Toyota is transforming Ann Arbor into the world's largest, real-world test-bed of connect cars and infrastructure with a new initiative.
Toyota is transforming Ann Arbor into the world's largest, real-world test-bed of connect cars and infrastructure with a new initiative. The news comes just days after Toyota outlined plans to establish its third Research Institute facilityin Ann Arbor.
Working in partnership with University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI), Toyota plans to deploy a total of 5,000 vehicles on the streets of Ann Arbor. Those vehicles will be equipped with advanced vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure equipment that will allow them to communicate with similarly equipped cars or objects, such as traffic signals. Part of the Ann Arbor Connected Vehicle Test Environment (AACVTE), Toyota says the project will be the "world's largest operational real-world deployment of connected vehicles and infrastructure."
"Ann Arbor is an international hub for connected vehicle technology and research, and it has everything to do with the community. Toyota is again demonstrating their commitment to the community by their investment in the recently announced TRI, and by encouraging employees to participate in cutting edge research," said James R. Sayer, director, UMTRI.
Toyota is inviting UMTRI team members and their families to participate in the project. Those volunteers will have their vehicles equipped with a small transmitter box and two external antennas. That device will continually transmit speed and position data to surrounding vehicles and infrastructure during their daily driving routines. Although each vehicle will have a unique identifier, Toyota promises that all data will be treated confidentially.
Toyota hasn't stated when vehicle-to-vehicle or vehicle-to-infrastructure technology might be ready for production, but it will likely play into the automaker's autonomous vehicle plans.
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