The Georgia Department of Transportation and The Ray, which comanage an 18-mile stretch of Interstate 85, are joining to test vehicle-to-everything (V2X) technology using fleet vehicles. The project’s goal is to see if the technology can be implemented across the state to improve roadway safety, reduce traffic congestion, and improve organizational efficiency.

The Cirrus by Panasonic V2X platform enables state DOTs to leverage real-time, location-specific data to improve roadway safety, ease congestion, and identify maintenance needs and roadway interruptions. With an open development platform, the Panasonic system can further enable advanced mobility solutions such as autonomous driving and freight platooning.

Four GDOT vehicles that travel the area regularly will be equipped with the cellular V2X technology, and roadside equipment will be installed on the Interstate to communicate with the vehicles, said Allie Kelly, executive director of The Ray. 

Panasonic will retrofit the vehicles and will also teach GDOT and The Ray staff to do their own retrofits in the future, she added. The vehicles will not have screens for the driver, meaning no data will be transmitted to drivers.

The pilot is a two-year program, with the Panasonic system installed and deployed through the end of 2019. GDOT and The Ray will conduct demonstrations of its data management capabilities and various use cases through 2020.

GDOT is already testing connected vehicle technology in the metro area, Kelly said.