NEWS: I-69 highway communications technology testing a success

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FRIDAY, JUNE 24, 2016
CONTACT: Rob Morosi, MDOT Office of Communications
248-483-5107, morosir@michigan.gov                      

 

I-69 highway communications technology testing a success

 

Fast facts:
- The U.S. Army TARDEC and MDOT tested vehicle-to-infrastructure communications technology this week along I-69 in St. Clair and Lapeer counties.
- A video of a demonstration event held on June 23 is available online at www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWysktpvYc4.
- Gov. Rick Snyder and State Transportation Director Kirk T. Steudle were among the leaders taking part in the demonstration.

June 24, 2016 -- This week's testing of highway communications technology for U.S. Army vehicles along I-69 in St. Clair and Lapeer counties has been a success, according to the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT). The testing was the first step to eventual autonomous operations of Army line-haul convoys.

             Gov. Rick Snyder, State Transportation Director Kirk T. Steudle, and U.S. Army Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC) Director Dr. Paul Rogers took part in a demonstration on Thursday, June 23, to see the vehicle-to-infrastructure communications technology in action. A video of the event is available on the MDOT YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWysktpvYc4.

             "This is an opportunity to show true leadership in one of the most exciting developments and evolutions of technology that we've seen for decades," Gov. Snyder says in the video. "And that's really the change from the auto industry to intermobility that will get into autonomous and connected vehicles."

             The testing included direct communications between Army trucks and roadside units deployed by MDOT. Messaging that is low in latency and provides pro-active information is paramount to the success of eventual full automation for supply convoys. This testing demonstrated the capability of this technology and MDOT’s expertise in the infrastructure necessary to support autonomous vehicle testing in Michigan.

 

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