Audi Set to Make a Connection With US Drivers

At the 2017 CES in Las Vegas Audi will become the first carmaker in the US to offer drivers a vehicle-to-infrastructure communication system.

Before cars can become autonomous, they have to become communicative and that means being able to converse not just with each other, but with the elements around them that make up the typical road network. And the faster that Vehicle-to-Infrastructure (V2I) systems come on line the faster we'll arrive at a future where road accidents caused by human error cease to exist.

"The launch of this technology is another in a long list of firsts for Audi," said Audi of America President Scott Keogh of the system that will be officially activated in Las Vegas at the end of December.

"V2I applications and services like Traffic Light Information are essential components as we continue to move toward an autonomous future. We applaud the innovative approach of Las Vegas in working with us on V2I as well as on our various piloted driving demonstrations over the past years."

To begin with the V2I system will be very basic. Owners of select 2017 Audis will be able to display on their dashboards (or via head up display) if the oncoming traffic lights are red or green and, if the former, how many seconds remain until the lights change, again.

The idea is simple. Knowing how long there is to wait relieves stress and allows drivers to get ready to pull away. Or, if the lights are going to change as the car approaches, to find the optimum speed to pass through without having to stop, therefore saving both time and fuel.

But this is just the beginning. Audi aims to use the information broadcast from connected traffic lights to recalculate programmed routes in real time to reduce fuel use or avoid congestion. It is also planning to link the information to a car's stop/start feature so that the car automatically comes to a halt with the engine shut off at red lights or finds the perfect approach speed so that the car never needs to stop at all.

"The Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada is proud to be the first in the nation to connect our traffic signal network to vehicles through our collaboration with Audi," said Tina Quigley, RTC General Manager. "This vehicle-to-infrastructure technology will help reduce congestion and enhance mobility on our already crowded roadways."