New navigation system to help motorists avoid jams

A new car navigation system is being developed to help motorists negotiate rush hour jams by advising them about the best possible routes.

The 'Congestion Avoidance Dynamic Routing Engine' (CADRE) uses “artificial intelligence”, or AI, to interpret live traffic information shared among vehicles fitted with a special GPS, or Global Positioning System.

CADRE can sense traffic slowing down and building up into jams and works by “monitoring” other vehicles, informing motorists eight to 16 kilometres ahead of a situation as it is happening and recommends steps to avoid it while they can.

The software is built around “fuzzy logic” that mimics human reasoning.

The capability comes from the University of Portsmouth's Institute of Industrial Research (IIR) that specialises in using AI techniques for industrial applications.

David Brown, who heads IIR, said: “The system interprets live data from current traffic conditions so the motorist receives up-to-the-minute advice and can make an informed choice.”

The system takes into account of how traffic speeds vary by day of the week and time of day and even on individual roads.

It means that journey times are predicted more accurately and better routes are calculated that take into account typical traffic conditions for the time of travel.

“At present, routing can be carried out for minimum time or distance, but this can easily be extended to other criteria such as minimum cost or minimum carbon dioxide emissions,” said Brown.

Future plans for the system would extend it to ferries, trains and even planes allowing travellers to examine different departure times to estimate the best time and route to travel. CADRE could be in the shops in as little as 18 months.