Transport for NSW (TfNSW) and the University of Sydney (USYD) have showcased a live traffic trial that tests wireless connectivity between automated vehicles and traffic signals.
Revealed at the Intelligent Transport Systems Summit in Sydney earlier this month, the technology, which is currently under development, will share data about pedestrians, cyclists, other motorists, traffic signals and other road information to both driverless and manually-operated vehicles.
Minister for Roads, John Graham, said the primary intention of the technology was to save lives on roads.
“As cars get smarter, there’s the opportunity to make them safer and save lives on NSW roads. This innovative technology will put NSW at the forefront of the national conversation on smart car innovation and road safety,” he said.
As part of the pilot, two self-driving vehicles – designed by researchers at the Australian Centre for Robotics within the University’s Faculty of Engineering and safety-tested at TfNSW’s Future Mobility Testing and Research Centre – will head into live traffic on the streets of Sydney’s outer-CBD area and use wireless connectivity technology to communicate with traffic lights fitted with TfNSW’s intelligent traffic technology, the Sydney Coordinated Adaptive Traffic System (SCATS).
The new software, Cit-e, will send messages to a receiver in the vehicle as it approaches the traffic lights, including the intersection’s layout, right of way, timing of signal changes and warnings of road hazards such as vulnerable road users or pedestrians.
The receiver uses the messages combined with the vehicle’s position, direction and velocity to determine whether a road infringement will occur, such as running a red light or endangering other road users.
“It’s great to have something here in Sydney, which we can test under Australian conditions,” Dr Stewart Worrall, Senior Researcher in the Australian Centre for Robotics, said.
“This technology isn’t just about autonomy, it’s also about developing advanced driver assistance systems that can help drivers make better, safer decisions on the road.”
The trial also features iMOVE Cooperative Research Centre as a collaborator.
“This is a joint project with the University of Sydney and iMove to future-proof our traffic network and prepare our roads for an automated driving future,” Secretary of Transport for NSW, Josh Murray, said.
“These new trials help us understand the challenges and demonstrate the feasibility of introducing emerging technology so we’re able to channel it in our day-to-day running of the network.”
