Eastlink trials of automated vehicle technologies ‘have delivered real results’

Trials in Australia to determine the compatibility of the latest automated vehicle technologies with EastLink have been steadily progressing throughout this year. The trials are being undertaken by EastLink in partnership with VicRoads, the Australian Road Research Board (ARRB), La Trobe University and RACV, with the assistance of major vehicle manufacturers. With autonomous driving on EastLink and other suitable freeways expected within the next few years (subject to legislative changes), Eastlink says the
August 23, 2017 Read time: 2 mins

Trials in Australia to determine the compatibility of the latest automated vehicle technologies with EastLink have been steadily progressing throughout this year.

The trials are being undertaken by EastLink in partnership with 4728 VicRoads, the Australian Road Research Board (ARRB), La Trobe University and RACV, with the assistance of major vehicle manufacturers.

With autonomous driving on EastLink and other suitable freeways expected within the next few years (subject to legislative changes), Eastlink says the trials have produced real results for freeway operators and vehicle manufacturers to facilitate the safe and early introduction of this capability on EastLink and other Victorian freeways.

EastLink trials have already been conducted with the latest Level.2 vehicles provided by the widest range of manufacturers for a trials program of this type, including 1731 BMW, 1683 Honda, 1844 Mazda, 1685 Mercedes, 4962 Mitsubishi and 609 Volvo. The most recent technology demonstration to be completed involved a vehicle provided by 8534 Tesla. This week, a vehicle provided by 4349 Lexus has commenced trials on EastLink. In addition, 2125 Audi and 1686 Toyota will soon be providing vehicles to assist with the trials program.

Vehicle manufacturers and freeway operators are now able to work on taking advantage of these opportunities to further improve the performance of the latest Level.2 automated vehicle technologies, which will pave the way for Level.3 hands-off-the-wheel driving on EastLink and other suitable freeways, subject to legislative changes.

With Level 3 autonomous driving on the way, Eastlink envisages that freeway operators will need to communicate directly to autonomous vehicles, for example to communicate a change in conditions or operating environment (e.g. emergency incident, congestion event, or lane/tunnel/bridge/freeway closure).

As part of the trials, connected vehicle transceivers are now being installed at three of EastLink’s tolling gantries, to create a section of road enabled for vehicle to vehicle and vehicle to infrastructure communications.

Initial testing has been focused on verifying the compatibility of connected vehicle communications (5.9 GHz) with the existing DSRC tolling tag communications (5.8 GHz).

The trials program will next conduct on-road tests of different message types using suitably equipped connected vehicles.

Location Based Systems

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Infrastructure funding and road user charging – debate continues
    February 1, 2012
    Jack Opiola provides an overview of the ongoing debate over US infrastructure funding and the progress – or lack of it – towards vehicles miles travelled road user charging. The future funding of transportation and mobility infrastructure is attracting increased attention. There has been sharp debate in the US, where landmark reports from the National Surface Transportation Infrastructure Financing Commission and the National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission both stated that the cu
    Read More
  • UK government launches consultation on automated vehicles
    July 18, 2016
    The UK government has launched a major consultation to help pave the way for automated cars to be used on British roads, with all drivers invited to have their say. Under the proposed measures, rules will be changed so automated vehicles can be insured for use on the roads. In addition, the Highway Code and regulations are to be altered so advanced driver assistance systems that change lanes on the motorway and park the vehicle by remote control can be used safely. Separately, the government will n
    Read More
  • Telstra and Cohda Wireless conduct first Australian V2P technology trial
    July 28, 2017
    Telstra, in partnership with Cohda Wireless, has successfully conducted Australia’s first test of vehicle-to-pedestrian (V2P) technology over a mobile network in South Australia. The trial demonstrated vehicles interacting directly with pedestrians’ and cyclists’ mobile phones providing early-warning collision detection and alerts via an application installed on the phones. The technology was tested using some common scenarios that occur every day in Australia, such as a car and a cyclist approaching a blin
    Read More
  • Brazil opts for freeflow tolling
    April 9, 2014
    David Crawford explores the technical background of Brazil’s First multi-lane free-flow tolling system. The 2013 opening of Brazil’s first fully-operational, all-vehicle, multi-lane free-flow (MLFF) tolling system in the state of São Paolo has set the scene for a new phase of modern electronic fee collection (EFC) deployment in Latin America’s largest country. It has toll programmes at both federal and state levels, with São Paulo – the most populous state, with the largest road network – leading in the awa
    Read More

Highlighted Content