AMG staff are currently leading the design effort of a state-of-the-art Connected Autonomous Vehicle Traffic Signal Lab (CAV-Sig Lab) at GoMentum Station, that will be dedicated to research, training, and testing of Connected Autonomous Vehicle (CAV) hardware and software technologies. Traffic engineers in Contra Costa County and the Bay Area will have access to traffic signal cabinets, multiple traffic signal controllers, video detection, Dedicated Short Range Communication (DSRC)/5G communication, and other traffic signal related equipment, to test the connectivity and safe crossing of CAVs equipped with On-Board Units (OBUs) and traffic signal controllers equipped with DSRC/5G technology.
The significance of this effort is that City traffic engineers will no longer need to use their own maintenance shop and scarce resources for testing AV connectivity for safety. The lab will be equipped with all types of ATC controllers from different vendors that traffic engineers can utilize in conducting their own safety tests. The facility will familiarize traffic engineers with the design and interpretation of the latest developments in traffic signal systems, the DSRC/5G components of a traffic signal system, interoperability between DSRC/5G devices and traffic controllers, and CAV operations through traffic signals.
This lab will provide us the capability of conducting full intersection signal control demonstrations and tests. The unique environment of the CAV-Sig Lab will expose traffic engineers and technicians to the complexities of signal deployment and prepare us for future CAV operations, including setup and maintenance of traffic signal controllers, conflict monitors, load switches, detection and DSRC/5G based communication systems on traffic signal cabinets. The lab will provide the opportunity for hands-on experience working with futuristic traffic signals and associated technologies, testing various CAV and DSRC functional services, including collision avoidance, ATSPM, Emergency Vehicle Preemption, Vulnerable User Services, V2V, V2I, V2P, and V2C communications. Additionally, the lab will be poised to educate and train signal technicians and traffic engineers in both the public and private sectors.
View the YouTube video here.
