Traffic management device and system

Abstract

A smart traffic control device transmits information to approaching vehicles regarding its current and future state enabling vehicles to control their speed to avoid arriving at the traffic control device until it permits the passage of traffic, thus avoiding stopping, idling and reaccelerating when reaching the traffic control device. In other embodiments the traffic control device or systems receives information from vehicles, transmitting it to other vehicles.

1 - 18 . (canceled) 
   
   
       19 . An agile sign for vehicle traffic control, the sign comprising:
 a) a computational unit,   b) a display in signal communication with said computational unit,   c) at least one detector to acquire information about at least the speed and intended destination of vehicles approaching from a first direction,   d) wherein the detected information is used by the computational unit to modulate traffic control information displayed to the approaching vehicles.   
   
   
       20 . An agile sign for vehicle traffic control according to  claim 19  wherein the detector is operative to measure the speed of approaching vehicles and communicate the measured speed to the computational unit, whereby display is modulated in response to the speed of the oncoming vehicle. 
   
   
       21 . An agile sign for vehicle traffic control according to  claim 19  wherein the detector receives a broadcast from the vehicle on at least one of the vehicles speed, position and intended destination. 
   
   
       22 . An agile sign for vehicle traffic control according to  claim 20  wherein:
 a) if the speed is above a predetermined threshold, said computational unit is operative to modulate said display to signal the approaching vehicle to stop and   b) if the measured speed is below a predetermined threshold the computational unit is operative to modulate the display unit to signal the approaching vehicle to yield to other vehicles.   
   
   
       23 . An agile sign for vehicle traffic control according to  claim 19  wherein one or more detectors are operative to acquire information about one or more of the vehicles speed and intended destination approaching from a first direction and a second direction. 
   
   
       24 . An agile sign for vehicle traffic control according to  claim 23  wherein the information about the vehicles approaching from a first and second direction is used to modulate the display so that the vehicles pass safely by the same location at different times, wherein at least one or more of the vehicles has received an instruction from the agile sign to modulate speed. 
   
   
       25 . An agile sign for vehicle traffic control according to  claim 23  wherein the detector receives a broadcast from a vehicle on at least one of the vehicles speed, position and intended destination.