News | 18 February 2022
TTF highlights the safety and economic values of using connected vehicle technology to bring signs to the dashboard

The latest Fireside Chat by the Transport Technology Forum has explained how connected vehicle technology is delivering messages to any type of vehicle, regardless of the technology factory-fitted inside.

The discussion detailed the value of in-vehicle signage where up-to-the-second information on roadside signs are mirrored in the vehicle, and will even take the place of physical infrastructure.

The chat, which was attended by more than 50 people drawn from across the public and private sector, centred on a demonstration carried out by the TTF with the RAC Foundation last November when three 120-year-old veteran cars were fitted with connected vehicle technology for the London-to-Brighton Veteran Car Run.  This solution not only delivered an in-vehicle copy of what was seen on roadside signs, but provided other important data in the same format.

Andy Graham of White Willow Consulting who was one of the connected vehicle experts who led the project explained how the latest data supported the oldest cars.  “We had a feed from One.Network, which we incorporated in some of the messaging,” he explained, “And we also had a feed of congestion from them, plus TomTom and an INRIX feed of unexpected queues which would generate an alert message.”

However, the discussion was about more than just this example, with details of how the technology can provide cost-effective solutions.  “We do a lot of these examples where we’re driving up a motorway and see the big VMS repeated as a message inside the vehicle,” explained Eloy co-founder Damian Horton who worked on the technology.  “That’s a nice test because you can compare a live feed externally with a live feed that comes through a different route into an application and then in the car. But what’s important is the messaging where there isn’t a VMS… where you want to provide information, more cost effectively, or maybe provide it in any number of languages.”

The chat also heard how connectivity is supporting real-time roadworks data, with George Browne of KL Systems explaining, “There is a digital twin of active roadworks being created where the physical signage itself has with it communications equipment. Road operators find this useful to be able to see a live digital view of what’s deployed, and when it’s deployed, and whether it really is actually there.”

TTF Chair Steve Gooding, who’s Director of the RAC Foundation challenged the panel to explain who to realise actual gains from the work they have been doing.  “It’s my favourite question,” he said, “In terms of who makes the decisions, who’s in control here and who’s got the controlling mind?”  Find out the panel’s response by watching the recording of the whole debate.

The recording is here.

Watch the full news report on the London-to-Brighton Veteran Car Run here.

Read the full report here.

(Picture – Yay Images)