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Audi to implement vehicle-to-infrastructure tech at a traffic light near you
Audi of America is introducing vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) communication technology into its 2017 vehicles. The first feature of the V2I communication technology will provide drivers with a countdown of traffic lights turning from red to green.
Audi of America will be rolling out the Traffic light information technology in conjunction with Traffic Technology Services (TTS) on select 2017 Audi Q7, A4 and A4 all road models starting this fall. This follows a one-year trial period when the company tested the technology in 100 vehicles in Palo Alto, Las Vegas, and Washington, DC.
How the Traffic light information technology works
When arriving at a connected traffic light, a countdown will display in the instrument cluster and the head-up display to indicate the amount of time till the traffic light turns green. To avoid drivers racing off when the timer hits zero, the countdown will disappear about three seconds before the light turns green, to ensure the driver’s eyes are back on the road.
The roll out of the technology will be slow, though, as Audi will need to communicate with each U.S. city individually to access the road infrastructure of the various cities and metropolitan areas.
The company aims to release the feature in seven U.S. cities by the end of 2016, with more cities to follow next year. Audi of America however, have not specified which cities are likely to get the technology by the end of this year.
Even if you have one of the Audis mentioned above, you will also need to have Audi’s Connect Prime infotainment package to get the new Traffic light information technology. The infotainment package costs $199 for six months or $750 for 30 months.
It is just the beginning for Audi’s vehicle-to-infrastructure communication technology
The Traffic light information technology is merely the first feature for Audi’s V2I integration. “In the future, we could envision this technology integrated into vehicle navigation, start/stop functionality and can even be used to help improve traffic flow in municipalities. These improvements could lead to better overall efficiency and shorter commuting times,” says Pom Malhotra, General Manager of Connected Vehicles at Audi.
Image credit: Clay Junell; Flickr
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