$14.9 million research grant to test connected vehicle technology
The University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI) has been awarded a US$14.9 million (£9m) research contract from the US Department of Transportation (USDOT), to conduct a safety pilot model deployment of vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure safety applications in Ann Arbor.
The testing programme will begin in August 2012 and continue for one year. It will involve approximately 2,850 vehicles, including passenger cars, commercial trucks and transit buses, equipped with connected vehicle technology that could prevent thousands of crashes.
Connected vehicles wirelessly communicate with other vehicles and roadway infrastructure to improve safety and mobility. The goal is to warn drivers of potential dangers, particularly those not detected by in-vehicle radar systems, to help them avoid crashes, improving safety for everyone on the road and reducing fatalities.
Every year, more than 30,000 people are killed in traffic crashes in the United States.
The research results will be used by the federal government and the transportation industry to estimate safety benefits and develop additional safety, mobility and environmental applications using wireless technologies.
State transportation director Kirk T. Steudle said: "This research ensures that Michigan will continue to be the place to develop and deploy connected vehicle research and technology. We value our long-standing partnership with UMTRI and look forward to working with them on this and other projects."
The USDOT is sponsoring connected vehicle research to leverage the potential of connected vehicle technology to make surface transportation safer, smarter and greener. It will decide in 2013 whether to proceed with regulatory activities that could require connected vehicle technology on new vehicles, consumer information programs to educate new car buyers, or the need for more research and development.
MDOT has been involved with connected vehicle technology since 2005.
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