📢 V2X (Vehicle-to-Everything): "Conversations" for road safety
V2X (Vehicle-to-Everything) is a wireless communication technology that allows vehicles to exchange information with "everything" involved in their journey. V2X systems extend a vehicle's perception of "seeing" farther than what on-board sensors (e.g., cameras, LiDAR, radar) can see, particularly in obscured or out-of-line-of-sight situations.
V2X communications are subdivided into several types, with the most important ones playing a role in reducing accidents and traffic congestion being V2V (Vehicle-to-Vehicle), V2I (Vehicle-to-Infrastructure), and V2P (Vehicle-to-Pedestrian).
1. V2I (Vehicle-to-Infrastructure): The car talks to the road and traffic signals.
V2I is the communication between vehicles and traffic infrastructure equipped with sensors or communication devices (e.g., traffic lights, smart signs, road sensors).
Traffic Light Alerts: The vehicle receives real-time traffic light status information, letting the vehicle know how many seconds until the signal turns red (Red Light Countdown), helping the driver or automated systems brake smoothly and reduce red-light running.
Construction/Accident Alerts: Infrastructure can alert approaching vehicles about construction work ahead, slippery roads, or accidents occurring behind curves that on-board sensors may not see.
Traffic Optimization: Vehicles can adjust their speed to match the "green wave" of an oncoming traffic light (Green Light Optimized Speed Advisory - GLOSA), reducing traffic stops and congestion.
2. V2P (Vehicle-to-Pedestrian): The car talks to pedestrians and other vulnerable road users.
V2P is communication between vehicles and vulnerable road users (VRUs), such as pedestrians, cyclists, or wheelchair users, often using mobile phone apps or wearable devices.
Pedestrian Collision Alert: If a pedestrian with a V2P device is entering a crosswalk or a path that a vehicle might not see (e.g., blocked by another vehicle), the vehicle's V2P system will receive an alert before the camera or radar can detect it.
Indirect Alerts: Pedestrians may receive a mobile alert when a vehicle is approaching at high speed, providing both parties with the information they need to avoid an accident.
Top priority: V2P is key to reducing fatal crashes involving pedestrians and cyclists, who are often the most affected by accidents.
Overall role in accident reduction
Overall, V2X communication helps “solve confusion” by providing complete information to the autonomous driving system (or driver):
See what's obscured: V2X allows cars to "see through" obstacles, whether it's a truck blocking their view, a building corner, or thick fog.
Accurate and real-time information: Information about location, speed, sudden braking, and road conditions is transmitted and updated quickly (low latency), allowing the system to make timely decisions.
Sensor Interoperability: V2X is a third layer of information that enhances data from on-board sensors, enabling more complete and reliable perception of the environment for high-level autonomous driving (Level 4 and above).
V2X is therefore a technology that not only enhances safety but also forms a crucial foundation for creating intelligent transportation systems that reduce congestion, save energy, and enable self-driving cars to operate more efficiently and safely in the real world.
| Core technology | V2X, Vehicle-to-Everything, V2I, Vehicle-to-Infrastructure, V2P, Vehicle-to-Pedestrian |
| objective | Accident reduction, road safety, traffic management, vehicle communication, environmental awareness |
| Functionality | Intelligent Transportation System, ITS, Real-time Communication, Disaster Warning, Red Light Countdown, Obstacle Visibility |
| Stakeholders | Driverless cars, vulnerable road users, smart infrastructure, traffic lights |
