The companies Audi and Qualcomm are testing their networked protection for bicycles in traffic.
Serious bicycle accidents occur again and again all over the world and due to the vulnerable situation of cyclists, it often ends fatally for them. Has this problem Audi in cooperation with Qualcomm and Commsignia and they are working on a fix. This should succeed via networking, more precisely via C-V2X (Cellular Vehicle to Everything).
Similar project with motorcycles from Audi.
They also work together with Spoke. This company has developed a smartphone app that enables safe and connected cycling. Networking is also used for this. Together they look for areas of application in which Audi draws attention to vulnerable road users. This is how safety warnings are sent to Audi vehicles.
The low latency (delay) in the networking technology of the C-V2X communication was the criterion for the decision to do so. It includes the networking of vehicles with each other (V2V), with the infrastructure (V2I) and with pedestrians (V2P). This is also possible without a mobile network. The technology can be further expanded to improve and expand the networked ecosystem.
Technology in the Audi E-tron Sportback is used for this project. As soon as bicycles are nearby and connected to the Spoke Safety app, a warning is issued. The bikes can also be identified once they pose a threat. Then the bikes will also be informed.
The project in the USA is managed by the NHTSA and other authorities supported. According to Audi, by 2023 there will be around 5.3 million networked road users and infrastructure parts connected via C-V2X. By 2028 there will already be 61 million devices, including zebra crossings and school buses.
Audi and Qualcomm are also working on similar projects Protecting Workers on Construction Sites in Virginia. In Germany Audi started the Traffic lights in Dusseldorf equip with networking.