5GAA Demonstrated C-V2X Technology Applications and Safety Benefits for Road Users last October in Málaga, Spain
Malaga, 20 October 2022 – C-V2X technology revolutionizes the mobility ecosystem and how drivers interact with the world, making smart cars a reality today. These cars communicate with their surrounding infrastructure, be it other cars or vulnerable road users, while providing a better driving experience. 5GAA is at the forefront of redefining transportation, by providing real-time, reliable, and actionable information flows to enable safety, mobility, and environmental applications.
Sixteen 5GAA members gathered in Malaga on October 20 to showcase ready-to-deploy C-V2X technology and what the future has in store for the industry and vulnerable road user protection. Prominent members and partners of the 5GAA including 5GCroCo, Anritsu, Autotalks, Commsignia, Continental, Deutsche Telekom, Ericsson, Huawei, Intel, Keysight, Molex, Nokia, Rohde & Schwarz, Stellantis, Vodafone and Omniair demonstrated the current state of C-V2X and a wide range of applications for VRU (Vulnerable Road Users) protection, through a range of indoor and outdoor demos. The over 200 attendees included road operators, journalists from national and international media, and 5GAA delegates.
“C-V2X continues to drive the automotive transformation – and is now the new reality,” says 5GAA Chairman, Christoph Voigt. “Our key asset, the C-V2X technology, became an important part of the worldwide V2X ecosystem. The live demonstrations we have seen here, in Malaga, show us repeatedly that C-V2X is ready for a future where we can use our current infrastructure to improve protection for vulnerable road users.”
Using both direct and mobile network communications, the open-road demonstrations displayed the extensive capabilities of today’s C-V2X technology. To name a few:
- Protecting vulnerable road users and increasing the safety of cyclists on the road by alerting them of a collision
- Enabling smart intersections to enhance VRU safety by sending awareness messages to C-V2X-enabled cyclists
- Warning road users of traffic incidents between connected vehicles
The demonstrations were held at the DEKRA Test Track, a private field-testing area dedicated to connected & automated driving in Málaga, Spain. The test track reproduces multiple traffic situations using different V2X communications systems and networks, as well as traffic elements like traffic signs, traffic lights, road cones, pedestrians’ simulators that allow setting up various test cases. Located in a restricted area of 51.000 m2 (about twice the area of a parking space) with roundabouts, straight and curved roads, intersections, traffic lights and signalling, this connected & automated driving test track is a state-of-the-art facility that researches, develops, tests, and certifies the mobility of the future.
Together with our members, 5GAA has embraced digital transformation and is creating opportunities for transportation innovation. Its goal is to develop end-to-end solutions for future mobility that improve traffic efficiency, driving comfort and road safety to ensure a secure and sustainable transportation ecosystem.
5GAA to Host Live C-V2X Demonstrations and a Symposium for Members in Málaga, Spain
On October 20th, 2022, the 5G Automotive Association will meet with members in Málaga for a symposium on “5GAA’s achievements and the C-V2X ecosystem”, followed by more than 15 C-V2X live demonstrations taking place at the DEKRA facilities.
Between October 17 and 20, the 5G Automotive Association will travel to Malaga, Spain, for an internal meeting week. On Thursday, October 20, DEKRA will welcome 5GAA at its testing centre in Parque Tecnológico de Andalucía, where they will host a members’ symposium and several live demonstrations.
The symposium will bring members together with EU road traffic authorities, operators and other ecosystem stakeholders. The programme includes a presentation and exchange around the new C-V2X 2030 Roadmap and a sample of essential 5GAA Work Items completed over the past year. For the closing remarks, the association is honoured to welcome H.E. Mr. Roberto Sánchez, Spain’s Secretary of State for Telecommunications and Digital Infrastructures. The road operators will then be invited to join a round table hosted by 5GAA Board representatives.
