Drivers express annoyance due to AI-controlled traffic lights
In the heart of the Verbandsgemeinde Kandel, the small town of Freckenfeld is making waves with its innovative approach to both retail and traffic management.
The Edeka store in Freckenfeld, open 24/7, serves as a vital local supply source, especially in rural areas. With over 4000 items on offer, it caters to the needs of the town's 11,000 inhabitants. The store's success is not just about its extensive product range, but also its adoption of modern technology.
Matt Redwood, Vice President Retail Technology Solutions at Diebold Nixdorf, considers the Freckenfeld store a shining example of how modern store technology can help secure local supply in rural areas. One such innovation is the self-checkout system, which streamlines the shopping experience for customers.
Another innovation is the AI-supported age verification solution, which ensures a faster checkout process. Using facial analysis, the system quickly and accurately determines the age of customers, making the shopping experience more efficient.
Meanwhile, Freckenfeld has also become a testing ground for an AI traffic light as part of a pilot project. However, the implementation has not been without challenges. Many residents have reported chaos on the roads due to unpredictable traffic phases and long wait times. The traffic light, programmed to prioritise weaker road users such as pedestrians, cyclists, and those in wheelchairs, seems to be learning less effectively than expected.
Mayor Dieter Neubauer reported that many residents are avoiding the main roads and using side streets to bypass the AI traffic light. Numerous complaints have been made by car drivers, who find the traffic light's phases difficult to understand.
In a different part of Germany, the Rhineland-Palatinate village of Schweppenhausen operates a 24/7 supermarket with AI-supported age control. While the Vice President Retail Technology Solutions at Diebold Nixdorf highlighting the success factors of the store concept in Freckenfeld remains unnamed, it is clear that the Freckenfeld store is paving the way for the future of retail in rural areas.
Despite the challenges faced by the AI traffic light in Freckenfeld, the town continues to embrace technological advancements, demonstrating its commitment to improving the lives of its residents.
