Skip to main content

Siemens technology supports UK’s first connected road test environment

Intelligent traffic systems company Siemens has begun working on its latest Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CAV) project, in a collaborative partnership to create one of the most advanced environments for CAV technologies in the UK. Together with nine other consortium members, the UK Connected Intelligent Transport Environment (UK CITE) project will see trials on UK roads as early as next year, following a successful application for funding from the Government’s US%$144 million (£100 million) Intelli
June 2, 2016 Read time: 2 mins
RSSIntelligent traffic systems company 189 Siemens has begun working on its latest Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CAV) project, in a collaborative partnership to create one of the most advanced environments for CAV technologies in the UK.

Together with nine other consortium members, the UK Connected Intelligent Transport Environment (UK CITE) project will see trials on UK roads as early as next year, following a successful application for funding from the Government’s US%$144 million (£100 million) Intelligent Mobility Fund.

The project aims to enable automotive, infrastructure and service companies to trial connected vehicle technologies in real-life conditions on 40 miles of roads within Coventry and Warwickshire, using combinations of DSRC and LTE talking car technologies to compare their performance.

Siemens will develop, supply and install roadside units which will communicate with the vehicles and the traffic infrastructure. Siemens Stratos hosted traffic management system will be used as the back office for all communications to and from the vehicles.  This technology will help to prove use cases that will establish how technology can improve journeys, reduce traffic congestion and provide in-vehicle entertainment and safety services through better connectivity.

The UK CITE consortium comprises leading industry, academic, local and national governmental organisations. It is jointly led by 2165 Visteon Engineering Services Limited and 7998 Jaguar Land Rover and includes Coventry City Council, Coventry University, 8101 Highways England, HORIBA 4310 MIRA, 6787 Huawei Technologies (UK), Siemens, Vodafone Group Services and WMG at University of Warwick.

The first phase of the project will continue until the end of 2016 and will include the preparation of infrastructure on routes along the M40, M42, A46, and A45 – as well as an urban route in Coventry – and the preparation of a Vehicle, Systems and Gantry App, which will ensure variable roadside messages appear in-vehicle, either on the vehicle display or smartphone. Finally, pre-test trials will take place on HORIBA MIRA’s City Circuit, following which trials are likely to start on public roads as early as 2017.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • SwRI and USDOT operate connected vehicle affiliated test bed
    December 9, 2013
    In the US, the Texas-based Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) is operating a connected vehicle affiliated test bed in cooperation with the US Department of Transportation (USDOT) Research and Innovative Technology Administration. The DOT test bed project facilitates information exchange as well as access to tools and resources across other test bed facilities to support and encourage consistent future deployment of connected vehicle technologies. The project aims to advance the technology for full deplo
  • China plans more ITS deployment despite economic slowdown
    March 30, 2017
    The Chinese government is turning to ITS to help solve urban traffic congestion in the majority of its large cities. Eugene Gerden reports. China is investing an estimated 3.5bn yuan ($551 million) per year in ITS and while the country’s current economic strategy may see this decline, the government plans to continue active development of the national intelligent transport system.
  • Brussels still the most congested city in Europe
    April 20, 2012
    The results of the latest traffic study from TomTom are in, revealing some of the most congested hotspots in Europe. Brussels is still topping the chart as the most congested city in Europe and congestion in the Belgian Capital is getting worse, showing a 1.2% increase in traffic since 2010.
  • Siemens traffic control for Poznan
    June 4, 2013
    Siemens is to supply an intelligent transportation system for the Polish city of Poznan to integrate public and private transport in an effort to reduce congestion and enhance the attractiveness of public transportation. The contract, awarded by the Poznan transportation authority Zarząd Dróg Miejskich w Poznaniu (ZDM) is valued at around US$20 million. Commissioning of the system is scheduled for spring 2015.