U.S. Army Helping Develop Vehicle-To-Infrastructure And Autonomous Vehicle Technologies

The list of everyday technologies pioneered or developed by the military before being adapted to civilian applications is a lengthy one: GPS, microwave ovens, jet engines, and radar are just some common examples.  Could autonomous cars and vehicle-to-infrastructure, or V2I, communications be some of the next technologies to get a boost from military research and development?

Starting this summer, the U.S. Army is planning to deploy a road test of convoys with V2I technology along a stretch of I-69 in Michigan.  The road test will involve truck convoys with at least four vehicles apiece, with receivers that communicate with roadside transponders set alongside the highway.  The transponders will be used to relay traffic condition information, like lane closures and speed limit information, to members of the convoy.