Njalo ngosuku, izigidi zabantu emhlabeni wonke zihlangana nezibani zomgwaqo emagatsheni omgwaqo, ezindaweni zokuwela abahamba ngezinyawo, nasemigwaqweni enabantu abaningi, kodwa bambalwa abayeka ukucabanga ngohambo olude nolujabulisayo olwenza lezi zinsiza ezibalulekile zibe khona. Isibani somgwaqo, esiphinde sibizwe ngokuthi isibani sokumisa noma isignali yomgwaqo, siye sabona izinguquko ezimangalisayo kusukela kumamodeli ayo okuqala avela ekugcineni kwekhulu leminyaka elishumi nesishiyagalolunye. Kusukela ezingalweni ezilula ezikhanyiswe ngegesi kuya ezinhlelweni zanamuhla ezisebenzisa ubuhlakani bokwenziwa, ukuthuthukiswa kwesibani somgwaqo kubonisa indaba ebanzi yokwanda kwemizi, ubuchwepheshe obusha, kanye nomzamo oqhubekayo womphakathi wokuthola ezokuthutha eziphephile neziphumelelayo. Ukuqonda ukuthi le nsiza esetshenziswa yonke indawo yathuthuka kanjani ngokuhamba kwesikhathi akuyona nje into yokufuna ukwazi ngomlando—inikeza izifundo ezibalulekile onjiniyela, abahleli bamadolobha, namabhizinisi ababandakanyeka ezinhlelweni zokuthutha ezihlakaniphile. Lesi sihloko silandela umugqa ophelele womlando wesibani somgwaqo, sihlole imizamo yokuqala yokulawula umgwaqo, izinto ezintsha ezaguqula konke, kanye nobuchwepheshe obusezingeni eliphezulu obubumba ikusasa lokuphathwa kwamagatsa omgwaqo.

Izibani zethrafikhi zisebenza njengezibonelo ezithule zokuvikela imigwaqo yesimanje, zihlela ukuhamba kwezimoto, abagibeli bamabhayisikili, nabahamba ngezinyawo ezindaweni eziningi zomhlaba wonke ngokunemba okumangalisayo nokwethembeka. Lezi zinsiza zokukhombisa zisebenzisa uhlelo olujwayelekile lwezibani ezinemibala—ebomvu, ephuzi noma i-amber, noluhlaza—ukuxhumana imiyalelo ejwayelekile edlula imingcele yolimi namasiko. Isibani esibomvu siyala abashayeli nabahamba ngezinyawo ukuthi bayeke, isibani esiluhlaza sinikeza imvume yokuqhubeka, kanti isibani sethrafikhi esiphuzi sinikeza isexwayiso esibalulekile sokuthi isibonakaliso sizoshintsha, sivumele abasebenzisi bomgwaqo ukuthi bazilungiselele ngokufanele. Ngaphezu kokubukeka kwazo okulula, izibani zethrafikhi zesimanje zihlanganisa izinzwa ezithuthukisiwe, izikhathi, nezinhlelo zokuxhumana ezivumelana nezimo zethrafikhi zesikhathi sangempela, zinciphisa ukuminyana futhi zithuthukise ukuphepha. Ukubaluleka kwezi zinsiza akukwazi ukugcizelelwa kakhulu, njengoba izifundo zibonisa njalo ukuthi izibonakaliso zethrafikhi ezisebenza kahle zinciphisa kakhulu ukuphindaphinda kanye nobukhulu bokushayisana ezindaweni. Ezinkampanini ezifana neShandong Penghui Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd., eziqeqeshelwe ukukhiqiza izixazululo ezithuthukisiwe zezibani zethrafikhi, ukuqonda ukuthuthukiswa komlando kobuchwepheshe kubalulekile ukuze kuqhutshwe ukuqanjwa okusha emkhakheni.

