SBIR Phase-II Project Announcement

We are excited to announce signing a major Phase-II contract with U.S. DOT on improving the Connected Automated Vehicle (CAV) technology to effectively help rural and underprivileged areas!

The goal is to address the infrastructure in rural areas where the technology for automated vehicles is lacking. Once a CAV is outside the data range to receive navigational instructions, it is unclear how safely the vehicle will proceed when encountering unmarked intersections, lane closures, work zones, etc. In order to expand this technology beyond urban areas, substantial investment in roadside equipment is a necessity, as well as a limitation, to the availability of this technology.                   

Machine vision system to support V2I for outside the range                                         

Connected Wise has proposed a cost-effective solution that is easily installed, requires minimum maintenance, and is affordable compared to current practices. This project will develop an on-board device to support Vehicle-to-Infrastructure (V2I) communication in areas of the country with limited access to Information and Communication Technology (ICT). This small, low-cost device will generate traffic safety and convey critical roadway information to connected vehicles while reducing the cost for infrastructure for V2I. Unique traffic signs will generate V2I messages that are relayed to the on-board unit to overcome driving challenges including vision impairments from bright lights/darkness, visual obstructions from inclement weather/objects, varying vehicle speeds, and so forth.                            

Compared to ongoing methods, this system provides greater data capacity to relay messages when CAVs are near roadside equipment and can be easily edited without having to physically alter the sign. These signs are also invulnerable to electromagnetic interference and are encrypted to prevent third-party intervention.