The collaboration brings together vehicle and infrastructure sensor expertise to improve safety and efficiency throughout transportation networks nationwide across the US.
Continental and Iteris have partnered to explore intelligent infrastructure solutions that advance connected and automated vehicle technology with real-world vehicle-to-everything (V2X) solutions and help ensure safer and more efficient mobility.
The ambition of the collaborative agreement between the global mobility supplier and smart mobility infrastructure management company, respectively, is readying cities for advancements in CAV technologies.
City transportation systems
The “future-oriented” traffic infrastructure collaboration will leverage automotive sensors, and infrastructure-to-vehicle (I2V) connectivity to make city transportation systems across the US more efficient, while supporting local and regional transportation agencies’ efforts to achieve their Vision Zero safety goals.
“Smart mobility is in our DNA at Continental and we are constantly improving and innovating solutions that help make roadways safer for all who use them. As we look to a future with more connected and automated vehicles (CAVs), the infrastructure will play a bigger role, demanding updates in sensing, connectivity and communication capabilities,” said Murali Srinivasan, vice president, passive safety and sensorics, Continental North America.
“Our long and proven history in safety sensorics fits naturally with Iteris’ expertise in intelligent infrastructure management to deliver solutions that will contribute to greater environmental awareness and increased road user safety.”
He continued: “Historically, infrastructure and automotive development happened largely independent from one another. Our efforts will help blur that boundary, ensuring that sensor data can be used in new and important ways to create a fuller, real-time picture of a traffic situation.”
Information generated by the automotive sensors will be used to enable cooperative perception capabilities. In addition to sharing a connected vehicle’s location with other V2X-enabled devices, cooperative perception messaging enables that vehicle to also share what it senses – a pedestrian or car, for example – with the rest of its connected environment.
The collaboration is focused on improving the current transportation infrastructure while working toward a more balanced, intelligent and optimised infrastructure that communicates seamlessly with the mobility ecosystem in the future thanks to expanded sensing capabilities.
According to the partners, in addition to offering more comfort and convenience to drivers, this safety-focused partnership can contribute to stronger V2X effectiveness – critical in reaching the goal of Vision Zero.
The US Department of Transportation states that V2X technology has the potential to address approximately 80 per cent of unimpaired vehicle crashes. Roadway injuries and fatalities also impact people outside of vehicles.
Vulnerable road users
Figures from the National Safety Council in the US show approximately 30 per cent of all road fatalities are vulnerable road users, which include pedestrians, cyclists, scooters and motorcyclists. Continental and Iteris said they are committed to helping the mobility industry realise this potential.
“At Iteris, we are committed to helping public transportation agencies and our commercial partners achieve safe, efficient and sustainable mobility through the use of innovative technology, and advanced sensing and communications systems,” added Todd Kreter, senior vice president and general manager, advanced sensor technologies at Iteris.
“We are thrilled to announce this partnership with Continental, a pioneer of automotive safety and connected mobility technologies, to explore new intelligent infrastructure solutions that will help make roads safer, more efficient and sustainable, while readying cities and automotive OEMs for advancements in connected and automated vehicle technologies.”
Source: smartcitiesworld.net