Ngaphambi kokuba kufakwe ukhanyiso lokuqala lokulawula umkhukula, izizwe zazilwa nengxaki yokuphatha izitalato ezazigcwele abantu kwaye kugwenywe ukuvaleka kwezithuthi ezikhulayo ezixineneyo. Izixeko zaseRoma zakudala zazisebenzisa imithetho yezithuthi elula, kuquka neendlela zemigwaqo enye kuphela kunye nemiqathango yokungena kwezinqola ngamaxesha aphithizelayo, ukugcina isimo sokuphila komyalelo ezindleleni zazo ezixakekileyo. EYurophu ephakathi, abamemezeli bezigodi kunye namagosa agade ehamba ngehashe babedla ngokuqondisa izinqola ezihamba ngehashe ezindaweni eziphithizelayo, nangona ezi ndlela zazilinganiselwe kakhulu ngempumelelo yazo kunye nokwanda kwazo. Ukwanda okukhawulezileyo kwezixeko ngexesha le-Industrial Revolution kwadala iingxaki zezithuthi ezingazange zibonwe ngaphambili, njengoko izinqola ezihamba ngehashe, izithuthi ezihamba ezikalini, izithuthuthu, kunye neenqwelo-moya zokuqala zazilwa indawo yendlela elinganiselweyo kwiindawo ezixineneyo ezixineneyo. Ngasekupheleni kwenkulungwane yeshumi elinesithoba, izixeko ezinjengeLondon neParis zaqala ukuzama izibonakaliso ze-semaphore—iingalo zemishini ezisebenza ngamapolisa—ukuqondisa ukuhamba kwezithuthi kwiindawo eziphithizelayo, zibeka imizamo yokuqala esemthethweni yokudala into esingayibona njengenkqubo elula yokumisa ukhanyiso. Nangona kunjalo, ezi ndlela zokuphatha izithuthi zokuqala, nangona zilula ngokwemigangatho yanamhlanje, zabeka isiseko esibalulekileyo sokusungulwa kwezixhobo zokulawula izithuthi ezizenzekelayo ezingazange ziguqule izithuthi zasemzini ngonaphakade.

Ukukhanya kokuqala komgwaqo okwaziwayo emhlabeni kwafakwa ngaphandle kweNdlu YePhalamende YaseBrithani eLondon ngomhla ka-9 kuZibandlela, 1868, idivayisi eyayishintsha indlela amadolobha ayelawula ngayo izinselele ezikhulayo zezokuthutha. Le ngeniso eyayingumlandeli yayiyimibono kaJ. P. Knight, unjiniyela wezimpawu zezitimela zaseBrithani owasebenzisa ubuchwepheshe be-semaphore obusuka embonini yezitimela ukulawula izimoto emigwaqweni. Le divayisi yayinezibani ezikhanyiswa ugesi ezifakwe esigxotsheni esikhulu sensimbi, ezinezimpawu ezibomvu neziluhlaza ezazilawulwa ngesandla umphoyisa owayezosonta izibani kusetshenziswa indlela yomshini esisekelweni. Ngeshwa, le ngeniso eyayiyingqayizivele yaba nesikhathi esifushane nesibuhlungu—ngaphansi kwenyanga ngemuva kokufakwa, ukuvuza kukagesi kwabangela ukuthi isibani siqhume, sabangela ukulimala kakhulu umphoyisa owayesisebenzisa, okwaholela ekushiyweni komqondo wokukhanya komgwaqo okukhanyiswa ugesi iminyaka eminingi. Naphezu kwalokhu kuhluleka, umqondo oyisisekelo wokusebenzisa izibani ezinemibala ukulawula izimoto wawusungulwe, futhi abasunguli emhlabeni wonke baqala ukuhlola izindlela eziphephile nezithembekile zokulawula izimoto ngokuzenzakalelayo. Imidwebo yokuqala nemidwebo yezithombe ezivela kulesi sikhathi, ekhombisa imiklamo enemininingwane yemishini yezinto zokulawula izimoto, inikeza ukuqonda okuthakazelisayo endleleni yokusungula eyaholela ekukhanyeni komgwaqo kwesimanje. Le midwebo yomlando yokukhanya komgwaqo ikhombisa ukuthi abasunguli babhekana kanjani nezinselele ezifana nokubonakala ebusuku, ukumelana nesimo sezulu, kanye nesidingo sezimpawu ezicacile, ezingadukisi ezizoqondwa ngokushesha bonke abasebenzisi bomgwaqo.

