Maps & Street Lights

Ever hate sitting in front of a red light? I do and with gas prices going up that is making me madder.

Using that principal I want apply computer programming to the idea.
Simple stuff just like by starting in my city and branching out and what not.

Simple timing lights and understanding what kind of cycle and programs they can be on... e.i. sensor, or timer, or both.

All the information can be obtained in a database, and then from there transfered to a map. The map would tell you when to leave "x" and tell you while driving, what speed to maintain. Tons of vars would be passed as in, driving habits, car acceleration/decelleration and whatnot..

Anyways. I'll think tons of math could be applied. Is there any general direction to putting maps inside of vb apps, kinda like google earth, you can see the big picture, then zoom up...

I don't know I'm really just throwing ideas out. Maybe this is beyond the VB realm. Any ideas are appreciated.

All of that can be done, but the problem is it would be a big project for only one person to handle. Secondly, for something like that, I would suggest a more efficient language than VB.

Not to mention that all lights here have sensors for emergency vehicles (or a strobe light :) ) that alter the sequence by turning lights green as the vehicle approaches. They are all controlled by a main computer anyways.

Actually this can't be calculated. At least not more then to an estimation simply because most traffic lights have sensors. They might use timers at some points during the day when there is much traffic, while later during the night when there might not be much traffic at all the sensors will switch the light to green when your car approch the lights as long as another vehicle haven't approach the lights first from another direction. So how would you calculate for it another car comes from the right a few seconds earlier then you? How would you (or your program) know that before you're actually there?

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Originally Posted by dglienna

Not to mention that all lights here have sensors for emergency vehicles (or a strobe light :) ) that alter the sequence by turning lights green as the vehicle approaches. They are all controlled by a main computer anyways.

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So if I lived in "Center of it all" (:p), I could attach a strobe light to my car roof, and turn it on near some traffic lights? Would this change them? Sounds a little bit silly. There could be 40 people in a hurry to get to work with the same idea and the traffic lights would go nuts. Here in Australia, we all just move out of the way and let the ambulances and things go through a red light.

chem

You probably could but most intersections have cameras.

Thats what black spraypaint is for :p

chem

I happen to turn on the strobe just as a squad car was approaching the red light from the other direction. He realized what I did, and pulled a U-Turn, and gave me a ticket for "Improper Use of a Signaling Device"

I told the judge that I honked my horn, and he let me go, though.

I had the laptop inverter, and just aimed the light thru the windsheild at about 10hz. I've also done the same thing with the high beam switch in FORD vehicles, as then are momentary, all the others click, so you can't switch them fast enough.

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Originally Posted by dglienna

I happen to turn on the strobe just as a squad car was approaching the red light from the other direction. He realized what I did, and pulled a U-Turn, and gave me a ticket for "Improper Use of a Signaling Device"

I told the judge that I honked my horn, and he let me go, though.

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lol. Thats one of the dodgiest things I've ever heard anyone do.

Nice :D

chem

That's when I was young, and silly. I edited the post also. :)

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Originally Posted by chemicalNova

lol. Thats one of the dodgiest things I've ever heard anyone do.

Nice :D

chem

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I could write a book! :eek:

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Originally Posted by chemicalNova

I could attach a strobe light to my car roof, and turn it on near some traffic lights? Would this change them? Sounds a little bit silly. [...]Here in Australia, we all just move out of the way and let the ambulances and things go through a red light.

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Actually, here in Sweden some of the traffic lights do react on emergancy vehicles. But they will turn the traffic lights to red in all direction, leaving the emergancy vehicle free to run the stop light. (And we also get out of the way for these vehicals).

Its interesting how we all do it differently in different countries.

chem

They turn green for emergency vehicles here.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by chemicalNova

lol. Thats one of the dodgiest things I've ever heard anyone do.
Nice :D

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If he actually had honked his horn as well then no-one could accuse him of lying to the judge. :D

They seem to work on certain lights though.... I know the project would be far fetched, but there are some trends in some older lights. I was just sorta venting too.

To the Emergency thing....
If you see a black item focused on the pole there should be 4 of em, then the light will allow you to do that.

DJHotIce, your utopian concept would never work in the real world. There'd be no way to factor in environmental variables. The list would include, and certainly not be limited to, effect of rain, sleet, snow, ice, accidents, broken down vehicles, schoolbuses, vehicles not equipped with your gizmo, kid running out into street, etc. etc. etc.

If you really want to save money on gas then drive minimally and sensibly rather than trying to beat the system and screw-up everyone else.

Drive cooperatively, not competitively!