Aldis, Inc. is the product from the vision and passion of technology entrepreneurs James Sherrill and Bill Malkes. Both believe that bringing vision and logic technology to an intersection makes many things possible, not the least of which includes safety and efficiency.
Established in 2006, Aldis develops, commercializes and sells patent-pending, efficient traffic and energy management technology and services to municipal partners.
The GridSmart™ product line is a significant advance in intelligent traffic management. Using an ultra wide angle lens with a horizon-to-horizon view in concert with proprietary software, GridSmart™ utilizes advanced vision processing science and the ability to apply logic to what is seen in the intersection and for several hundred feet in all directions around the intersection.
GridSmart™ combines real-time, single-camera traffic intersection technology with an attractive price point, minimal maintenance and rapid installation. GridSmart™ maximizes traffic flow by calculating the amount, types and speed of traffic locally, at the intersection level and adjusting signals accordingly. In contrast to most traditional traffic management solutions, GridSmart™ is compatible with single intersections or coordinated systems.
In order to achieve this remarkable level of functionality, Aldis is partnered with ORNL’s Image Science and Machine Vision Group. This collaboration allows Aldis to develop image stabilization of GridSmart™ video captures to solve camera movement problems caused by wind. Even in high winds, Aldis’ vision stabilization minimizes camera movement, resulting in a crisp image no matter the conditions.
When fully deployed, Aldis’ program will save approximately 180 million pounds of carbon emissions annually. The Texas Transportation Institute estimated in 2003, nationwide traffic congestion cost the economy over $65 billion per year; a figure doubled since 1993. The National Traffic Signal Report Card released by the National Transportation Operations Coalition in 2005, estimated that if all the signals in the United States were properly timed, national travel would be reduced by 25% and fuel consumption would fall by 10% or 17 billion gallons a year. This time and energy savings would add up to a reduction in harmful emissions (carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide and volatile organic compounds) by 22%.