Isibani sokuqala sezithuthi zikagesi, esanqoba izinkinga zokuphepha zezinhlelo ezikhanyiswe ngegesi, senziwa eCleveland, Ohio, ngo-1914, sifakwa yi-American Traffic Signal Company endaweni yomgwaqo i-Euclid Avenue ne-East 105th Street. Lolu hlelo olusha lwalunezibani zikagesi ezibomvu neziluhlaza ezilawulwa kusuka endaweni yokubuka yamaphoyisa eseduze, lapho umphoyisa ayengakwazi ukushintsha phakathi kwezimpawu ngokusekelwe ezimweni zezithuthi ezibonwayo. Ukufakwa kwe-Cleveland kwaphumelela kakhulu kangangokuthi amanye amadolobha amakhulu aseMelika alandela ngokushesha, futhi ngo-1917, iSalt Lake City yafaka uhlelo lokuqala lokulawula izithuthi oluxhunyiwe olusebenza kusuka ku-switch eyodwa enkulu. Ukwethulwa kwesibani esiphuzi noma esinsundu—isibani esibalulekile esimaphakathi esisithatha njengento ejwayelekile manje—kwenzeka ngo-1920 lapho umphoyisa waseDetroit uWilliam Potts eqaphela isidingo sesigaba sesixwayiso phakathi kwezibani eziluhlaza nezibomvu. Umklamo wesibani sezithuthi sikaPotts onemibala emithathu, esasebenzisa izibani ezibomvu, ezinsundu, neziluhlaza ezihlelwe ngokuvundlile kusigxobo, saba yindinganiso yamazwe ngamazwe esaqhubeka nanamuhla, sibonisa ukuthi ubuchule obubodwa obucatshangelwe bungaba nomthelela omude engqalasizodumo yomhlaba.

Ngo-20 leminyaka yekhulunyaka, ubuchwepheshe bezibani zethrafikhi buye bathuthuka ngezigaba eziningana ezihlukile, ngayinye iletha ukuthuthuka okubalulekile ekuthembekeni, ukusebenza kahle, kanye nomsebenzi ezinhlelweni zokuphatha izimpambano zomgwaqo emhlabeni wonke. Izikhathi zemishini ezethulwe ngama-1920s nama-1930s zavumela izibani zethrafikhi ukuthi zisebenze ngokuzenzakalelayo ngaphandle kokudinga ukugadwa njalo ngabantu, zidlula ngezigaba ezibomvu, eziphuzi, neziluhlaza ngezikhathi ezibekiwe ezingalungiswa ngezikhathi ezahlukene zosuku. Ukuthuthukiswa kwezithwebuli zemishayo (inductive loop detectors) ngama-1960s kwaba yimpumelelo enkulu, njengoba lezi zinzwa ezifakwe emgwaqweni zingakwazi ukubona izimoto ezisondeleyo futhi ziqale izinguquko zesignali kuphela lapho kukhona ithrafikhi, kunciphisa kakhulu isikhathi sokulinda esingadingekile kubashayeli. I-electronics esekelwe ku-solid-state nama-microprocessors aqala ukufaka izinto zemishini ngama-1970s nama-1980s, avumela ama-algorithms wokubeka isikhathi athuthukisiwe, ukuhambisana phakathi kwezimpambano eziningi, kanye nekhono lokugcina izinhlelo eziningi zesikhathi zezimo ezahlukene zethrafikhi. Izibani zethrafikhi zesimanje manje zihlanganisa ubuchwepheshe obuthuthukisiwe obuhlanganisa amakhamera okuthwebula ividiyo, izinzwa ze-radar, amamojuli okuxhumana angenazintambo, kanye namakhono okucubungula idatha yesikhathi sangempela avumela ukuthi zivumelane nezimo eziguqukayo zethrafikhi. Kubakhiqizi abanjengoShandong Penghui Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd., ukuhlala emgqeni wangaphambili walokhu kuthuthuka kobuchwepheshe kubalulekile ekukhiqizeniImikhiqizo ezihlangabezana nezidingo eziphakeme kakhulu zenethiwekhi yezokuthutha yasemadolobheni yesimanje.

