In this paper, we study the design aspects of an indoor visible light positioning (VLP) system that uses an artificial neural network (ANN) for positioning estimation by considering a multipath channel. Previous results usually rely on the simplistic line of sight model with limited validity. The study considers the influence of noise as a performance indicator for the comparison between different design approaches. Three different ANN algorithms are considered, including Levenberg-Marquardt, Bayesian regularization, and scaled conjugate gradient algorithms, to minimize the positioning error (εp) in the VLP system. The ANN design is optimized based on the number of neurons in the hidden layers, the number of training epochs, and the size of the training set. It is shown that, the ANN with Bayesian regularization outperforms the traditional received signal strength (RSS) technique using the non-linear least square estimation for all values of signal to noise ratio (SNR). Furthermore, in the inner region, which includes the area of the receiving plane within the transmitters, the positioning accuracy is improved by 43, 55, and 50% for the SNR of 10, 20, and 30 dB, respectively. In the outer region, which is the remaining area within the room, the positioning accuracy is improved by 57, 32, and 6% for the SNR of 10, 20, and 30 dB, respectively. Moreover, we also analyze the impact of different training dataset sizes in ANN, and we show that it is possible to achieve a minimum εp of 2 cm for 30 dB of SNR using a random selection scheme. Finally, it is observed that εp is low even for lower values of SNR, i.e., εp values are 2, 11, and 44 cm for the SNR of 30, 20, and 10 dB, respectively.

Highlights: What are the main findings? The AI and VLC-based airport traffic management system enhances traffic flow efficiency, reduces congestion, and enhances safety through real-time asset tracking, adaptive reward mechanisms, and intelligent rerouting strategies. VLC-enabled infrastructure: Utilizes tetrachromatic LED luminaires and SiC optical receivers in a hybrid mesh network to provide precise, location-specific guidance and replace traditional gateway systems. What is the implication of the main finding? AI-driven optimization: Employs Deep Reinforcement Learning (DRL) with Q-learning to support adaptive reward allocation, dynamic phase control, and intelligent rerouting across multiple intersections. GPS-free indoor localization: Enables seamless navigation for AGVs and pedestrians through VLC-based geolocation, contributing to smoother operations, improved mobility, and an enhanced passenger experience. Airports are complex environments where efficient localization and intelligent traffic management are essential for ensuring smooth navigation and operational efficiency for both pedestrians and Autonomous Guided Vehicles (AGVs). This study presents an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven airport traffic management system that integrates Visible Light Communication (VLC), rerouting techniques, and adaptive reward mechanisms to optimize traffic flow, reduce congestion, and enhance safety. VLC-enabled luminaires serve as transmission points for location-specific guidance, forming a hybrid mesh network based on tetrachromatic LEDs with On-Off Keying (OOK) modulation and SiC optical receivers. AI agents, driven by Deep Reinforcement Learning (DRL), continuously analyze traffic conditions, apply adaptive rewards to improve decision-making, and dynamically reroute agents to balance traffic loads and avoid bottlenecks. Traffic states are encoded and processed through Q-learning algorithms, enabling intelligent phase activation and responsive control strategies. Simulation results confirm that the proposed system enables more balanced green time allocation, with reductions of up to 43% in vehicle-prioritized phases (e.g., Phase 1 at C1) to accommodate pedestrian flows. These adjustments lead to improved route planning, reduced halting times, and enhanced coordination between AGVs and pedestrian traffic across multiple intersections. Additionally, traffic flow responsiveness is preserved, with critical clearance phases maintaining stability or showing slight increases despite pedestrian prioritization. Simulation results confirm improved route planning, reduced halting times, and enhanced coordination between AGVs and pedestrian flows. The system also enables accurate indoor localization without relying on a Global Positioning System (GPS), supporting seamless movement and operational optimization. By combining VLC, adaptive AI models, and rerouting strategies, the proposed approach contributes to safer, more efficient, and human-centered airport mobility.

Modern airports are complex Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS), where effective coordination between physical entities – like pedestrians and Autonomous Guided Vehicles (AGVs) – and computational components is essential for safety and efficiency. This study introduces a novel CPS architecture that integrates Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Visible Light Communication (VLC) to optimize mobility and enhance real-time responsiveness. Using tetrachromatic LED luminaires modulated via On-Off Keying (OOK) and amorphous SiC optical receivers in a mesh-based hybrid topology, the system creates a VLC infrastructure that delivers real-time, location-aware navigation. A custom protocol ensures low-latency, reliable data exchange between agents and the digital core. VLC receivers capture continuous data on agent positions and movements, which is processed by Deep Reinforcement Learning (DRL) agents trained via Q-learning. These agents adaptively manage traffic flow, minimize congestion, and improve throughput. Simulations and experiments confirm the system’s advantages over traditional methods, enabling GPS-independent indoor navigation, efficient mixed traffic coordination, and scalable deployment within smart airport environments.

