Partners to Test V2X System in San Diego

AT&T, Ford, Nokia and Qualcomm plan to begin testing so-called vehicle-to-everything communications in connected cars later this year in San Diego.

V2X communications is a key enabling technology for next-generation driver-assist systems and fully autonomous vehicles. It also can be used for remote diagnostics, over-the-air software updates, real-time traffic and navigation updates, and ride-sharing and other new mobility services.

Qualcomm’s cellular-based V2X platform will be installed in unspecified Ford vehicles to enable data sharing over the 5.9-GHz spectrum. This will be complemented by AT&T's 4G LTE network communications and intelligent transportation platform, supported by wireless base stations and Nokia’s edge-computing technology that pushes processing and analytic functions to sensors and other data sources.

The tests will be used to evaluate the safety benefits of vehicle-to-vehicle communications, including alerting approaching cars about unsafe passing conditions and cross-traffic at intersections. Traffic flow, real-time mapping updates and event notifications will be relayed via AT&T's cellular network and Nokia’s cloud-based infrastructure.

Vista, Calif.-based intelligent transportation service provider McCain Inc. will help facilitate data sharing with current and next-generation traffic signal controllers. Other partners include Caltrans, the city of Chula Vista and the San Diego Assn. of Governments. San Diego was designated by the U.S. Dept. of Transportation as one of 10 automated vehicle proving grounds in the U.S. earlier this year.