Enye yezinto ezibaluleke kakhulu ezithuthukisiwe muva nje kubuchwepheshe bezimpawu zomgwaqo kube ukuguqukela kusuka ezibubeni zendabuko ezishisayo kuye kuma-light-emitting diodes, noma ama-LED, anikeza ukusebenza kahle kwamandla okuthuthukisiwe kakhulu, izimpilo ezinde zokusebenza, nokubonakala okungcono kuzo zonke izimo zezulu. Izibani zomgwaqo ze-LED zisebenzisa ugesi ongaphansi cishe ngama-80 kuya ku-90 ekhulwini kunabaphikisi bazo abashisayo ngenkathi zihlala iminyaka eyishumi noma ngaphezulu ngaphambi kokudinga ukushintshwa, okuholela ekongeni okukhulu kwezindleko kuma-masipala kanye nezinhlangano zezokuthutha. Ukukhanya okukhanyayo okunikezwa ama-LED kuqinisekisa ukuthi izinkomba zesibonakaliso zihlala zibonakala kahle ngisho nalapho ilanga likhanya, imvula enkulu, noma inkungu, kuthuthukisa kakhulu ukuphepha kwezimpambano. Izibani zomgwaqo ze-LED zesimanje ziphinde zifake izici zokuphepha ezifana nezibani eziphindaphindayo, ukuze uma ama-LED angawodwana ehluleka, isibonakaliso sihlale sisebenza futhi siyabonakala. Lezi zithuthukisi zobuchwepheshe zenze izibani zomgwaqo zesimanje zithembeke kakhulu futhi zilungele ukugcinwa kunemiklamo yokuqala, zibe nomthelela ekuhambeni okubushelelezi komgwaqo kanye nokunciphisa ukubambezeleka kwezimpambano emadolobheni emhlabeni jikelele.

Ezakhiweni zedolobha zesimanje, izibani zethrafikhi zenza umsebenzi obuyinkimbinkimbi futhi othuthukile kunokushintshanisa nje phakathi kwezimpawu ezibomvu, eziluhlaza, nezimhlophe ngokwezinhlelo ezimisiwe. Izinhlelo zokulawula ithrafikhi zesimanje zihlanganiswa nezinhlelo ezibanzi zokuhamba ezihlakaniphile eziqoqa futhi zihlaziye idatha ezinkulungwaneni zezinzwa, amakhamera, nezimoto ezixhunyiwe ukuze kuthuthukiswe ukuhamba kwethrafikhi kulo lonke izindawo ezinkulu. Ubuchwepheshe bokulawula izibani zethrafikhi eziguquguqukayo, njenge-SCATS (Sydney Coordinated Adaptive Traffic System) ne-SCOOT (Split Cycle Offset Optimisation Technique), buqapha njalo izimo zethrafikhi futhi buguqula izikhathi zezibani ngesikhathi sangempela ukuze kuncishiswe ukuminyana futhi kuncishiswe izikhathi zokuhamba. Lezi zinhlelo zibonakale zinciphisa ukubambezeleka kwezimpambaniso ngamaphesenti angu-15 kuye ku-40 futhi zinciphise ukukhishwa kwezimoto ngokwenza ukuhamba kwethrafikhi kube bushelela, okwenza zibe amathuluzi abalulekile emadolobheni afuna ukuthuthukisa kokubili ukuhamba nokusimama kwemvelo. Izibani zethrafikhi futhi zidlala indima ebalulekile ekubeka phambili izimoto eziphuthumayo, ezokuhamba zomphakathi, nabahamba ngezinyawo ngokusebenzisa izinhlelo ezikhethekile zokubeka phambili izimpawu ezithola amambulance asondelayo, amaloli omlilo, noma amabhasi futhi zigucule izigaba zezimpawu ukuze zinikeze indlela yazo. Ngakho-ke, isibani sokumisa esithobekile sikhule sisuka kwisivikelo esilula sokuphepha saba yisiteji esithuthukile esiqhutshwa yidatha esakha umgogodla wezinhlelo zesimanje zokuphatha ithrafikhi yedolobha.

