Skip to main content

VTA demonstrating Smart Stop technology at ITS America San Jose

The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) is showing conference attendees how its Smart Stop technology can tell bus drivers that someone is waiting at a particular stop, improving the rider experience while saving fuel costs. The Smart Stop demonstration is designed to highlight Vehicle to Infrastructure (V2I) and Vehicle to Vehicle (V2V) solutions using dedicated short range 5.9 GHz Wi-Fi communications. It was built in partnership with Renesas Electronics America, a semiconductor supplier, a
June 15, 2016 Read time: 2 mins
The 1791 Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) is showing conference attendees how its Smart Stop technology can tell bus drivers that someone is waiting at a particular stop, improving the rider experience while saving fuel costs.

The Smart Stop demonstration is designed to highlight Vehicle to Infrastructure (V2I) and Vehicle to Vehicle (V2V) solutions using dedicated short range 5.9 GHz Wi-Fi communications. It was built in partnership with 2266 Renesas Electronics America, a semiconductor supplier, and eTrans Systems, a developer of software for connected and automated vehicles.

According to the agency, bus stops can be crowded and confusing when serving multiple routes, and bad weather can obscure waiting passengers from the driver. Passengers can use an app on their smartphone or a touch screen at a kiosk to indicate they are waiting for a particular bus. The request is then passed to a road side unit that transmits the request to the approaching bus's on-board unit. An audible and visual alert notifies the driver, and the passenger is notified via smartphone. If a bus approaches a stop that doesn't have a passenger waiting, the driver can continue on the route without stopping--saving time and fuel. At the same time, safety is improved by minimizing the need to exit and enter traffic.

"VTA is looking for new and innovative ways to improve the customer experience when taking transit," said Gary Miskell, VTA's CIO, in a press release. "Smart Stop provides customers with a quick and simple way to keep informed on their trip."

A mock bus stop will be set up Wednesday between 10am and 3:30pm off Viola Avenue next to the convention center. Conference attendees are encouraged to stop by and hail an approaching bus.

VTA is also demonstrating a dedicated short range communications (DSRC) solution from Renesas Electronics that uses a combination of sensor fusion, 3D surround view and V2X technologies to provide driver warnings for collisions, red lights and road construction. New regulations mandate that V2X technology be integrated with existing vehicle safety features to optimize driver safety and fuel efficiency, and many auto manufacturers are already developing solutions to meet compliance.

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
  • Siemens demonstrates new connected vehicle technology including iPhone app for traffic signal priority
    April 22, 2013
    Can an iPhone change a traffic signal? All you need is the new Siemens app. New connected vehicle technology from Siemens Mobility and Logistics allows traffic signals to be controlled by vehicle arrival and priority rather than timing plans. Signal changes can even be triggered by an iPhone app combined with GPS, as Siemens demonstrates at ITS America.
  • Connected car devices market predicted to grow at 16.3 per cent by 2021
    April 6, 2017
    The latest research report from MarketsandMarkets indicates that the connected car devices market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 16.3 per cent from 2016 to 2021, to reach US$57.15 Billion by 2021. Some of the major factors responsible for the growth of the market are government regulations for safety and increasing electrification of vehicles. Connected car devices with dedicated short range communication (DSRC) as connectivity use short range communication technologies such as radar and Lidar, which
  • A carbon free and accident free Europe by 2015?
    February 2, 2012
    By 2050, the Europe Commission aims to make transport in Europe carbon- and accident-free. Between now and then, however, a significant technological development and deployment effort is needed. Here, Neelie Kroes, European Commission Vice-President for the Digital Agenda, talks about what's being done. In many respects, COOPERS, CVIS and SAFESPOT, set up by the European Commission (EC) to explore the potential of cooperative infrastructure systems, are already legacy projects. Between them, the three devel