This is the first U.S. deployment of C-V2X technology and is an extension of a previously announced partnership between the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) and Panasonic to integrate connected vehicle technology in the state of Colorado. Panasonic, Qualcomm Technologies and Ford have joined the advanced development efforts to help deploy the technology, and to assess C-V2X capabilities this summer on select roadways throughout Panasonic’s CityNOW headquarters in Denver, which will be followed by deployment in select areas along the I-70 Mountain Corridor later in the year.
Panasonic will work with Kapsch TrafficCom in CDOT’s V2X development program, in which Kapsch TrafficCom will provide roadside units (RSUs), as well as with Ficosa to provide C-V2X onboard units (OBUs). The transit authority’s existing fleet of Ford utility vehicles will be equipped with C-V2X devices utilizing Ficosa’s CarCom platform to enable vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) and vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) direct communications. Panasonic’s connected vehicle data platform will collect and disseminate C-V2X data to provide roadway operators with improved situational awareness and a new ability to send safety critical information directly to vehicles.
“The state of Colorado has been focused on the rapid deployment of connected vehicle technology to advance safety and are encouraged by the progression of C-V2X,” said Michael P. Lewis, executive director of the Colorado Department of Transportation. “We’re ready to help advance vehicle safety and serve as a hub for advanced vehicle testing, and development, with the support of Ford and technology leaders like Qualcomm Technologies and Panasonic.”
C-V2X is designed to be globally compatible with 5G and complement other Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) sensors, such as cameras, radar and Light Detection and Radar (LIDAR). C-V2X direct communication mode is designed to offer vehicles low latency communications for Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V), Vehicle-to-Roadside Infrastructure (V2I) and Vehicle-to-Pedestrian (V2P) without the involvement of a cellular network, or cellular network subscription, by operating on designated and harmonized 5.9 GHz ITS spectrum. Recent field test results show a significant range, reliability, and performance advantage of C-V2X direct communications, with more than twice the range and improved reliability compared to 802.11p radio technology.
“We are pleased to have aligned with Qualcomm Technologies with a deployment-ready environment and show our confidence in C-V2X’s safety critical communication capabilities,” said Jarrett Wendt, EVP Panasonic Corporation of North America. “We look forward to working alongside Ford, Qualcomm Technologies and the state of Colorado to accelerate industry deployment for the technology in Colorado and beyond.”
“C-V2X is core to Ford’s vision for the future of transportation and we believe strongly in its potential when integrated with Denver’s smart city initiatives,” said Don Butler, executive director, Connected Vehicle Platform & Product, Ford Motor Company. “Initial field test results demonstrate that C-V2X is the clear choice for the global solution for V2X and the deployment of C-V2X in Colorado will further support this.”
“Cross-industry collaboration is essential for C-V2X to reach its full potential and fully integrate into cities around the world,” said Nakul Duggal, vice president of product management, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. “Working with the CDOT, Ford, Panasonic, Kapsch TrafficCom and Ficosa allow us to make this step towards early commercialization for C-V2X in a real-world setting at scale and, as a result, support the technology to achieve commercial readiness leveraging the Qualcomm® 9150 C-V2X chipset solution and subsequent products.”
“We are excited about the opportunity to support both the CDOT and Panasonic as they advance V2X solutions for safety and mobility in Colorado,” said Chris Murray, president of Kapsch TrafficCom North America. “Advancement of V2X technologies from pilot to operationalization is critical to meet the evolving needs of transportation in the future.”
“Ficosa is committed to being a worldwide leader in supporting innovative automotive technologies like C-V2X to the automotive industry,” said Joan Palacin, business unit director, Advanced Communications, FICOSA. “Because our CarCom platform allows us to add different connectivity solutions in a modular way, we can help enable early deployments in vehicle environments and shorten the time-to-market for these state of the art vehicle communication technologies.”
With C-V2X’s superior performance and evolutionary path to 5G, the direct communication technology is well-positioned to be the global solution for V2X communications, supporting advancements in wireless communication and new automotive applications needed for enhancements in safety, autonomous driving and traffic efficiency. With the ability of C-V2X direct communications to be integrated into an LTE-based telematics unit, C-V2X is also cost-effective and continues to gain worldwide support in the automotive industry, and broader transportation ecosystem. Global C-V2X field validations with car manufacturers, automotive ecosystem participants, and in cooperation with regional governments are currently underway in Germany, France, Korea, China, Japan, and the U.S., with industry deployment expected to take place as early as 2020.
About Panasonic Corporation of North America
Newark, NJ-based Panasonic Corporation of North America is a leading technology partner and integrator to businesses, government agencies and consumers across the region. The company is the principal North American subsidiary of Osaka, Japan-based Panasonic Corporation and leverages its strengths in Immersive Entertainment, Sustainable Energy, Automated Supply Chains and Connected Solutions to provide secure and resilient integrated solutions for B2B customers. Panasonic was highlighted in Forbes Magazine’s Global 2000 ranking as one of the Top Ten Best Regarded Companies for 2017. The ranking is based on outstanding scores for trustworthiness, honesty with the public and superior performance of products and solutions.
Learn more about Panasonic’s ideas and innovations at Panasonic.com.
About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company is a global company based in Dearborn, Michigan. The company designs, manufactures, markets and services a full line of Ford cars, trucks, SUVs, electrified vehicles and Lincoln luxury vehicles, provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company and is pursuing leadership positions in electrification, autonomous vehicles and mobility solutions. Ford employs approximately 202,000 people worldwide.
For more information regarding Ford, its products and Ford Motor Credit Company, please visit www.corporate.ford.com.
About Colorado’s RoadX
RoadX is the state of Colorado’s bold vision and commitment to being a national leader in the partnerships and use of innovative technology for crash-free, injury-free, delay-free travel in Colorado.
To learn more about this rapid, fast-paced venture to transform our aging transportation system, visit www.codot.gov/programs/roadx.
About Kapsch TrafficCom
Kapsch TrafficCom is a provider of intelligent transportation systems in the fields of tolling, traffic management, smart urban mobility, traffic safety and security, and connected vehicles. As a one-stop solutions provider, Kapsch TrafficCom offers end-to-end solutions covering the entire value creation chain of its customers, from components and design to the implementation and operation of systems. The mobility solutions supplied by Kapsch TrafficCom help make road traffic safer and more reliable, efficient, and comfortable in urban areas and on highways alike while helping to reduce pollution. Kapsch TrafficCom is an internationally renowned provider of intelligent transportation systems thanks to the many projects it has brought to successful fruition in more than 50 countries around the globe. As part of the Kapsch Group, Kapsch TrafficCom has subsidiaries and branches in more than 30 countries. It has been listed in the Prime Market of the Vienna Stock Exchange since 2007 (ticker symbol: KTCG). Kapsch TrafficCom currently has more than 4,800 employees, and generated revenue of approximately EUR 648 million in fiscal year 2016/17.
For more information about Kapsch TrafficCom, please visit www.kapsch.net