The advent of Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) communication has revolutionized the automotive industry, particularly with the rise of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS). V2X enables vehicles to communicate not only with each other (V2V) but also with infrastructure (V2I) and pedestrians (V2P), enhancing road safety and efficiency. ADAS, which includes features like adaptive cruise control and automatic intersection navigation, relies on V2X data exchange to make real-time decisions and improve driver assistance capabilities. Over the years, the progress of V2X technology has been marked by standardization efforts, increased deployment, and a growing ecosystem of connected vehicles, paving the way for safer and more efficient automated navigation.
The EcoCAR Mobility Challenge was a 4-year student competition among 12 universities across the United States and Canada sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy, MathWorks, and General Motors, where each team received a 2019 Chevrolet Blazer from General Motors and was tasked with achieving SAE Level 2 automation to increase the vehicle’s energy efficiency, performance, and connectivity, among other features. Specifically, teams were challenged to add V2I connectivity, requiring the ability to transmit Basic Safety Messages (BSMs) with real-time vehicle information and receive BSMs from other vehicles and SPaT/MAP (Signal Phase and Timing/Map Data) data from Roadside Units (RSUs). This integration of V2X messages (BSM/SPaT and MAP) in cooperative driving systems enhances overall road safety by providing real-time, detailed information about the conditions and intentions of vehicles, fostering a more secure and efficient transportation ecosystem.
The Ohio State University’s EcoCAR’s Connected and Automated Vehicles (CAVs) Sub team was able to implement V2I technology successfully using Cohda Wireless MK5 DSRC (Dedicated Short Range Communication) On-Board Unit (OBU) connected with a Mobilemark MGW-303 antenna, combining two 5.9GHz antennas for DSRC with an active GNSS antenna.