What Connected and Autonomous Vehicle Technology Means for You
After years of buzz, nearly all car makers and communication companies are entering the Connected and Autonomous Vehicle (CAV) market - proving that smart cities and self-driving cars are no longer some futuristic dream, but a reality of today. But before these technologies are deployed safely on public roads, there are many policy and technology options to consider?
So, what does this all mean for the traffic industry and the equipment we use to manage our roads? Read on to find out.
Communication is Key Much like the battle between Blu-Ray and HD DVD, manufacturers are split about the best means of connectivity to allow for a true CAV environment. In the world of Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) we have Dedicated Short Range Communications (DSRC) in one corner and Cellular Vehicle to Everything (C-V2X) or 5G in the next.
Proponents for DSRC argue that we can move forward in bringing CAV technology to the public quicker as it can already accommodate necessary Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) and Vehicle-to-Infrastructure (V2I) communications. In fact, car manufactures such as GM are already installing DSRC in many of their vehicles, and Toyota announced that by 2021 they will be installing DSRC in all models.
On the other hand, proponents for 5G technology- a general term for the next generation of wireless communication- argue that this form of communication will be more reliable and offer more in-car features that consumers want. However, the fact remains that as of today 5G doesn’t yet exist commercially. That’s not stopping communication companies, automakers, and industry leaders from performing pilot studies across the globe.
At McCain, we are technology agnostic and are actively participating in pilot projects to support both DSRC and C-V2X communications, including demos at PennDOT and the first Cellular-V2X trials in the US.
Equipment Changes No matter which technology prevails, none of it will be possible without adequate infrastructure equipment in place. Many intersections utilize outdated equipment, incapable of supporting these ever-evolving technologies. Most industry leaders agree that long-term infrastructure investments will be needed to fully bring CAV to commercial use.
Modern traffic equipment below is built to handle today's demands, as well as equipped with growth and options to handle whatever the future may hold for us.
ATC Cabinets
ATC Cabinets come with growth potential supporting emerging CAV applications. ATC Cabinets also boast safety features such as dark signal detection.
ATC Controllers
ATC Controllers have significant computing power, and multiple communication ports and options for flexibility no matter what technology prevails.
SPaT Enabled Software
SPaT-enabled software provides real-time Signal Phase and Timing (SPaT) data, which is regarded as a key building block for many CAV applications.
Central Software
Traffic Management Software can cost effectively distribute CAV data without new infrastructure as it can obtain SPaT messaging from both cloud-based and direct communication systems.
The Future is Now, is Your Agency Ready? Take note from the second largest traffic market in the U.S., Los Angeles, who recently opted to replace existing traffic cabinets with CV-ready ATC Cabinets, marking the largest ATC Cabinet deployment to date. While your agency might not be ready for a citywide upgrade, you could consider a pilot deployment of one or more corridors through the SPaT Challenge. To get more information on how your agency can take part, check out our issue of The Source, Why Connected Vehicles Make Sense and How to Get Involved.
Whether you have questions, want to see what kind of challenges other agencies have faced and how they overcame them, or just want to learn more about this rapidly evolving technology, contact us. We’re here to help. In fact, we recently brought aboard CAV expert Mike Schagrin. With 25 years of experience and nearly a decade heading up the USDOT’s CAV safety research program, Mike is here to help guide your agency every step of the way.
And don’t forget to register for our next CAV webinar where will be focusing on what's happening today, what infrastructure is needed, and what's next.
McCain, Inc., 2365 Oak Ridge Way, Vista, CA 92081, (888) 262-2246