MAVEN · Project

Smart Traffic Lights That Talk to Self-Driving Car Platoons to Cut Delays

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Imagine a convoy of self-driving cars approaching a busy intersection, and the traffic light already knows they're coming and turns green at exactly the right moment. MAVEN built the software that lets traffic lights and automated vehicles coordinate — grouping cars into platoons, planning their routes together, and timing signals so everything flows smoothly. Think of it like an air traffic controller, but for cars on city streets. The result is less waiting at red lights, smoother traffic flow, and lower emissions in urban areas.

By the numbers

consortium partners involved in development

countries represented in the consortium

industry partners (58% of consortium)

total project deliverables produced

demonstration-ready deliverables

The business problem

What needed solving

Cities face mounting congestion at intersections as traffic volumes grow, and current traffic lights cannot adapt to the arrival of automated vehicle platoons. Without coordination between vehicles and infrastructure, the potential efficiency gains of autonomous driving are lost in urban settings — cars still stop at red lights one by one, wasting road capacity and fuel.

The solution

What was built

MAVEN produced a field-ready prototype for adaptive signal timing that coordinates with vehicle platoons, a simulation prototype tested in the SUMO traffic simulator, and cooperative manoeuvre and trajectory planning algorithms. The project also delivered communication standards contributions, high-precision map integration, vulnerable road user detection, and a roadmap for vehicle-road automation adoption — 21 deliverables in total.

Audience

Who needs this

Municipal traffic management centers upgrading for connected and autonomous vehiclesTraffic signal equipment manufacturers adding V2I communication capabilitiesAutonomous vehicle OEMs developing platoon-capable ADAS systemsITS solution integrators building smart corridor deploymentsCity planning agencies preparing infrastructure for automated transport

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Urban Traffic Management

enterprise

Target: City traffic control centers and municipal transport authorities

If you are a city traffic authority dealing with growing congestion at signalized intersections — this project developed adaptive traffic light algorithms and platoon coordination software that optimize signal timing for groups of automated vehicles. The system was built as both a simulation prototype and a field-ready prototype across 21 deliverables with 12 consortium partners. This means your existing traffic light infrastructure can be upgraded to communicate with connected vehicles and reduce delays.

Automotive Technology

enterprise

Target: ADAS and autonomous driving system developers

If you are an automotive technology company building advanced driver assistance or autonomous driving features — this project developed cooperative manoeuvre and trajectory planning algorithms that let vehicles coordinate movements with infrastructure. With 7 industry partners already involved in development, the algorithms cover platoon organization, negotiation between vehicles, and integration with high-precision maps. This gives your vehicles the ability to join and manage platoons guided by smart infrastructure.

Intelligent Transport Systems

mid-size

Target: ITS solution providers and traffic signal equipment manufacturers

If you are a traffic signal manufacturer or ITS provider looking to future-proof your products for autonomous vehicles — this project created a scheduling and signal timing strategy that reached field-prototype stage, ready for validation. The system handles platoon-aware signal optimization and was tested using the SUMO microscopic traffic simulation. You could integrate these algorithms into your next-generation controllers to serve the growing connected vehicle market.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would it cost to implement this system?

The project data does not include specific implementation costs or licensing fees. The system requires both vehicle-side and infrastructure-side components, so costs would depend on the scale of deployment and existing infrastructure. Contact the coordinator for pricing discussions.

Can this work at city-wide scale or only at single intersections?

MAVEN was designed for signalized intersections and corridors, not just single crossings. The simulation prototype used the SUMO microscopic traffic simulation package to model multiple use cases. Scaling to a full city network would require further engineering, but the corridor-level design is a step toward that.

Who owns the intellectual property and can we license it?

The consortium of 12 partners across 5 countries developed this under an EU Research and Innovation Action (RIA). IP is typically shared among consortium members according to their grant agreement. Contact the coordinator DLR (German Aerospace Center) for licensing terms.

Does this work with existing traffic light infrastructure?

The system was designed to extend existing infrastructure systems for adaptive traffic light optimization. The field prototype reached final integration phase and was prepared for field validation. Integration with legacy systems would need to be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

How does this handle pedestrians and cyclists?

MAVEN explicitly developed ADAS techniques for inclusion of vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and cyclists. This was a dedicated component of the project, recognizing that automated vehicle management cannot ignore non-motorized traffic.

What is the timeline to deploy this technology?

The project closed in August 2019 with a field-ready prototype. MAVEN also produced a roadmap for the introduction of vehicle-road automation to help road authorities plan adoption. Deployment timeline depends on local regulatory approval and connected vehicle penetration rates.

Is this compliant with EU transport regulations?

MAVEN contributed to the development of communication standards for vehicle-infrastructure cooperation. The project also produced a white paper on management of automated vehicles in a smart city environment. Regulatory compliance would need to be verified against current national and EU standards.

Consortium

Who built it

The MAVEN consortium is strongly industry-oriented with 7 out of 12 partners (58%) coming from industry, which is unusual for a research project and signals real commercial intent. Led by DLR, Germany's national aerospace and transport research center, the consortium spans 5 countries (Belgium, Czech Republic, Germany, Netherlands, UK) — all key European markets for autonomous vehicle deployment. The mix includes 1 university, 1 dedicated research organization, and 3 other entities, suggesting a balance between scientific rigor and practical engineering. Only 1 SME participated, meaning the results are shaped primarily by large industry players and may be better suited for enterprise-level adoption.

DEUTSCHES ZENTRUM FUR LUFT - UND RAUMFAHRT EVCoordinator · DE
GEMEENTE HELMONDparticipant · NL
SWARCO MOBILITY NEDERLAND B.V.participant · NL
TOMTOM DEVELOPMENT GERMANY GMBHparticipant · DE
ROYAL BOROUGH OF GREENWICHparticipant · UK
TOMTOM LOCATION TECHNOLOGY GERMANY GMBHparticipant · DE
HYUNDAI MOTOR EUROPE TECHNICAL CENTER GMBHparticipant · DE
POLISparticipant · BE
CESKE VYSOKE UCENI TECHNICKE V PRAZEparticipant · CZ
MAP TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT BVparticipant · NL
SWARCO PEEK NL BVthirdparty · NL

How to reach the team

DLR (German Aerospace Center) in Germany — reach out to their Institute of Transportation Systems for licensing or collaboration inquiries.

Order a report on this consortium See DEUTSCHES ZENTRUM FUR LUFT - UND RAUMFAHRT EV profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want an introduction to the MAVEN team to discuss licensing their platoon management and adaptive signal timing technology? SciTransfer can arrange a direct connection.

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