Automated Highway System (AHS) Or Smart Road

Imagine flying down the freeway at 80 or 90 miles per hour. The driver next to you seems to be asleep at the wheel, but there's no need for you to worry. In fact, you may even be relaxing yourself. If this sounds far-fetched to you, it's really not that far off. There are, in the works, computer-equipped smart cars that run on automated highway systems. These roads will possibly eliminate over one million car accidents for year, saving $150 billion and thousands of lives.

As you may already know, most modern cars have onboard computer systems that operate everything from the braking and fuel systems to the engine. With the use of AHS, information can be passed seamlessly from one car's computer to the other cars on the road; it can also be passed from car to road and vice versa. The computer in the car will adjust operations according to traffic and road conditions, and it can also control braking, navigation and steering.

According to the United States Department of Transportation (DOT), there were over 54,000 deaths from automobile accidents in 2008. Saving lives is of course very important, but that is only one part of what the AHS could provide. The interstate highways we have now were built when there weren't as many drivers on the roads as there currently are. Traffic congestion is a part of life for many, and it will only get worse as time goes on. The automated highway system will allow cars to be driven and controlled at higher speeds, without the stop-and-go traffic and the mistakes that come with it.

The automated highway technology was prominent in the movie "I, Robot" which starred Will Smith. In the movie, cars got to their destinations very quickly and with no human assistance. AHS technology could be the best solution to handling America's traffic woes, and it may provide a safer travel experience for all who use the roads. The technology probably won't be installed on non-highway roads for the immediate future, but test runs have demonstrated success in guiding unmanned vehicles. If the technology translates well in large-scale use, look for an automated highway in the not-too-distant future.