- V2X can prevent accidents that no other sensor can: V2X is the only sensor that can detect obstructed or hidden objects. Most of the time, accidents are caused not by what we see, but by the surprises from what we don’t see. For example, a car bursting into an intersection, or noticing a bit too late that a car came to a stop ahead of us on a highway.
- V2X operation is completely distributed: A V2X-equipped vehicle transmits to all surrounding vehicles its information such as location, speed, heading, etc. Each vehicle receives the information from all other vehicles, and determines the risk and how to avoid it. No centralized entity is involved. All the brains and operation are localized.
- V2X data is free and protected from interference: V2X operates on a dedicated spectrum. Other wireless devices cannot use the V2X spectrum, and no payment is involved when using the spectrum.
- V2X is a mature deployed technology: V2X is deployed in Japan by Toyota since 2015. It was deployed by GM in US in 2017. Volkswagen is deploying its best seller vehicles in Europe since 2019.
- V2X is the lowest cost safety sensor: V2X not only costs less, it also protects much more. V2X covers 360° with a single sensor, as opposed to other sensors having a limited field of view, thus requiring multiple sensors to increase coverage. V2X has a range of hundreds of meters, far beyond any other sensor. In addition, V2X knows the location and properties of objects, while other sensors can only estimate the existence of objects.
- V2X protects all road users, not just vehicles: Motorcycles, for example, suffer from a high accident rate, mostly because they are not observed by drivers, or failed to be observed by other sensors. Motorcycle safety will dramatically improve once V2X will be added, as planned, by many manufactures.
- V2X also talks with infrastructure: Smart intersection can detect crossing pedestrians and alert drivers, who may otherwise not be able to observe the pedestrians. A V2X equipped traffic light can inform drivers of its status and time until the next green or red. Such deployments are taking place worldwide right now.
- V2X is secure and anonymous: V2X applies the highest grade of asymmetric cryptography protection. The authenticity of all messages is assured to prevent attackers injecting false messages. The identity of the driver or vehicle is not exposed.
- V2X has an exciting roadmap: V2X will increasingly support more and more use-cases. To name a few, sensor sharing, where all vehicles will share the objects detected by their sensors, so all vehicles will have a complete picture of the environment. Cooperative maneuvering will also be part of the V2X future, where vehicles will negotiate their lane changes for safer and more efficient driving.
- Considering the huge safety benefits, why isn’t V2X in each and every car today? V2X is a cooperative technology. All vehicles must speak the exact same language. Regulatory certainty is required. There have been several setbacks on that front, but it is safe to say that these setbacks are now behind us. V2X is making its way to your car.