Ukuphepha kwabahamba ngezinyawo sekubaluleke kakhulu ekwakhiweni kwezibani zethrafikhi zesimanje, okuholele ekusetshenzisweni kabanzi kwama-timer abalela phansi abahamba ngezinyawo, izimpawu zokuhamba ngezinyawo ezifinyelelekayo ezinemisindo kubasebenzisi abangaboni, nezigaba ezikhethekile zokuwela abahamba ngezinyawo ezimisa konke ukuhamba kwezimoto. Imizi eminingi iphinde yethula izikhathi zokuqala zabahamba ngezinyawo, ezinikeza abahamba ngezinyawo isikhathi esingamasekhondi amathathu kuya kwayimihlanu ngaphambi kokuba izimoto zithole ukukhanya okuluhlaza, kunciphisa kakhulu ukungqubuzana kwezimoto nabahamba ngezinyawo emagcekeni. Ukuhlanganiswa kwezibani zethrafikhi namapulatifomu amadolobha ahlakaniphile kuvumela iziphathimandla zezokuthutha ukuthi ziqaphe ukusebenza kwamagceke ukude, zithole izaziso zesikhathi sangempela mayelana nokungasebenzi kwezibani, futhi zilungise izinhlelo zesikhathi ngokusekelwe ezehlakalweni ezikhethekile, izimo zezulu, noma imisebenzi yokwakha. Njengoba izakhamuzi zasemadolobheni ziqhubeka nokukhula futhi amanethiwekhi ezokuthutha aba nzima kakhulu, indima yezibani zethrafikhi ekugcineni ukuhamba okuphephile nokusebenzayo izoba ebaluleke kakhulu, idrive ukutshalwa kwezimali okuqhubekayo ocwaningweni, intuthuko, nokuthuthukiswa kwengqalasizinda. Izinhlangano ezibandakanyeka kule ndawo, okubalwa kuzoShandong Penghui Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd., kusiza ekubumbeni ikusasa lezokuthutha zasemadolobheni ngokuzibophezela kwabo ekuqanjweni okusha nasezingeni ekwenziweni kwezimpawu zomgwaqo.

Izinto ezizayo zobuchwepheshe bezibani zomgwaqo zakhiwa yizinto eziningana eziguquguqukayo, okubalwa ukuxhumana kwezimoto nengqalasizinda, ubuhlakani bokwenziwa, kanye nokwamukelwa okukhulayo kwezimoto ezizihambelayo ezithembisa ukuguqula indlela izimpambano zomgwaqo ziphethwe ngayo. Ubuchwepheshe bezimoto ezixhunyiwe, obuvumela izimoto ukuthi zixhumane ngqo nezibani zomgwaqo nezinye izingxenye zengqalasizinda, buzovumela izibani zomgwaqo ukuthi zithole ulwazi lwesikhathi sangempela mayelana nesivinini, indawo, kanye nomzila ohleliwe wezimoto ezisondelayo, obuvumela ukuthi zikwazi ukulungisa isikhathi sezimpawu ngokunemba okungakaze kubonwe. Ubuhlakani bokwenziwa kanye ne-machine learning algorithms kuthuthukiswa ukuze kuhlaziywe inani elikhulu ledatha yomgwaqo futhi kutholwe amaphethini ongqongqoshe bomgwaqo abangase bangawuboni, okungaholela ezinhlelweni zokuphatha umgwaqo ezikwazi ukubikezela ukuminyana ngaphambi kokuba kwenzeke futhi kulungiswe izimpawu ngendlela engozini. Eminye imizi ihlolwa "izimpambano zomgwaqo ezihlakaniphile" ezisusa izibani zomgwaqo zakudala ngokuphelele, isebenzisa izinhlelo ezisekelwe kuzinzwa ukuze ihambisane nezimoto ngokuzenzakalelayo ngaphandle kwesidingo sezikhathi ezimisiwe. Le mibono yesikhathi esizayo, nakuba isesesigabeni sokuqala sokuthuthukiswa, ibonisa umhlaba lapho ukulawulwa komgwaqo kungenamihawu, kuyazivumelanisa, futhi kungabonakali kubasebenzisi bomgwaqo, kunciphisa kakhulu ukubambezeleka nokuthuthukisa ukuphepha ezimpambanweni zomgwaqo.

