The initiative centers on advancing cellular vehicle-to-everything (CV2X) technologies in the urban, tech-focused Atlanta suburb. The Audi vehicles will be connecting with city infrastructure like signals, crosswalks and other facilities, as well as with other users of the street system like cyclists and pedestrians, who are left more vulnerable to safety concerns.
Audi is not new to connected vehicle technology, given its development of the Audi Traffic Light Information (TLI) system, which receives traffic signal timing from traffic network centers via the cloud. That system gives the vehicles “green light optimized speed alerts and time-to-red countdowns,” explained Brad Stertz, director of Audi government affairs.
“What we wish to explore with Peachtree Corners are further enhancements to this kind of scenario — and many other applications — that give drivers immediate awareness of road conditions, traffic problems, weather considerations and other important notices to consider at a longer distance using mobile networks,” he added.
By working with Peachtree Corners and the Curiosity Lab, the city’s in-house test center for urban technology, which has attracted numerous private-sector partners, Audi will work with Spoke to “investigate direct safety-critical communications in which the vehicle has direct information with no latency or potential signal hiccups when milliseconds count to avoid a collision,” said Stertz.
This communication is expressed in vehicle-to-infrastructure, vehicle-to-bicycle, vehicle-to-pedestrian crossing, vehicle-to-school zone or bus, vehicle-to-vehicle communications and more.
Transportation and urban tech planners have been vocal about the need to develop infrastructure that supports all users, and advance the use of low-impact transportation like bicycles. Central to these efforts has been the idea of advancing safety. This comes in the development of actual infrastructure like dedicated bike lanes, but also with the help of technology.
“We are looking to continue to build out that autonomous network across our city. So how do we start to manage these different assets and traffic signals and crossings; and so being able to use the technology to that, from a city planning perspective, is huge,” Brandon Branham, assistant city manager and chief technology officer for Peachtree Corners, said in April discussing the development of Seoul Robotics locating its U.S. operations in Peachtree Corners.
Expanding that connected vehicle technology to cyclists is a logical next step, said Brian Johnson, city manager for Peachtree Corners.
“Together, we’re showcasing how important it will be for people, places and things to communicate with each other to create tomorrow’s safer roads,” said Johnson in a statement.
Embedded in the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is funding for research by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Federal Highway Administration to expand pedestrian and biking safety using connected vehicle technologies.
