Málaga University AI Connects Cars and Traffic Lights

Málaga’s reputation as Southern Europe’s premier tech hub continues to reach new heights. Beyond hosting multinational tech giants, the city is actively pioneering the future of urban mobility. At the forefront of this movement are researchers at the University of Málaga (UMA), who are developing artificial intelligence systems designed to help connected and autonomous vehicles “talk” directly to city infrastructure.

This innovative project focuses on Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) communication, specifically targeting the interaction between cars and traffic lights to dramatically reduce urban traffic accidents and streamline congestion.

Bridging the Gap Between Vehicles and Infrastructure

As cities transition toward smarter ecosystems, the challenge is no longer just making cars autonomous, but ensuring they can safely navigate complex urban environments. The research team at UMA is addressing this by creating AI-driven protocols that allow real-time data exchange.

Instead of relying solely on onboard sensors and cameras—which can have blind spots or fail in poor weather—connected vehicles will receive predictive data directly from the city’s traffic management systems.

According to a recent report by Onda Cero Málaga, this technology aims to drastically improve road safety. By predicting traffic light cycles and analyzing real-time pedestrian movement, the AI can alert drivers—or override autonomous driving systems—to prevent collisions before they even have a chance to occur.

How the AI Communication System Works

The system relies on a combination of edge computing, 5G connectivity, and deep learning algorithms:

• Predictive Traffic Light Cycles: The AI analyzes historical and real-time data to predict exactly when a traffic light will change, allowing vehicles to adjust their speed preemptively to avoid sudden braking.
• V2V and V2I Integration: Vehicles share speed, direction, and braking status with each other (Vehicle-to-Vehicle) and with local traffic lights (Vehicle-to-Infrastructure).
• Pedestrian Protection: By communicating with smart crosswalks, the system can warn oncoming connected vehicles if a pedestrian is starting to cross, even if they are hidden behind a parked delivery truck.

This multi-layered network ensures that decision-making happens in milliseconds, which is critical for preventing high-speed or intersection collisions.

A Boost for Málaga’s Tech Ecosystem

This project solidifies Málaga’s standing as a living lab for smart city technologies. With the Málaga TechPark (PTA) hosting major research centers and global R&D offices, local academic research directly feeds into commercial applications. The university’s work on cooperative intelligent transport systems (C-ITS) is expected to attract further automotive and software testing to the province, offering local graduates world-class opportunities close to home.

As we look toward the future of our streets, projects like this remind us that technology is at its best when it works quietly in the background to keep us safe. Walking down the historic streets of Málaga, it is inspiring to think that the very traffic lights we pass may soon be holding silent, lifesaving conversations with the cars driving by, making our shared spaces safer for everyone.