SMART Traffic LIGHTS: Exploring Mathematics, Programming, and Robotics in Automation

The paper "Programming Traffic: Robotics and Mathematics in Traffic Light Control" proposes an interdisciplinary approach that integrates Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) to address real-world urban mobility challenges. The overall objective of this project is to develop and implement a traffic signal control system using the Arduino platform, applying Mathematical Logic and Computational Reasoning to optimize traffic management. To this end, the research adopts Project-Based Learning (PBL) as its methodology, allowing students to transition from abstract knowledge to concrete practice through the construction and programming of physical prototypes. The target audience for the instructional sequence is first-year high school students, and the activities were structured with a total workload of 11 class hours, divided into seven sessions. Mathematics plays an active role in the model, utilizing concepts of time, logical sequences, proportions, and linear functions to calculate traffic light timing. The main expected outcomes are for students to analyze experimental data and construct effective graphical representations.