New Atlas

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High-tech crosswalk is designed to save pedestrians

Ben Coxworth February 27, 2019

Thanks to things like smartphones and automotive infotainment systems, both pedestrians and drivers are probably now less aware of one another than ever before. An experimental new crosswalk could help keep accidents from happening, however, through lights, electronic signs, and an app.

The crosswalk features warning LEDs embedded in the road

Automotive Audio available

Mercedes "cooperative car" uses lights to gain pedestrians' trust

Ben Coxworth February 8, 2019

It was just last month that we heard about an experimental lighting system developed by Jaguar, that lets leery pedestrians know what autonomous cars are about to do. Well, Mercedes-Benz is working on something similar, in the form of its driver-optional "cooperative car."

The cooperative car communicates with pedestrians via a lighting system

Holiday Destinations

NASA's piezo-powered "smart path" lights up and beams fun facts to visitor's phones

Michael Irving December 13, 2017

In today’s concrete jungle, pavement takes up a lot of space, so we might as well cram some smarts in there. Now NASA is installing a high-tech new path that lights up, emits Wi-Fi signals and generates electricity, due to greet visitors to the Kennedy Space Center.

Visitors to NASA's Kennedy Space Center will soon be greeted by a huge high-tech path, made ...

Good Thinking

Interactive crossing lights the way for pedestrian safety

Paul Ridden October 10, 2017

Umbrellium has developed a modern take on the familiar pedestrian crossing. The Starling Crossing is aimed at putting people first, using LEDs to paint the road with markings that guide pedestrians safely across the road while also telling drivers and cyclists when to slow down, stop and go.

The Starling Crossing prototype was commissioned by UK insurance company Direct Line

Good Thinking

In-road LEDs providing lightbulb moments for distracted smartphone users

Stu Robarts April 29, 2016

For those who are forever glued to their smartphones, navigating a city can be hazardous. Dodging street lights and other pedestrians without looking up is tricky, and crossing roads is downright dangerous. That's why Augsburg in Germany is trialling in-road pedestrian lights.

The lights comprise strips of LEDs integrated into the surface of the road just off the ...

Automotive

Euro NCAP ratings to take autonomous pedestrian detection systems into account

Aaron Turpen November 11, 2015

The European safety organization Euro NCAP has announced the introduction of a new test to ascertain the effectiveness of pedestrian detection and autonomous braking and collision avoidance systems from different auto manufacturers.

Euro NCAP's new Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) Pedestrian tests utilize life-like, moving dummies in a controlled ...

Architecture

Busy Mexico City street to be reclaimed as green space and linear park

Stu Robarts August 24, 2015

Plans have been unveiled to reclaim a road in Mexico City from cars. Avenida Chapultepec is one of the city's busy main arteries, but is clogged with cars and splits the city. The historical road will feature an elevated park with green spaces and a layout tailored for those on foot or bike.

A main pedestrian promenade will run along the center of the avenue

Architecture

London Underline proposes subterranean cycle paths in disused tunnels

Stu Robarts February 12, 2015

Getting around the streets of any busy city can be slow and frustrating. One concept for making it easier in London, however, would see pedestrians and cyclists moved below the streets. The London Underline concept proposes using the city's disused tunnels used as a network of cycle and footpaths.

The London Underline concept would see the city's disused tunnels used as a network of cycle ...

Automotive

Future Fords will brake for pedestrians automatically

Eric Mack October 23, 2014

Ford has announced a new "pre-collision assist" system that takes advantage of data from radar and cameras to actively detect pedestrians and automatically apply the brakes to avoid or at least reduce the severity of accidents.

Good Thinking

Dancing traffic light entertains pedestrians and improves safety

Stu Robarts September 17, 2014

Pedestrians will often ignore the "red man" at pedestrian lights in order to cross the road sooner. Unfortunately, this leads to accidents. Car manufacturer Smart created an experiment to see if it could improve safety at traffic lights by incentivizing pedestrians to wait for the green man.

Smart's Dancing Traffic Light aimed to capture the attention of pedestrians and incentivize more to wait ...