Intelligent cars are set for demonstration in Frankfurt

The 120 vehicle test fleet, set for trials in Spring 2012, are part of the Safe and Intelligent Mobility Test Field Germany (simTD) project that will see cars communicate wirelessly with each other and with sensors in the road infrastructure via ‘car-to-X communication’.

The fleet — made up of Audi A4, BMW X1, Mercedes C-class, Ford S-max, Opel Insignia and VW Passat passenger cars — will be able to transmit information on traffic conditions to a control station, which can then predict and manage traffic developments.

Christian Weiß, simTD project coordinator, told The Engineer: ‘The project uses the ITS G5 wireless technology, which is tailored to automotive applications. It is based on the familiar WLAN standard and uses ad hoc networking to enable short-range communication between vehicles and infrastructure.’

A display provides drivers with recommendations on the best route to take, as a satellite navigation system would. The system is also reported to be able to assist drivers at intersections or traffic lights by providing a display of the right lane to take for the next turn, or the optimum speed to drive to get a ‘wave of green traffic lights’.