The SWARCO subsidiary, McCain, and Qualcomm have showcased connected vehicle-ready technology as part of a live Cellular-V2X demonstration at CES 2018, explaining how direct C-V2X communications can enable data exchange to improve safety, optimise traffic flow, and pave the path to automated driving.
McCain says its advanced transportation solutions are providing real-time traffic data, including Signal Phase and Timing and traffic signal preemption, to connect vehicles via a Roadside Unit (RSU) equipped with the Qualcomm 9150 C-V2X solution.
"Such data is crucial in helping emerging connected and autonomous vehicles (CAV) safely navigate roadways," the company says in a statement. "On display are McCain's compact Backpack Cabinet, running Omni eX Intersection Control Software on a FLeX Controller. High-resolution data provided by McCain solutions enable the vehicles to display a countdown timer indicating when the signal will change status and provide crucial safety alerts, including warning of a potential nearby pedestrian or approaching emergency vehicle, as well as enabling emergency vehicle preemption."
'We are proud to participate in Qualcomm Technologies' C-V2X demonstrations highlighting how increasingly connected and autonomous vehicles, by exchanging information with our advanced transportation infrastructure and software solutions, can help improve safety and quality of life,' said Michael Schuch, president of McCain, Inc and COO, intelligent transportation systems for McCain's parent company, SWARCO. 'As a roadway infrastructure leader, we strive to ensure that all new communication technologies are effectively integrated with existing and emerging traffic signal control infrastructure to make the travel experience safer, quicker, more convenient, and environmentally sound.'
Using direct communication mode, C-V2X is designed to allow vehicles to directly communicate with other vehicles, pedestrian devices, and roadside infrastructure, such as traffic signs and construction zones, without the involvement of a cellular network or cellular network subscription. C-V2X has a clear evolution path to 5G and is designed to be backward and forward compatible. C-V2X is aimed to be featured in production vehicles by 2019.
McCain and Qualcomm Technologies are working on trials for Cellular-V2X technology as part of the San Diego Autonomous Vehicle Proving Grounds, along with Ford, AT&T and Nokia.
McCain talked about some of their solutions during the Smart Highways Conference Today podcasts at the ITS World Congress in Montreal last year. You can listen to that interview here.
