In a strategic move toward connected and automated vehicle (CAV) operations, Austrian ITS and tolling giant Kapsch TrafficCom has made an initial investment of US$3m in Oregon-based Traffic Technology Services (TTS).
TTS is a technology company and information provider for connected vehicle applications, and is making a presence in the market as a supplier of quality predictive information and geo-referencing near traffic control systems.
The company’s Personal Signal Assistant cloud-based system, patented prediction process, industry standard definitions, and comprehensive deployment allows for immediate vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) integration and applications. TTS is active in over 50 major metropolitan areas in North America, representing over 175,000 signalized intersections. TTS is based in Beaverton, Oregon, while TTS Europe, a wholly owned subsidiary, is headquartered in Munich, Germany.
Kapsch TrafficCom’s initial investment secures operations toward deploying TTS’s Personal Signal Assistant as a worldwide V2I service. TTS launched the V2I service in December 2016, concurrent with the launch of the Audi Connect Traffic Light Information feature, including a major deployment in Las Vegas, and has been actively deploying the service throughout North America and Europe. With a focus on delivering real-time predictive messages using available infrastructure, TTS is pioneering a new market for cellular-based connected and automated vehicle services.
Last month, TTS finalized an agreement with Siemens USA to expand its partner network for supporting CAV operations near signalized intersections using V2I technology. Siemens TACTICS ATMS (advanced traffic management system) platform is harnessing real-time traffic data that is used in the TTS cloud-based Personal Signal Assistant information service to provide a predicted and current intersection signal status. Every second at every intersection, TTS predicts the signal operations using its patented technology, and these predictions and intersection layouts are then provided as data used for CAV applications.
It is expected that Kapsch will integrate the TTS V2I technology into its portfolio of Advanced Traffic Management (ATM) services, including over 40 systems based on its Dynac software. Kapsch also has a comprehensive range of V2X products, including equipment for collecting information from vehicles and transmitting it via ITS G5 or 5.9GHz Wave radio to other vehicles using its TS3306 onboard units, and MTX 9450 roadside transmission stations.
“We are excited to welcome Kapsch TrafficCom as a new shareholder,” said TTS CEO Thomas Bauer. “Kapsch has an excellent reputation and track record of supporting ITS growth businesses. We are very enthusiastic about the future of TTS with this investment.”
