US DOT launches largest-yet road test of V2X connected vehicle crash avoidance technology
21 August 2012
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Safety Pilot Model Deployment site plan. Source: UMTRI. Click to enlarge. |
The US Department of Transportation (DOT) today launched the largest-yet road test of connected vehicle crash avoidance technology in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Earlier post.) Nearly 3,000 cars, trucks and buses equipped with connected Wi-Fi technology to enable vehicles and infrastructure to communicate with each other in real time to help avoid crashes and improve traffic flow will begin traversing Ann Arbor’s streets as part of the year-long safety pilot project.
Conducted by University of Michigan’s Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI), the Safety Pilot Model Deployment is a first-of-its-kind test of connected vehicle technology in the real world. The test cars, trucks and buses, most of which have been supplied by volunteer participants, are equipped with vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) and vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) communication devices (collectively, V2X) that will gather extensive data about system operability and its effectiveness at reducing crashes.
For the V2I portion of the program, 73 lane-miles of Ann Arbor roadway have been instrumented with 29 roadside-equipment installations. The transportation department selected the college town for the program due to its traffic mix, variety of roadway types and characteristics, seasonal weather and proximity to vehicle manufacturers and suppliers.
According to DOT’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), V2V safety technology could help drivers avoid or reduce the severity of four out of five unimpaired vehicle crashes. The model deployment vehicles will send electronic data messages, receive messages from other equipped vehicles, and translate the data into a warning to the driver during specific hazardous traffic scenarios including an impending collision at a blind intersection; a vehicle changing lanes in another vehicle’s blind spot; or a rear collision with a vehicle stopped ahead; among others.
Vehicle-to-vehicle communication has the potential to be the ultimate game-changer in roadway safety—but we need to understand how to apply the technology in an effective way in the real world. NHTSA will use the valuable data from the ‘model deployment' as it decides if and when these connected vehicle safety technologies should be incorporated into the fleet.
—NHTSA Administrator David Strickland
The model deployment is the second phase of DOT’s connected vehicle Safety Pilot, a major research initiative managed by NHTSA and the Research and Innovative Technologies Administration (RITA) Intelligent Transportation Systems Joint Program Office.
Earlier this year, DOT released data from a series of “driver acceptance clinics” conducted during the first phase of the Safety Pilot. The study revealed that an overwhelming majority of drivers (9 out of 10) who have experienced V2V technology have a highly favorable opinion of its safety benefits and would like to have V2V safety features on their personal vehicle. (Earlier post.)
The information collected from both phases of the Safety Pilot, and other key research projects, will be used by NHTSA to determine by 2013 whether to proceed with additional activities involving connected vehicle technology, including possible rulemaking.
Among the contributors to the projects are:
Denso. DENSO International America, Inc. (DIAM) is providing two types of dedicated short-range communications (DSRC) devices, which are the devices that allow vehicles to communicate with other equipped vehicles and infrastructure.
DENSO’s two DSRC devices being tested are 1) An integrated original equipment device used on light vehicles, and 2) An aftermarket retrofit device equipped on light vehicles, heavy trucks and buses.
DENSO has been working on V2X technology since 2003, with one of its main focuses being on DSRC devices. The DSRC’s primary function is to assess the surrounding environment based on accurate and precise data exchanges with other vehicle DSRC transceivers and roadside hotspots.
The data exchanges include a vehicle’s location, velocity, acceleration and path history, which can enable on board computers to predict trajectories and reduce the likelihood of collisions. That same data, along with additional information from the traffic signal, can also help drivers avoid running red lights and prevent crashes at controlled intersections (roadside hotspots).Ford. Ford is providing cars equipped with experimental vehicle-to-vehicle communications technology to collect data for the US test. Data collected will be used to evaluate the performance of various safety applications in use and help enhance future development of V2V communications. Consumer feedback for this new technology also will be analyzed.
Ford also is participating in field trials of other applications of this new technology in Germany and around Europe as part of a research program aimed at advancing vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure communication on European roads to improve traffic safety and personal mobility. (Earlier post.)
GM. General Motors is providing eight V2V-equipped Buick and Cadillac cars. The V2V-equipped Buicks and Cadillacs will be joined by vehicles from partners in the Vehicle Safety Communications 3 Consortium, which is part of the Crash Avoidance Metrics Partnership. A large fleet that uses comparable aftermarket safety devices or simpler Vehicle Awareness Devices also will be involved.
Other automakers participating include Honda, Hyundai-Kia, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Toyota and Volkswagen Group.
Very interesting. Will it encourage young drivers and those who refused to grow up to drive more reasonably? Over 80% of all road accidents are created by careless, reckless foolhardly drivers.
Posted by: HarveyD | 21 August 2012 at 12:23 PM
Just the opposite, I'd think. If I'm going to have yet another electronic nanny watching over me, I might as well make use of it and have some fun. It'll save me, right?
Posted by: Matthew | 21 August 2012 at 02:02 PM
More and more cars looks and behave like computers with fat sommolent peoples behind the steering wheel and taking simutanously depressing pills like prozac and stimulous liquids like redbull. This is silly and contradictive. Maybe they take the idea from car blogger that want to have a car powered by a window based or mac based computer regulated by goverment regulations. Where are the car of my dream driven by me like my dodge neon 2005 5 speeds manual but just without a gasoline ice.
Posted by: A D | 21 August 2012 at 02:02 PM
Do we have an attitude problem?
Posted by: HarveyD | 21 August 2012 at 05:02 PM
This is why I will stick with my 1980 F-150...not only does it not have electronic nannies watching my every move, it barely has electricity.
Posted by: Matthew | 21 August 2012 at 05:16 PM
Would more race tracks help our youngsters and older copy cats to burn their unused energy and rage and crash into each other or against concrete walls if they so wished?
It would be better yet if we manage to induce street gang members to do the same, to take them off the streets and reduce their number.
Posted by: HarveyD | 22 August 2012 at 06:48 AM
Bring on the self-driving cars.
I've been hit way too many times by wet-ware drivers.
And as I get older I can see a time coming when I would absolutely love a car that would drive me around without me having to fight my failing senses and slowing reflexes.
Posted by: Bob Wallace | 22 August 2012 at 09:39 AM