In the afternoon, attendees can witness the demonstrations organised by 5GAA, showcasing some of the latest developments for 5G and C-V2X technologies. This unique experience will feature 16 live indoor and outdoor demos, proving that 5GAA members do not cease to innovate and deliver cutting-edge solutions for connected and automated mobility. The list of confirmed participants includes, amongst others, Autotalks, Huawei, Continental, Deutsche Telekom, Keysight, Molex and Anritsu.
To help attendees plan their visit, 5GAA has designed a brochure containing a map of the facilities and a description of each demo. It is available here for download.
List of confirmed demos:
5GAA to participate in the ITS World Congress 2022 in Los Angeles
The 5G Automotive Association (5GAA) will again join the ITS World Congress, the global flagship event for intelligent transportation systems, taking place in Los Angeles from September 18 to 22. This occasion will bring together policymakers, researchers, and industry representatives from all over the world to explore this year’s central theme, “Transformation by Transportation”.
The ITS World Congress is coming back to the United States and gathering the entire mobility ecosystem to provide all attendees with an exciting opportunity to discover, connect, and learn. The 5G Automotive Association is pleased to join; to that end, the team has curated a comprehensive programme for the kick-off day – Monday, September 19. 5GAA’s initiatives are set to bring journalists, industry members, public authorities and road operators closer to the association’s work and the latest advances of our members in C-V2X technologies.
5GAA’s plans at the ITSWC include:
- Showcasing our latest developments at the 5GAA booth, #419, in the main Exhibit Hall
- Scheduling 1-to-1 meetings with our experts to discuss industry progress, innovation developments and members’ technology advances
- Guided tours for media, industry, and government officials
- Holding two speaking sessions at the Education Hall in collaboration with our members
Join our Guided Tours
On September 19, from 11 AM to 12 PM (PDT), 5GAA will host a Press Tour, led by journalist Brian Maguire. It includes scheduled visits to some of the association’s members, like Continental, Intel, Nokia, Commsignia and more, who will hold demos at their booths to showcase their latest C-V2X advancements. Our members’ representatives will be available to address media questions after the demonstrations. Registrations are open here.
At the same time, we encourage industry stakeholders and government officials to register for their respective tours, taking place on September 20 between 9.30 AM and 11.15 AM (PDT), which will follow the same order.
5GAA Speaking Session at ITSWC2022
The “Connected Driving: C-V2X on the Road” conference will also take place on September 19 from 1 to 3 PM (PDT) at the Education Hall, featuring two panel discussions with top-level guests:
1. C-V2X for Safety Services
Today’s C-V2X safety services, such as traffic signal pre-emption and road hazard information, save lives. Our panel will cover the importance of the 30 MHz allocation in the U.S. for current usage, but also the need to secure 40 MHz additional spectrum for advanced V2X safety services.
2. Mobility Benefits
V2X deployment is advancing globally, enabling the creation of unprecedented information to aid Traffic Management and Operations. The emergence of C-V2X supports widespread deployment of mobility services, and represents a win-win for traffic operations, industry, and, most importantly, people/
Register here for the conference, or book a 1-to-1 meeting with a 5GAA representative.
Side activities: 5GAA CTO and members’ panels
- September 18, 1 to 4.30 PM PDT – Digital Infrastructure Workshop, sponsored by Qualcomm, with Maxime Flament (5GAA)
- September 21, 10 to 11.30 AM PDT – “Findings of Original Equipment Manufacturers Deployment into a Connected Vehicle Deployment” session, with Aaron Weinfield (DENSO)
- September 21, 1 to 4 PM PDT – “5G Connectivity” workshop, with Maxime Flament (5GAA), Coen Bresser (ERTICO/ITS Europe), Ralf Weber (Qualcomm), Julia Rainer (Audi AG).
For any questions about our plans at the ITS World Congress, don’t hesitate to contact the Marcom team at marcom@5gaa.org.
Federal Funding Opportunity for Wireless Technology: Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Grant Program
Through September 15, 2022, a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) from the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) will be open for Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grants in FY22. It’s an opportunity for companies to apply for a part of $1 billion per year in FY22-26 grants to prevent roadway deaths and serious injuries.
