INROADS (INtelligent Renewable Optical ADdvisory System)

Date: 26/7/2013

The INROADS project led by TRL with seven European partners will develop intelligent road studs (also known as cats eyes) containing lighting, sensors and communication technologies, which will enable enhanced traffic management and road user information. This represents a major innovation over the existing retroreflective studs as not only do they have increased conspicuity, but they will also be able to communicate with each other and with a central control, making the system highly reactive and adaptable. They will also harvest energy from their environment.

Their greater visibility compared to standard retroreflective studs is a significant safety benefit, particularly on unlit roads. In such situations, they offer an extremely attractive and cost-effective solution to traditional street lighting, in that they offer many of the safety benefits, but with a much lower capital and operational cost.

The project is twenty months into a three year programme, with efforts so far being on the selection of applications and completion of a system design which considered, for example, physical dimensions, operational temperatures, communication protocol and power consumption. 

To find out more information on INROADS and to view a video, please click here.

Issued by TRL's Communications Team

For further information, please contact Mary Treen or Sarah Bailey
Tel:  +44 (0)1344 770514/0141
Email:  mediaenquiries@trl.co.uk