Fleets of self-driving taxis could be choreographed to cut traffic
An algorithm analyzes traffic patterns and ride requests to dispatch cars
By
Maria Temming
1:00pm, May 23, 2018
OPTIMAL ORGANIZATION A new computer program that devises the most efficient way to dispatch self-driving cars could help reduce city traffic.
Self-driving taxis that use an algorithm to work together like a well-oiled machine could someday cut down on city traffic.
Researchers have created a computer program that can continually analyze incoming ride-hailing requests sent from a smartphone app and plot the most efficient course for each car in a self-driving fleet to take (SN Online: 11/21/17). Unlike standard taxis, which pick up customers spotted on the side of the road, this algorithm assigns cars to customers based on traffic conditions as well as the pickup and drop-off locations of all ride requests.
https://www.sciencenews.org/article/fleets-self-driving-taxis-could-be-choreographed-cut-traffic
