Michigan road agencies and General Motors' (GM) Research & Development are collaborating to showcase the state's leadership in the connected and automated vehicle environment by successfully demonstrating smart signal technology.
Successful demonstrations were recently conducted in Macomb County, adjacent to GM's Warren Technical Center, as development vehicles engaged in vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) communication at two intersections on Mound Road.
In collaboration with the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) and the Macomb County Department of Roads, the GM development vehicles were able to receive data from the traffic controllers on signal phasing and timing. This collaborative validation of direct data communication between the traffic signals and the vehicles marked a significant step forward into the world of next-generation automotive research and development.
The Mound Road traffic signals, located at the intersections of 12 Mile and 13 Mile roads, were able to send real-time data to the vehicles, which could alert the driver of a potential red light violation. It's this type of connected technology that holds promise of drastically reducing crashes that result in death or serious injury, especially at busy intersections.
With the state-of-the-art Communications and Technology Center (COMTEC) and a robust communication network for intelligent roadway technology, Macomb County is ready to realize the enormous safety and mobility benefits of connected vehicles.
