QMIC
The components of V2X connected vehicle technology
Cars that “talk” to one another and exchange information about traffic accidents, congestion and other details will join Qatar’s roads as part of a pilot project next year.
The testing will hopefully lead to a commercial rollout of connected technology in Qatar vehicles by 2019, the project head told Doha News.
The first phase of the QatarV2X (V2X) will comprise of 30 to 50 equipped vehicles and 20 to 30 roadside units.
Toyota
Connected Vehicle Technology at work
The V2X pilot will likely be timed with GM and Toyota’s international launch of such services in their 2017 models, the Qatar Mobility Innovations Center (QMIC) said.
Boosting safety
Explaining how connected vehicles could enhance road safety, QMIC CEO Dr. Adnan Abu Dayya told Doha News that the technology helps gather details about other motorists as well as road conditions.
“This information could then be used to alert drivers about potential dangers (even if they can’t see them) and guide them to take actions to avoid accidents.
Many accidents at intersections could be avoided when connected vehicle technology is widely used,” he said.
Citing a study by the US Department of Transportation, Abu Dayya added that connected vehicles could address up to 80 percent of road accidents.
Over the past few years, QMIC has been working to introduce innovative solutions to boost road safety.
In late 2014 for example, it rolled out an app that locks a motorist’s mobile phone when he is driving at a certain speed.
In the next few months, QMIC will choose a site to test out its V2X-equipped cars.
“The campus of Qatar University is a site as it covers a large area and a big number of both vehicles and people moving in and out. We might also look for a busy intersection or a street in Doha where we can extend our tests,” Abu Dayya said.
How it works
Connected vehicle technology uses localized WiFi-like signals that can connect vehicles within a 1,000m range.
Cars equipped with the tech have intelligence that can sift through the data to process only relevant information, Abu Dayya said.
QMIC
Testing the connections between vehicles
The components of V2X include:
- An in-car unit, either embedded or installed after purchase;
- Roadside units on key streets and intersections; and
- Applications that can be managed by a central V2X mobility center.
According to Abu Dayya, the tech’s success will hinge in part on how easily drivers interact with its alerts.
These can be delivered either through visuals on the dashboard or voice.
He added that in the future, V2X may combine with a technology that connects cars and the road network. This should help make driverless cars a reality within the next five to 10 years.
Would you drive a car with V2X? Thoughts?
(The post Connected vehicles technology to be tested in Qatar next year is from Doha News.)