The rapid growth of urban vehicle and pedestrian flows has intensified congestion, delays, and safety concerns, underscoring the need for sustainable and intelligent traffic management in modern cities. Traditional centralized traffic signal control systems often face challenges of scalability, heterogeneity of traffic patterns, and limited real-time adaptability. To address these limitations, this study proposes a decentralized Multi-Agent Reinforcement Learning (MARL) framework for adaptive traffic signal control, where Deep Reinforcement Learning (DRL) agents are deployed at each intersection and trained on local conditions to enable real-time decision-making for both vehicles and pedestrians. A key innovation lies in the integration of Visible Light Communication (VLC), which leverages existing LED-based infrastructure in traffic lights, streetlights, and vehicles to provide high-capacity, low-latency, and energy-efficient data exchange, thereby enhancing each agent’s situational awareness while promoting infrastructure sustainability. The framework introduces a queue–request–response mechanism that dynamically adjusts signal phases, resolves conflicts between flows, and prioritizes urgent or emergency movements, ensuring equitable and safer mobility for all users. Validation through microscopic simulations in SUMO and preliminary real-world experiments demonstrates reductions in average waiting time, travel time, and queue lengths, along with improvements in pedestrian safety and energy efficiency. These results highlight the potential of MARL–VLC integration as a sustainable, resilient, and human-centered solution for next-generation urban traffic management.

Urban traffic congestion leads to daily delays, driven by outdated, rigid control systems. As vehicle numbers grow, fixed-phase signals struggle to adapt to real-time conditions. This work presents a decentralized Multi-Agent Reinforcement Learning (MARL) system to manage a traffic cell composed of five intersections, introducing the novel Strategic Anti-Blocking Phase Adjustment (SAPA) module, developed to enable dynamic phase time adjustments. The goal is to optimize arterial traffic flow by adapting strategies to different traffic generation patterns, simulating priority movements along circular or radial arterials, such as inbound or outbound city flows. The system aims to manage diverse scenarios within a cell, with the long-term goal of scaling to city-wide networks. A Visible Light Communication (VLC) infrastructure is integrated to support real-time data exchange between vehicles and infrastructure, capturing vehicle position, speed, and pedestrian presence at intersections. The system is evaluated through multiple performance metrics, showing promising results: reduced vehicle queues and waiting times, increased average speeds, and improved pedestrian safety and overall flow management. These outcomes demonstrate the system’s potential to deliver adaptive, intelligent traffic control for complex urban environments.

The rapid growth of urban vehicle and pedestrian flows has intensified congestion, delays, and safety concerns, underscoring the need for sustainable and intelligent traffic management in modern cities. Traditional centralized traffic signal control systems often face challenges of scalability, heterogeneity of traffic patterns, and limited real-time adaptability. To address these limitations, this study proposes a decentralized Multi-Agent Reinforcement Learning (MARL) framework for adaptive traffic signal control, where Deep Reinforcement Learning (DRL) agents are deployed at each intersection and trained on local conditions to enable real-time decision-making for both vehicles and pedestrians. A key innovation lies in the integration of Visible Light Communication (VLC), which leverages existing LED-based infrastructure in traffic lights, streetlights, and vehicles to provide high-capacity, low-latency, and energy-efficient data exchange, thereby enhancing each agent’s situational awareness while promoting infrastructure sustainability. The framework introduces a queue–request–response mechanism that dynamically adjusts signal phases, resolves conflicts between flows, and prioritizes urgent or emergency movements, ensuring equitable and safer mobility for all users. Validation through microscopic simulations in SUMO and preliminary real-world experiments demonstrates reductions in average waiting time, travel time, and queue lengths, along with improvements in pedestrian safety and energy efficiency. These results highlight the potential of MARL–VLC integration as a sustainable, resilient, and human-centered solution for next-generation urban traffic management.

Urban traffic management is increasingly challenged by rising vehicle and pedestrian flows, resulting in congestion, delays, and safety riskW. This article proposes an innovative traffic signal control framework that integrates Deep Reinforcement Learning (DRL) with Visible Light Communication (VLC) to optimize operations at intersections, which are critical bottlenecks in urban networks. A decentralized DRL agent is deployed at each intersection and trained on local traffic states, enabling real-time decision-making for both vehicular and pedestrian movements. VLC is used to support low-latency, infrastructure-to-user communication, providing accurate data on positions, speeds, queue lengths, and stop durations. The system employs a queue/request/response mechanism to adapt signal phases dynamically, resolve conflicts, and prioritize urgent flows. The proposed approach is validated through simulations and real-world trials, demonstrating superior performance over centralized and traditional agent-based methods by substantially reducing waiting and travel times while enhancing safety. The solution is scalable and adaptable to a wide range of intersection configurations, with SUMO-based experiments confirming its potential for more efficient and intelligent urban traffic control.