Denso provides units for USDOT

Denso International America (DIAM) has revealed its part in the United States Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Safety Pilot Model Deployment, which is testing vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) and vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) technology in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The program is the world’s largest road test of ‘connected vehicle’ crash avoidance technology and will involve nearly 3,000 cars, trucks and buses, equipped with WiFi technology, which will enable vehicles and infrastructure to ‘talk’ to each other in real-time, in order to help avoid crashes and improve traffic flow. The company is providing two types of dedicated short-range communications (DSRC) devices for the year-long study, which is being conducted in collaboration with the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI).

DIAM’s two DSRC devices that are being used in the tests are: an integrated original equipment device used on light vehicles; and an aftermarket retrofit device equipped on light vehicles, heavy trucks and buses. The company has been working on connected vehicle or V2X technology since 2003, with a main focus 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. The same data, along with additional information from the traffic signal, can also help drivers avoid running red lights and prevent crashes at controlled intersections.

The company’s DSRC devices give test vehicles a 360-degree awareness of its surroundings, which can help predict hazardous situations and alert drivers to take precautions and avoid crashes. The technology can also support enhanced mobility and environmental responsibility. The technology can provide advisories to in-vehicle systems on the timing of traffic signals, in order to optimize efficient, fuel and time-saving driving habits, while also minimizing engine emissions through reduced idle times. The company believes V2X technology has the potential to revolutionize safety and convenience on the country’s roads and anticipates its deployment in the USA in the next few years.

28 August 2012