Ushintsho oluya ezimotweni zikagesi nezizihambelayo luzophinde luthinte ukuklanywa kwezibani zomgwaqo, njengoba lezi zimoto zingathola ulwazi lwesignali ngqo ngokuxhumana okungenantambo esikhundleni sokuncika kuphela ezinkombisweni ezibonakalayo. Leli khono libeka imibuzo ebalulekile mayelana nendima yesikhathi esizayo yezibani zomgwaqo ezisebenzayo—ingabe ziyophela ekugcineni njengoba ukuxhumana kwezimoto nezisekelo zengqalasizinda kusakazeka, noma zizoqhubeka nokusebenza njengezibuyekezo ezibalulekile zabashayeli nabahamba ngezinyawo abantu? Isimo esicacile sibandakanya isikhathi soshintsho oluyingxenye, lapho izibani zomgwaqo ezijwayelekile zihlala zikhona kodwa zengezwe ngezinhlelo zokuxhumana zedijithali ezinikeza ulwazi olwengeziwe ezimotweni ezixhunyiwe nezizihambelayo. Izinkampani ezikhethekile ekukhiqizeni izibani zomgwaqo sezilungiselela lesi sikhathi esizayo ngokuthuthukisa abalawuli bezibani zomgwaqo ezihlakaniphile abanamakhono okuxhumana, imiklamo eyakhiwe ngamamojula engabuyekezwa ngobuchwepheshe obusha, nemikhiqizo ehlangabezana namazinga emboni asafufusa ezisekelo zengqalasizinda ezixhunyiwe. Ezabakhiqizi abacabanga phambili njengobaShandong Penghui Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd., ukutshala imali kulobu buchwepheshe obulungele ikusasa kubalulekile ukugcina umkhawulo wokuncintisana emakethe yezokuthutha ehlakaniphile eshintsha ngokushesha.

Kusukela kusibani esisodwa esikhanyiswa ngegesi ngaphandle kwePhalamende laseBrithani kuya ezinhlelweni eziyinkimbinkimbi ezilawula izinkulungwane zezimpambano emigwaqweni emadolobheni amakhulu anamuhla, uhambo lokukhanya kwethrafikhi luhlanganisa iminyaka engaphezu kuka-150 yobuhlakani babantu nentuthuko yezobuchwepheshe. Lezi zinsiza ziye zasindisa izimpilo eziningi ngokuletha ukuhleleka ezindaweni ezingaba yingozi futhi ezingalawuleki, kunciphisa izingozi ezibulalayo ngamaphesenti angu-70 ezindaweni ezinemigwaqo elawulwa kahle. Izibani zethrafikhi ziphinde zaba amathuluzi abalulekile ekulawuleni ukuhamba kwabantu emadolobheni, ukunciphisa ukuminyana, ukwehlisa ukukhishwa kukagesi ezimotweni, nokudala amadolobha ahamba kalula futhi aphila kangcono ngokubeka phambili abahamba ngezinyawo ngokucophelela. Njengoba sibheka esikhathini esizayo sezokuthutha ezixhunyiwe nezizilawulayo, umgomo oyisisekelo owenza ukuthi ukukhanya kokuqala kwethrafikhi kuphumelele—ukuxhumana okucacile, okungabazisi kwe-right-of-way—kuzohlala kubalulekile njengoba kuhlale kunjalo, noma ngabe ubuchwepheshe obusetshenziswa ukukufeza buqhubeka nokuthuthuka. Ukuqonda le mlando ecebile kusisiza ukuba sazi ubunjiniyela obumangalisayo obufakwe esibani ngasinye sethrafikhi esihlangana naso futhi kuqinisekisa ukubaluleka kokuqhubeka nokutshalwa kwezimali engqalasizinda yezokuthutha ehlakaniphile. Noma ngabe ungumakhi wedolobha owakha imigwaqo ephephile, umnikazi webhizinisi onentshisekelo ezixazululweni zokuphatha ithrafikhi, noma umshayeli nje onolwazi oluncane olindele ekukhanyeni okumisiwe, indaba yokukhanya kwethrafikhi inikeza imininingwane ebalulekile yokuthi ubuchwepheshe bungaxazulula kanjani izinselelo eziyinkimbinkimbi zomphakathi futhi bathuthukise impilo yansuku zonke yabantu emhlabeni wonke.