The timing is fortuitous. Newly released traffic crash estimates from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) show that traffic fatality rates in 2021 are the highest since 2005. NHTSA projects a final tally of 42,915 lives lost during 2021 in traffic crashes nationwide.
Making transportation safer and more equitable
To support its goals, the SS4A program funds activities that will help lower fatalities on U.S. roads and highways. The program is also an opportunity to fund regional, local and Tribal initiatives aimed at making transportation equitable for all road users.
Equity is an important element in underserved communities, which are disproportionately affected by fatalities among vulnerable road users (VRUs). These users include pedestrians, cyclists and the growing number people using micro-mobility options such as e-bikes and scooters.
Underserved communities also have higher vehicular traffic volumes, trucking routes and major arterial roads. They are characterized by intersections that are unsafe or impassable by foot or bike, and an overall lower level and quality of walking and cycling infrastructure. NHTSA’s projections for 2021 show alarming increases in fatalities for pedestrians (13 percent), motorcyclists (9 percent) and bicyclists (5 percent), making the SS4A funding opportunity even more fortuitous for VRUs.
Applying C-V2X technology to prevent road fatalities
Many roadway deaths are preventable. Cellular-vehicle-to-everything (C-V2X) is a wireless technology that allows vehicles to communicate directly with each other (V2V), with roadside infrastructure (V2I) and potentially with pedestrians (V2P). C-V2X supports information sharing to facilitate applications that enhance safety for all road users.
NHTSA believes that safety applications supported by V2V and V2I could eliminate or mitigate the severity of up to 80 percent of non-impaired crashes. Also, connected vehicle technology is on the National Transportation Safety Board’s Most Wanted List of transportation safety improvements.
The following use cases illustrate the immediate impact of safety applications that use C-V2X technology:
- Red-light violation warning (RLVW)
More than half of all fatal and injury crashes happen at intersections (source). The most common cause of all urban crashes, drivers running red lights result in an average of seven fatalities and more than 1,000 injuries per day at signalized intersections across the country (source).
- Intersection movement assist (IMA)
Similar to RLVW, IMA safety applications can alert other drivers when someone is running a red light so they can take action to stop before entering the intersection. - Spot weather warnings
Inclement weather, which can result in road hazards such as icy patches on highways, are not easily detected by LIDAR sensors. Infrastructure-to-vehicle (I2V) applications can send a warning to approaching vehicles, reducing the potential for sharp drops in speed that can result in road incidents. - Traffic signal pre-emption
Aimed at shortening emergency response times to help save lives, this use case allows vehicles like ambulances and fire trucks to remotely trigger a green light. Related V2V applications share this information with nearby vehicles so drivers can take action to move out of the way, reducing congestion along the route to improve safety for first responders and road users alike. - School zone safety
C-V2X alerts drivers when they are entering an active school zone and notifies them of the reduced speed limit. Future applications might include automatically slowing vehicles as they approach an active school zone.
See more use cases below.
What you can’t see can hurt you, and C-V2X plays a critical safety role because it allows the vehicle to see more than the driver can see. Regular sensors keep vehicles safe in immediate surroundings; C-V2X provides more robust signaling to help vehicles see around blind corners and many other types of obstructions. It connects vehicles and roadside infrastructure that are not in each other’s line of sight and allows them to share information about traffic conditions.
How C-V2X fits with SS4A
SS4A accepts both Action Plan Grants and Implementation Grants, with the latter drawing upon the foundation of the former. The program calls out four selection criteria:
- Safety impact
- Equity, engagement, collaboration
- Effective practices and strategies
- Climate and sustainability, and economic competitiveness
Two notable considerations are project readiness and funds to underserved communities.
