Partnership rolls out C-V2X project in Virginia
The partners plan to deploy cellular vehicle-to-everything communication in northern Virginia to boost safety for school buses, motorists and highway workers, alleviate congestion and help improve the performance of automated vehicles.
The Virginia Department of Transportation, Audi of America and Qualcomm Technologies announced plans to deploy cellular vehicle-to-everything (C-V2X) communication in northern Virginia beginning in the third quarter of 2020.
The initial plan involving two use cases is designed to boost safety for school buses, motorists and highway workers, alleviate congestion and help improve the performance of automated vehicles.
One use case features a Qualcomm 9150 C-V2X chipset in the dashboard display of Audi Q8 SUVs that delivers graduated warnings to drivers about the presence of work crews on the roadways. The second transmits signal phase and timing information from traffic lights to the Audi SUVs, giving drivers stopped at red lights a countdown to the green light
“VDOT has long supported research into the benefits of connected and automated vehicles, particularly those aspects that have the potential to significantly enhance safety,” said Virginia Director of Transportation Research and Innovation Cathy McGhee. “The inclusion of shorter-range, direct communication in the 5.9 GHz band using C-V2X is exciting, as it can allow us to evaluate this emerging communication option for essential and practical safety and mobility services, including saving the lives of maintenance and construction personnel in work zones.”
The Virginia Tech Transportation Institute will develop the software and systems to support the initial use cases. Following software development, the institute will then conduct a demonstration of C-V2X technology.
In 2018, Audi worked with the District Department of Transportation in Washington, D.C., on a traffic light information vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) system that allowed select 2017 and 2018 Audi models to communicate with the city's traffic signal infrastructure and give drivers a countdown to a green light.
In other recent transportation technology news, U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao recently announced new initiatives:
- The Partnership for Analytics Research in Traffic Safety program is expanding to include almost 70% of the U.S. automobile market. PARTS II will collect data on additional advanced driver-assistance systems, such as adaptive cruise control and lane keep assist. Analysis of real-world performance data will help researchers assess the effectiveness of these safety systems.
- The First Responder Safety Technology Pilot Program is a new USDOT program that will help equip emergency response vehicles and key infrastructure with V2X communication technology.