Bikes included in V2V trial

Motorcycles will be included in a trial of innovative Vehicle 2 Vehicle (V2V) safety technology in the US to be conducted by the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI). Researchers will investigate how motorcycles and other automotive transport forms can interact by radio signals using V2V technology supplied by industry-leading Australian firm, Cohda Wireless.

The V2V technology is a component of the innovative Co-operative Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) being trialled in many parts of the world, where vehicles communicate with each other and warn their drivers of imminent collisions, also assisting their passage through intersections and warning of excessive speed for any given road conditions. The end result, say proponents of the technology, is safer, smarter, and greener transport.

While motorcycles have largely been left out of ITS research, UMTRI is seeking to address that issue and says that as vulnerable road users riders have much to gain. The university has partnered with Honda and BMW to conduct the trial, which will focus on motorcycle communications feasibility testing and motorcycle-to-vehicle performance testing.

Cohda Wireless’s CEO, Paul Gray, said he was thrilled to have the company’s products being showcased in the trial. “We are very proud to see our products being used in this important trial to improve the safety of car drivers and motorcycle riders alike,” he said. Cohda Wireless is based in Adelaide, SA, but also has offices in Europe, North America and Korea.

The US Department of Transport’s Safety Pilot Model Deployment trial, which is managed by UMTRI, is being conducted in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and is spread across almost 3000 vehicles.