One of the leading independent providers of engineering consultancy, R&D and testing services for connected and autonomous vehicles (CAVs), Horiba MIRA Ltd, has completed the development of a working traffic model as part of its work with the UK Connected Intelligent Transport Environment (UK CITE) consortium.
Made up of Mira and 10 other members, the UK CITE consortium is working on a major £7.1m (US$9.1m) project that will enable automotive, infrastructure and service provider companies to trial connected vehicle technology, infrastructure and services in real-life conditions. Over 40 miles (64km) of urban roads, inter-urban A roads and motorway within Coventry and Warwickshire will be equipped with three types of V2X (vehicle-to-vehicle/infrastructure) technology (LTE, ITS-G5, wi-fi) and test the feasibility of a fourth (LTE-V). The project will seek to understand how the technologies can improve journeys, reduce traffic congestion, and provide in-vehicle entertainment and safety services through better connectivity.
Horiba MIRA has developed a model that is able to simulate traffic flows and driver behaviors along a mix of urban and motorway roads, reflecting what would be expected to be seen in the real world. The model is a key step toward the development of V2X communications simulations, which are due for completion by the end of the year. The model is a product of the company’s new simulation and modeling team, developed with the Vissim microsimulation package from German transportation software developer, PTV.
MIRA is leading the simulation and modeling activities for the project, which will predict how these technologies will influence journeys, and inform future deployment strategies to optimize socio-economic benefits. Critical to the deployment of these technologies is ensuring that they are safe and secure. In support of this, MIRA will be performing pre-deployment trials using the world-leading connected environment facilities at its proving ground, and producing cybersecurity guidelines.
“The completion of the traffic model is an important step forward within the project, and we’re delighted with the progress made to date,” said Chris Reeves, commercial manager for future transport technologies and intelligent mobility at HORIBA MIRA. “The project is helping to pave the way for the development and deployment of connected autonomous vehicles in the UK, and we’re proud to be working together with the UK CITE consortium on this innovative scheme.”
The consortium also includes: Visteon, Jaguar Land Rover, Siemens, WMG at the University of Warwick, Coventry University, Coventry City Council, Vodafone, Huawei Technologies, Transport for West Midlands and Highways England.
