Vehicle-to-X communication (V2X) is a rapidly advancing technology that enables vehicles to remain in constant communication with each other and their environment. This technology allows vehicles to exchange information with other vehicles, pedestrians’ smartphones or a set of traffic lights to prevent accidents, improve traffic flow and advance autonomous driving. The V2X function is already being developed for series production, and Porsche Engineering is working on AI-based functions for tomorrow.
V2X technology is already being tested in China, where many sets of traffic lights are connected to a traffic control center that tells drivers when the next green light will appear. Road users can also be networked to send information to a central server that relays it on to other vehicles. Porsche Engineering is conducting real-world tests with V2X technology at its development center in Anting, near Shanghai.
V2X technology is expected to offer a range of helpful functions, including a live traffic light information function that modifies speed so drivers only wait at traffic lights for the shortest time possible, allowing them to drive more efficiently. A digital extension of the warning triangle could also be possible, where nearby road users would be informed by direct short-range communication if a vehicle stopped with its hazard warning lights on. This warning could also be forwarded to a central server, allowing road users who are not in the immediate vicinity to access it.
There are two technical concepts used for connecting vehicles in V2X communication. The first is the 802.11p standard, a variant of Wi-Fi that allows vehicles to communicate directly with each other. If vehicles are more than 200 to 300 meters apart, roadside units (RSUs) are needed to relay signals. The second option is to use the existing cellular network, with the corresponding standard called C-V2X (the ‘C’ stands for ‘cellular’).
V2X communication is seen as an important step towards fully autonomous driving, with the vehicle of tomorrow not only using its own sensor technology but also other road users’ sensor systems. V2X technology will help make advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) more effective, and it will also help prevent accidents and improve traffic flow.
V2X communication is transforming driving safety by allowing vehicles to remain in constant contact with each other and their environment, exchanging information to prevent accidents, improve traffic flow, and advance autonomous driving. With rapid advances in V2X technology, the vehicle of tomorrow will not only use its own sensor technology but also other road users’ sensor systems, making it an important step forward on the road to fully autonomous driving.
