: red yellow and green
大多数美国交通信号灯目前包括三个指示灯，以指导十字路口的司机： 红色 黄色和绿色
But Hajbabaie said it might make sense to add a fourth color possibly white
但是Hajbabaie说添加第四种颜色可能是有意义的 可能是白人
This color could inform motorists when there is a large collection of self-driving vehicles in a particular area
当特定区域有大量自动驾驶车辆时，这种颜色可以通知驾车者
When many self-driving vehicles are present the additional light would signal other drivers to follow the lead of those vehicles
当许多自动驾驶车辆出现时，额外的灯会发出信号，让其他驾驶员跟随这些车辆的领导
“When we get to the intersection we stop if it's red and we go if it's green " said Hajbabaie
“当我们到达十字路口时 红的就停绿的就走 ”哈巴贝说
“But if the white light is active you just follow the vehicle in front of you ”
“但是如果白光是活跃的 你只要跟着前面的车就行了 "
The North Carolina State team estimated that such changes are likely years away
北卡罗来纳州立大学的研究小组估计，这种变化可能需要几年时间
Hajbabaie said one reason for this is because this kind of system would require between 40 to 50 percent of all vehicles on the road to be self-driving
Hajbabaie说，其中一个原因是这种系统需要道路上40%到50%的车辆是自动驾驶的
Sandy Karp is a spokesperson for Waymo
桑迪·卡普是韦莫的发言人
Waymo is a self-driving vehicle company owned by Google’s parent Alphabet
Waymo是谷歌母公司旗下的自动驾驶汽车公司 字母表
She told the AP that Waymo had already launched ride-sharing services that use full self-driving vehicles in Los Angeles California and Austin Texas
她告诉美联社，Waymo已经在洛杉矶推出了使用全自动驾驶汽车的拼车服务 加州和奥斯汀 德州
Those services do not use a fourth traffic light
这些服务不使用第四个红绿灯
In an email to the AP
在给美联社的电子邮件中
Karp said she thought it was good that researchers are currently “thinking creatively” about ways to change traffic light signals to improve safety and traffic flows
卡普说，她认为研究人员目前正在“创造性地思考”改变交通灯信号以提高安全性和交通流量的方法是件好事
However
然而
she said that officials and companies should think very carefully before deciding on
她说，官员和公司在决定
and moving forward with major infrastructure changes
并推进重大基础设施变革
Researchers at the University of Michigan are also testing different methods
密歇根大学的研究人员也在测试不同的方法
They have carried out a test program in an area outside the city of Detroit
他们在底特律城外的一个地区进行了一个测试项目
Their research collects data on the speed and location of General Motors (GM) vehicles in the area
他们的研究收集了通用汽车（GM）车辆在该地区的速度和位置数据
The data has been used to change the timing of city traffic lights in an effort to improve traffic flows
这些数据被用来改变城市交通信号灯的时间以改善交通流量
Henry Liu is a civil engineering professor at the University of Michigan
亨利·刘是密歇根大学土木工程教授
He helped lead the research
他帮助领导了这项研究
He said the launch of a new US traffic system could be a lot closer than people think
他说，新的美国交通系统的推出可能比人们想象的要近得多
Liu said that even with as few as 6 percent of vehicles connected to the GM system
刘说，即使只有6%的车辆连接到通用汽车系统
there is still enough data to change the timing of the traffic lights enough to smooth traffic flows
仍然有足够的数据来改变交通灯的时间，以使交通顺畅
The area near Detroit where the testing is taking place has 34 traffic signals
底特律附近进行测试的地区有34个交通信号灯
It was chosen because lights in the area are set to change at the same time each day
选择它是因为该地区的灯光设置为每天同一时间变化
This is the case for more than half of traffic signals nationwide
全国一半以上的交通信号灯都是这种情况
These signals are not connected to cameras or sensors to watch traffic flows in real time
这些信号没有连接到摄像头或传感器以实时观察交通流量
Liu noted that higher-tech solutions will require cities to make complex and costly investments
刘指出，高科技解决方案将要求城市进行复杂而昂贵的投资
“The beauty of this is you don’t have to do anything to the infrastructure ” Liu said
“它的美妙之处在于你不必对基础设施做任何事情 ”刘说
“The data is not coming from the infrastructure It’s coming from the car companies ”
“数据不是来自基础设施 它来自汽车公司。 "
Danielle Deneau is the director of traffic safety at the Road Commission in Oakland County Michigan
丹妮尔·德诺是奥克兰县道路委员会的交通安全主任 密歇根州
She said results of the University of Michigan research changed the timing of green lights only by a few seconds
她说密歇根大学的研究结果只改变了绿灯的时间几秒钟
However, Deneau added even that was enough to improve traffic flows
然而，德诺补充说，即使这样也足以改善交通流量
I’m Bryan Lynn
我是布莱恩·林恩