Below you will find answers to the questions we get frequently asked. If you cannot find your question in the list, please use the comments section or feel free to contact us.
Can traffic or pedestrian detection cameras recognize people? How are the data privacy requirements fulfilled?
Pedestrian detection cameras detect the movement of pedestrians and send the information about their position, direction, and speed to the Application Unit. Traffic cameras recognize and count the vehicles and send the information about recognized objects, in particular notifications of test vehicles crossing the intersections. In both cases, camera images are neither sent further nor saved.
Who works on this topic, what companies?
Among others, automotive suppliers Bosch and Continental, and telecommunications providers Huawei, T-Systems and Vodafone.
When should the first real trials of innovative driving be built into everyday road traffic?
This is already happening in many places. The many digital test fields in Germany have the exact purpose of testing this technology in everyday traffic. For the normal motorist, the systems will be introduced accordingly, step by step. In addition to the countless assistance systems in normal vehicles, communication has already been introduced in some vehicle models. For example, there is a traffic light phase assistant that is based on communication and therefore currently only works at appropriately equipped traffic lights, or an electronic brake light between these vehicles.
How can I take part in connected driving as a pedestrian?
The presence of pedestrians can be detected with the help of infrastructure, for example via sensors or using the information of pedestrian button activation at an intersection. The infrastructure then sends alerts to connected vehicles in proximity.
Pedestrians can also have an application (usually on a smartphone) that would allow them to exchange safety messages (containing location, speed, and direction information) with connected vehicles and send warnings when a collision is predicted. The application could also warn the pedestrians of a vehicle at the intersection or violating the crosswalk boundaries. Pedestrians at bus stops are alerted about transit vehicles’ presence and movements (and connected vehicles nearby of pedestrians in danger of collision).
How realistic is it that such systems will be used in the foreseeable future?
Extremely realistic. Some vehicle manufacturers have already integrated such technology into current series models. There are still some questions regarding the technology ultimately chosen, but networked mobility is a prerequisite for the safe operation of automated vehicles. Infrastructure manufacturers, who supply the traffic light systems, for example, also have corresponding equipment in their portfolios.
How safely and reliably does this system work in the event of radio interference or bad weather, thunderstorms, etc.?
The reliability of the system is intensively tried and tested before rollout. As with all other systems in the vehicle, there is always a fall-back level, in this case local sensors, so that dangerous situations do not occur. In the worst case, you only lose the added value of the technology, but the vehicle continues to function as usual.