Leading traffic control equipment company, McCain, is showcasing connected vehicle-ready technology as part of a live Cellular-Vehicle-to-Everything (C-V2X) demonstration with Qualcomm Technologies at this week’s CES 2018 event in Las Vegas.
The McCain-Qualcomm demonstration showcases how direct C-V2X communications can enable essential data exchange between vehicles and traffic control infrastructure to improve safety, optimize traffic flow, and pave the path to automated driving. McCain’s advanced transportation systems are providing real-time traffic data, including Signal Phase and Timing (SPaT), and traffic signal preemption, to connect vehicles via a Roadside Unit (RSU) equipped with the Qualcomm 9150 C-V2X chipset. Such data is crucial in helping emerging connected and autonomous vehicles (CAV) safely navigate roadways.
Now a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Austrian Swarco Group, McCain is showcasing its compact Backpack Cabinet, running Omni eX Intersection Control Software on a FLeX Controller as part of the C-V2X demonstration. High-resolution data provided by the McCain systems enables the vehicles to display a countdown timer indicating when the signal will change status and provide crucial safety alerts, including warning of a potential nearby pedestrian or approaching emergency vehicle, as well as enabling emergency vehicle preemption.
Using direct communication mode, C-V2X is designed to allow vehicles to directly communicate with other vehicles, pedestrian devices, and roadside infrastructure, such as traffic signs and construction zones, without the involvement of a cellular network or cellular network subscription. C-V2X has a clear evolution path to 5G and is designed to be backward- and forward-compatible. It is expected to be featured in production vehicles by 2019. McCain and Qualcomm Technologies are currently working on trials for Cellular-V2X technology as part of the San Diego Autonomous Vehicle Proving Grounds, along with Ford, AT&T and Nokia.
“We are proud to participate in Qualcomm Technologies’ C-V2X demonstrations highlighting how increasingly connected and autonomous vehicles, by exchanging information with our advanced transportation infrastructure and software solutions, can help improve safety and quality of life,” said Michael Schuch, president of McCain and COO for intelligent transportation systems at parent company, Swarco. “As a roadway infrastructure leader, we strive to ensure that all new communication technologies are effectively integrated with existing and emerging traffic signal control infrastructure to make the travel experience safer, quicker, more convenient, and environmentally sound.”
