The autonomous vehicle, in which the driver is hardly necessary, is today a technical reality that promises to revolutionize the concept of mobility. But the truth is that it has been promised for years without actually materializing, and not only because of the high cost of these vehicles, but also and to a large extent because of the regulatory barriers that will take time to disappear. Until the day when our cars drive themselves, other technologies are already making the journeys more agile.
Robots that can regulate traffic, algorithms that detect people to avoid accidents or zebra crossings that alert mobile addicts are just three examples of technologies that are already adapting to our movement.

The algorithm that detects people

In large cities, pedestrian accidents are frequent, either due to the driver's lack of visibility, due to inattention or negligence on the part of the person crossing the street. Accidents of this type could be avoided thanks to the pedestrian detection algorithms used by numerous research groups.

Zebra steps for mobile addicts

Walking while looking at the mobile has its risks, especially if we have to cross a road. It has been given to call "smartphone zombies" or smombies to the people who cross the road paying attention to their mobile and not to the traffic, facing the risk of being hit by a car. In some cities, such as Sydney, Seoul, Tel Aviv or Singapore, among others, zebra crossings have been installed that incorporate colored lights at the ends for pedestrians to access. When the traffic light turns red or green, the ground light also illuminates with the same color, calling the attention of the person who is looking at the mobile.
These lights can be directed towards drivers, especially if the zebra crossing lacks a traffic light and is not clearly appreciated. With yellow flashing lights surrounding it, drivers are warned from the distance that they are braking. Another option that has been put into practice in the Chinese city of Chongqing has been painting exclusive lanes for people who walk using the phone. Other systems use platforms that vibrate to warn pedestrians when not to cross, or send alerts to their mobile phone. Although there are many initiatives in this sense, some experts question them because they consider that the bad behavior of pedestrians is necessary.