Two autonomous, self-driving vehicles will be tested in live traffic in the streets of Sydney’s inner-south, as part of an intelligent transport trial for new vehicle-to-infrastructure technology.
The vehicles will user wireless connectivity to interact with traffic lights equipped with Transport for NSW’s Sydney Coordinated Adaptive Traffic System, also known as SCATS.
As the automated vehicles approach the traffic lights, the software sends information about the intersection’s layout, right of way, timing of signal changes and warnings of imminent hazards.
The test, if successful, will put NSW at the front of the line for autonomous driving safety according to Minister for Roads John Graham.
“This innovative technology will put NSW at the forefront of the national conversation on smart car innovation and road safety,” Graham says.
“This vehicle-to-infrastructure technology can make a difference now, years before driverless vehicles become the norm because it can be retrofitted to existing intersections and built into the cars of today.
“Along with the safety benefits, this technology will also reduce traffic congestion, with communication between cars and infrastructure allowing the variation of a green-light windows to alleviate long queues.
“As cars get smarter, there’s the opportunity to make them safer and save lives on NSW roads.”
The software used by the vehicles could become commercially available as soon as next year, and can be retrofitted to existing vehicles and traffic infrastructure.
The vehicles used in the trial are designed by the University of Sydney’ Australian Centre for Robotics.
They underwent extensive testing at the Transport’s Future Mobility Testing and Research Centre in Cudal.
Transport for NSW Secretary Josh Murray says the trial will help lay the groundwork for the future of autonomous driving.
“These new trials help us understand the challenges, and demonstrate the feasibility, of introducing emerging technology so we’re able to channel it in our day-to-day running of the network,” Murray says.
“This is a joint project with Sydney University and iMove to future-proof our traffic network and prepare our roads for an automated driving future.
“While this signals a real-world trial of the cutting-edge technology, at its core is an extension of Transport’s SCATS offering – a home-grown NSW Government innovation. Developed in house 40 years ago, SCATS is the global leader in intelligent traffic signals control and has been installed in more than 63,000 intersections across 216 cities in 32 countries.”
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