Enabling Transformational Mobility
Through Strategic Consulting
Focused on Connected &
Automated Vehicles
Barry Einsig
Principal
The Only Thing We Can Count On In CAV Is Change
How ACES (Autonomous, Connected, Electric, Shared) mobility and the technology industry are accelerating the pace of change in CAV
The Connected and Automated Vehicle (CAV) industry continues to see ever faster changes, more like the technology industry that has fueled the national economy over the last 40 years. In the next 40 years, it is highly likely that the CAV world will experience the same level of change. So, if there is one thing we can count on across the course of our careers it is that the rate of change has accelerated due to the introduction of so many new technologies into the industry and from so many different platforms.
The automotive industry is seeing remarkable changes from the traditional ecosystem, from new OEM market entries such as Tesla, BYD, Geely, and many more rumored to be developing in China. New partnerships are announced or rumored almost every week from Ford and Volkswagen, to Honda and GM, and even closer collaboration between all of the German OEMs. Additionally, we are seeing new positioning from Tier 1 companies; from APTIV building and operating their Fleet of AVs to critical technology companies like Apple, Google, AWS, and many others entering the OEM value chain.
On the Public Sector and Infrastructure Operator side, we are just beginning to see the influx of new technologies and business models, and although these changes (MOD, MaaS, Micro Mobility, Slow Speed Shuttles, TNC’s, etc) seem quite daunting and rapid for a public agency to deal with it is unlikely that we are near the tipping point of the introduction of these new solutions and capabilities into the CAV industry. So to prepare for this next 10 years or more, embrace the change, be an active learner, and focus on your mission whether it is safety, mobility, or efficiency, and enjoy the most transformative time in our industry in the last 100 years.
1. Verizon 5G Ultra Wideband Network Now Live at University of Michigan's Mcity
The Story: Verizon is partnering with Mcity at the University of Michigan to advance transportation safety and shape the future of autonomous vehicles and smart cities using 5G. The Verizon 5G Ultra Wideband network is now live at the Mcity Test Facility where we are testing various 5G solutions designed to boost pedestrian safety and avoid car accidents. Watch the short video by clicking here.
The Takeaway: 5G-connected cameras are being installed at every intersection inside the Mcity test track to help identify traffic and pedestrian patterns to prevent collisions. While connected cars have sensors that can “talk” to each other to help avoid accidents, cameras connecting to traffic light signals can help protect people walking or biking.
“We’ve installed signal controllers at the intersections within Mcity that provide signal phase and timing data to the 5G network,” said Eric Raamot, chief technology officer at Econolite. “With 5G, we can help drivers see things before the human eye can register, and prevent collisions by changing the traffic signals when a safety risk is imminent.”
2. Building the Smartest City, Part 1
The Story: Many cities were applying for the U.S. Department of Education’s Smart Cities Grant. In the end, the coveted $40 million prize was awarded to Columbus, Ohio. Machine Design magazine visits Columbus to follow up on how it’s using DoT grant money to become an innovative place to live, learn, and labor.
The Takeaway: Columbus’ government collaborated with private industry to raise more than $140 million in its effort to win the grant. However, $140 million was just the start. Officials wanted to raise enough capital and collaborators for Columbus to serve as a guide for other cities to follow into the future of smart technology. To become a technologically trailblazing city, officials announced at the Smart Cities NYC 2017 Conference that Columbus has a total goal of $1 billion funding for smart city applications that cover autonomous driving, connected roads, smart parking, advanced IoT, etc.
3. Automated Vehicles are Reshaping the Tech World
The Story: The effort to build cars that can drive themselves is reshaping the automotive industry and its supply chain, impacting everything from who defines safety to how to ensure quality and reliability.
The Takeaway: Automakers, which hardly knew the names of their silicon suppliers a couple of years ago, are now banding together in small partnership and team groups to share the costs and solve technical challenges that are well beyond the capabilities of even the largest companies. This is evident in the recently announced joint ventures by Daimler and BMW, and Ford and Volkswagen. But the changes run much deeper than just the large automakers. They also include Tier 1 and Tier 2 suppliers, which are working much more closely with the entire semiconductor ecosystem.
4. Future Transport Minister Opens 70 km Test Track 'Village' to Ensure Automated Vehicle Safety
The Story: A new 70 km test track was opened on Sept. 4th at Millbrook in Bedford UK. The Future of Transport Minister George Freeman presided over the official opening ceremony. The facility, which includes an 'Autonomous Village,' will be the proving grounds for the safety and security of self-driving vehicles.
The Takeaway: On the facility's official first day, Freeman also launched a new ‘safety regime’ called CAV Pass. The government is developing the assurance system, which will first focus on enabling advanced trials, to ensure self-driving vehicles are safe and secure by design and minimize any defects ahead of their testing, sale and wider deployment on UK roads. Advanced trials could include tests without any human operators or the assessment of novel vehicles such as pods and shuttles.
Want to read more? Visit the source here.
5. Avis and Ford Team Again to Connect Rental Cars
The Story: In late 2018, Ford and Avis Budget Group agreed to connect more than 35,000 Ford vehicles in the rental company’s U.S. fleet. Now, Avis is expanding its connected car program, with plans to connect 14,000 Ford vehicles in the Avis Budget Group’s European fleet.
The Takeaway: The connected cars will also connect to things around them such as traffic lights and other vehicles. This is just another of the dots being connected within the Internet of Things (IoT) world. The connected cars will also provide telemetry data in real-time, including mileage, fuel level, and vehicle condition updates so fleet managers can more quickly process data and do faster rental car turnarounds.
About CAVita
CAVita is a strategic consultancy focused on connected and automated vehicles (CAVs) that was formed in 2015 by seasoned and highly respected ITS industry executives Abbas Mohaddes and Peter Sweatman to provide public and private companies, municipalities, and organizations with the deep expertise required to successfully navigate and take advantage of transportation’s evolution.
Now a wholly-owned subsidiary of Econolite, CAVita maintains extensive contacts with decision-makers in vehicle and infrastructure technology, Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS), mobility systems for people and freight, technology companies, CAV deployment and testing consortia, leading research universities, and broader parts of the ecosystem including telecommunications, data analytics, logistics, Internet-of-Things (IOT), and insurance. Furthermore, CAVita’s Econolite affiliation affords unparalleled access to a broad array of engineering resources, ITS expertise, and deployment capabilities.
CAVita’s clients include some of the transportation industry’s leading organizations, such as the two largest transportation research institutes, the Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI), and Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI). Other clients include the Transportation Research Board (TRB), the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), the National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP), and numerous private companies.
Contact CAVita today to discuss how we can help you accomplish your connected and automated vehicle goals!
CAV News Digest is a production of CAVita, LLC, an Econolite company.
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