USDOT lists several sample activities for Implementation Grants that align closely with C-V2X, including these:
- Deploying advanced transportation technologies, such as the installation of connected intersection-based safety solutions and vehicle-to-infrastructure advisory speed limit systems (e.g., intelligent speed assistance — see above)
- Evaluating and improving the safety of intersections by considering innovative design changes, improved delineation, and advanced warning
- Creating safe routes to school and public transit services through multiple activities that lead to people safely walking and biking in underserved communities.
- Promoting the adoption of innovative technologies or strategies for the safety and protection of VRUs in high-traffic areas where commercial motor vehicles (CMVs), pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorcyclists interact.
Next steps
As part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, SS4A is a discretionary program with $5 billion in appropriated funds over the next 5 years. A related opportunity opening up in late 2022 is the $500 million Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation (SMART) Grants from USDOT. Both SS4A and SMART provide a path to federal funding to build novel uses of C-V2X and 5G technologies into the nation’s infrastructure. To provide more visibility for industry stakeholders, USDOT has published a full list of funding opportunities with anticipated dates for 2022.
Applications built around C-V2X can help make intersections safer and reduce fatalities due to speeding in the use cases shown above, as well as in these:
- At-grade rail crossings — alerting emergency vehicles that a rail crossing is closed, enabling early rerouting and avoiding delays in life-saving calls
- Pedestrian crossings — detecting when a VRU is in the crosswalk ahead and warning approaching drivers to proceed with caution
- Incident clearance and response — sending alerts to drivers as they approach an emergency vehicle stopped in or along the roadway ahead, thereby helping to prevent secondary crashes
- Wrong-way driving — detecting drivers who go the wrong way on on-ramps and highways, then alerting the driver, nearby drivers, and law enforcement
These applications can also help make transportation equitable in underserved communities, fulfilling another important goal of SS4A.
Find out how to apply for SS4A grants here and in the USDOT’s “Safe Streets and Roads for All” webinar series.
5GAA White Paper on Misbehaviour Detection
Information in V2X packets is used by vehicles to make safety critical decisions: it is imperative that such information is correct and trustworthy, representing the true physical reality. 5GAA’s latest White Paper presents the causes behind misbehaviour, which is thereby defined as a wilful or inadvertent transmission of incorrect data within the V2X network, and offers a detailed view of the architecture of the Misbehaviour Management System. After initial identification through the Local Misbehaviour Detection (LMDB), some of these anomalies may be reported to a central authority, known as Misbehaviour Authority (MA), for remediation. The paper finally explores the existing regulations and standards, and the policy questions involved in the topic.
Find the full report here.
5GAA releases a special Report on the occasion of its 5th Anniversary
The 5G Automotive Association marks its 5-year anniversary with the publication of an online booklet covering the main achievements from its early days to the present, amidst the “5 Years of 5GAA” celebrations.
Half a decade has passed since the 5G Automotive Association was founded with the aim of building bridges between the automotive, technology and telecommunications industries to develop end-to-end solutions for future mobility and transportation services. To commemorate such a significant date, the association has launched an exclusive booklet, free and available online, which takes the reader on a journey through the history of 5GAA from its very beginnings.
The report contains a series of interviews with founding members and key partners of the association, such as Pearse O’Donohue (Director of Future Networks at DG CONNECT at the EU Commision), Maja Bakran Marcich (Deputy Director-General of DG MOVE), Adrian Scrase (ETSI CTO and Head of the 3GPP Mobile Competence Centre) or Nicola Farronato (Head of Innovation at the City of Turin). It also includes two letters – signed by Christoph Voight, Chairman of the 5GAA Board, and Chief Technology Officer Maxime Flament –, a review of the history of 5GAA in numbers, and a case study on the successful deployment of C-V2X technologies in China. A number of core themes overarch the pages of the report and allow the reader to better understand some of the priority areas and key drivers of members’ join efforts: road safety, sustainability, collaboration, digital transformation, and more.
Join 5GAA on this exciting milestone by checking out the online report, fully available here. You can also follow the social media hashtags #5YearsOf5GAA and #5GAAnniversary both on Twitter and LinkedIn for more updates.
Enjoy the reading!
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