Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-18
SCIENCE PRODUCES MECHANICAL
'BRAIN" TO DIRECT TRAFFIC
Yale Engineers Develop System Far More
Efficient Than Highly Trained Off,
Ger Can Operate Signal Light.
Science Feature Service.

Science Feature Service.
Science has stepped into the field OF
trafic regulation and her latest ana
most extraordinary offering is new
traffic robot or mechanical policeman
which is now directing traffic In many
Of our large Eastern cities.
Our modern age has delivered over
to us many thousands of mechanical
slaves" but only recently has 1t begun
to approach the more valuable end OF
creating mechanical brains" During
the last two or three years some de-
vices have come on to the market tnat
have showed symptoms of having the
creative germ, but unfortunately most
of them have performed only minor
functions.
Recently group of young Yale enyi-
neers brought forth a mechanical
brain" that actually accomplishes
useful function-a tremendously use
full function; that of directing traff1c
It is not a hit and miss proposition:
II is a mechanical policeman" that
directs traffic far more efficiently than
a highly trained trafic oficer and
operates q standard signal light in
exact accordance with the varying
volume and flow Of trafiic in the streets.
It enjoys, furthermore, q tremendous
advantage in that it admits Of no
errors.
Had to Possess Brain"
To fulfill the claims made by these
inventors the device necessarily had to
possess a brain that would make it
superior to that of the human being.
It seemed highly improbable that any
mechanism could be devised which
would be capable Of remembering. !"
thinking" seeing" and receiving in
structions. and skepticism therefore
prevailed.
Those who have seen the system IN
operation in a number of Eastern cities,
however, maintain that it does every
thing but smile, give the motortSt a
cheerful good morning." arrest speed
ers, and give tickets to court functions.
What this mechanical brain" lacks in
amenities, it makes up in smoothness OF
operation. ,
The "electro-matic" trafic control
was conceived in New Haven. Conn.
when young Yale professor. Henry A.
Haugh. jr., hurryirg home late one
night, was stopped at pretimed traffic
signal which was giving the right-of-
way to an empty street. Chaf1ng at
the unnecessary delay, Prof. Haugh
began to ruminate upon the possibilities
of regulating traf1c by mechanical
means to its own volume and flow. In
other words. allowing trafnc to run
itself. In collaboration with three Yale
associates, Eugene D. Stirlen. Charles
D. Geer and wallace q. Garland, the
new mechanical brain" with its me-
chanical "eyes" was developed.
Successful in Wilmington.
The system, which has been installed
in a number of cities throughout the
Eastern States, is directing trafflc far
more ef1ciently than it ever has been
directed before by other means-etther
human or mechanical. The entire
downtown business area Of the city OF
Wilmington, Del. Is controlled by the
robot and since the installation OF this
robot trafic ofacer control has been
dispensed with. So much interest has
been generated by this recent develop
ment that trafic experts from all over
the country have journeyed to the Della:
ware city to watch the mechanical
policeman in actual operation and all
have acclaimed 1t Is the most important
development ever made In trafhc hand
ling. The control IL composed Of two
major units-the "eyes" and brain. :"
The "eyes" are sensitive units placed
in the pavement Of all the streets APP
prosecuting Tic uIVCAoCOOAOh' AnSJ
the arrival and movement Of all vehicles
that pass over them and transmit this
information to the brain"
The brain" Is q control mechanism
which is the true marvel of the entire
system, exhibiting sheer intelligence and
memory far beyond the human
capacity. It Is capable Of thinking, !"
seeing" and receiving Instructions. "
The brain" Is able to tell at all times
what demands are being made upon 1t
and from what direction and IL, sched.
ules trafhc through the intersection
according to its volume and now, yet
it never neglects the individual car
approaching the intersection.
Has No Set Rules.
The mechanical hluecoat does not
operate according to any set rule nor
does 1t adhere to any particular sched-
ule. Thoroughfare trafic is "remem-
bered" and sent along at the earliest
moment consistent with safety.
Drivers who pass frequently are
lights blink differently under what ap-
pear to them to be similar conditions,
yet using more than human intelligence.
The secret lies In the vehicle -sensi-
tive" units In the pavement Of the
streets adjacent TO the intersection.
Automobiles passing over these sensitive
units in the pavement govern the
changing Of signals.
These units are the "eyes" Of the
mechanical policeman. They see" the
presence and movement Of trafic and
transmit this information to q control
mechanism. The control mechanism or
brain" receives this information. ere
members" the arrival and presence of
the vehicles and with real intelligence
operates the traf1c signal to meet the
exact situation existing at that moment.
The brains" and "eyes," being I'm
conspicuous features of the mechanism.
are usually overlooked and the motor
list sees only the result-the orders
flashed by the lights.
Looking at the result and failing to
take into consideration the thinking
processes. he finds his human intelli-
gence outwitted by mechanical brains.
Amazed At Control.
Having become accustomed to light
signals that are pretimed, like an cleo
trio sign, he is amazed TO discover q
source of control that "sees" his pres
ence and gives him O better break
than q trahac ofacer would. He ap.
proaches the intersection from o cross
street. for instance, and the lights sig