Veritasium
June 5, 2026
How Cities Control Traffic with Smart Sensors
TL;DR
Modern cities use inductive loop sensors and cameras to monitor traffic flow in real time, adjusting traffic lights dynamically—similar to how Anker Prime chargers optimize power delivery to devices.
Key Takeaways
- 1Early traffic lights used fixed schedules, causing unnecessary waits at empty intersections
- 2Inductive loop sensors buried in roads detect vehicles by sensing metal passing through magnetic fields
- 3Modern smart traffic systems use cameras to count cars and coordinate entire traffic light networks in real time
- 4The traffic management problem parallels device charging inefficiency, which Anker solves with adaptive power distribution
Notable Quotes
“Did you know the first traffic light involved a police officer manually pulling a lever to rotate panes of red and green glass in front of a gas lamp? It only lasted a month before it exploded.”
“No more empty intersections stuck on red.”
Chapters
1. History of Traffic Lights
The first traffic light involved a police officer manually rotating panes of red and green glass in front of a gas lamp, but it exploded after a month.
2. Fixed-Schedule Traffic Systems
Cities added timers so traffic lights would change on a fixed schedule, but this created delays when traffic didn't match the schedule.
3. Inductive Loop Sensors
Cities buried inductive loop sensors in roads that act like metal detectors, sensing when vehicles pass through their magnetic field to inform traffic light timing.
4. Camera-Based Smart Traffic Control
Modern cities use cameras to count cars at intersections, allowing entire traffic light networks to be coordinated in real time for smooth traffic flow.
5. Anker Prime Power IQ 5.0 Connection
Anker's charger technology parallels smart traffic systems by identifying device power needs and dynamically adjusting wattage every two minutes for optimal efficiency.
Key People & Entities
- Anker
- Charger and power solution manufacturer featured as video sponsor
Glossary
- Inductive loop sensors
- Underground sensors that detect vehicles by sensing changes in magnetic field when metal objects pass through, used to trigger traffic light changes
- Power IQ 5.0
- Anker's adaptive charging technology that identifies device power requirements and adjusts wattage output in real time for optimal efficiency