1. Caltrans Interests in Connected Vehicles
Greg Larson Division of Research, Innovation and System Information California Department of Transportation (Caltrans)
June 17, 2014

2. National Vision for Connected Vehicles
Vehicle Data
latitude, longitude, time, heading angle, speed, lateral acceleration,
Infrastructure Messages
longitudinal acceleration, yaw rate, throttle position, brake status,
Signal Phase and Timing, Fog Ahead
steering angle, headlight status, wiper status, external temperature,
Train Coming Drive 35 mph
turn signal status, vehicle length, vehicle width, vehicle mass,
50 Parking Spaces Available
bumper height

3. Technology for Safety - 5.9 GHz DSRC
What is it?
Wi-Fi radio technology adapted for the vehicle environment
Low cost; easy to build in large quantity
FCC originally allocated spectrum in 1999; revised in 2004 and 2006
How does it work?
Messages transmitted 10 times/second (~300m range, restricted to line of sight)
Basic Safety Message (BSM): vehicle position, speed, heading, acceleration, size, brake system status, etc.
Privacy IS protected (vehicle location is NOT recorded or tracked)
Benefits of DSRC technology compared to radar/laser technology:
Reduced cost
Improved reliability; fewer false alarms
Increased performance; addresses more crash types
Drawbacks to using DSRC technology:
Both vehicles need to be equipped in order to gain the benefit
Requires back-office security infrastructure

4. Connected Vehicle Safety
• NHTSA Agency Decisions
2013 NHTSA agency decision on V2V safety communications systems
Similar milestone in 2014 for a decision regarding V2V safety technology on heavy vehicles
Information to support the decisions will come from many sources, including the Safety Pilot Model Deployment
• Policy Work (ongoing)
System Security
Privacy
Governance
Business Models
Legal Issues

5. Connected Vehicle Applications
ENVIRONMENT APPS
SAFETY APPS (V2V)
MOBILITY APPS
AERIS
• Forward Collision Warning (FCW)
• Dynamic Low Emissions Zone
• Integrated Dynamic Transit Operations (IDTO)
• Emergency Electronic Brake
• Dynamic Eco-Lanes
Light (EEBL)
• Intelligent Network Flow Optimization (INFLO)
• Eco-Traveler Information
• Intersection Movement Assist (IMA)
• Eco-Signal Operations
• Multi-Modal Intelligent Traffic Signal System (M-ISIG)
• Eco-ICM
• Blind Spot Warning (BSW)/ Lane Change Warning (LCW)
• Response, Emergency Staging and Communications, Uniform Management,
• Support AFV Operations
• Left Turn Across Path / Opposite Direction (LTAP)
and Evacuation (R.E.S.C.U.M.E.)
• Enable Advanced Traveler Information System (EnableATIS)
ENVIRONMENT APPS
SAFETY APPS (V2I)
Road Weather
• Red Light Violation Warning
• Freight Advanced Traveler Information System (FRATIS)
• Enhanced Maintenance Decision
• Curve Speed Warning
Support System
• Information for Maintenance and
• Stop Sign Gap Assist
Fleet Management Systems
• Stop Sign Violation
• Variable Speed Limits for
• Railroad Crossing Violation Warning
Weather-Responsive Traffic
Management
• Spot Weather Impact Warning
• Motorist Advisories and Warnings
• Oversize Vehicle Warning
• Information for Freight Carriers
• Reduced Speed/ Work Zone Warning
• Information and Routing Support
• Pedestrian Warning for Transit Vehicles
for Emergency Responders
• Smart Roadside

6. Moving towards Infrastructure Deployment
Pilots/Early
Deployments
Application
Development
Defined Safety (V2I), Mobility (V2V & V2I), AERIS and Weather Apps
FHWA Deployment
Guidelines
Defined
V2V NHTSA Decision
Apps
Heavy Vehicles
NHTSA Decision
Light Vehicles

7. Affiliated Test Bed Sites
Michigan:
2008 Proof of Concept Test Bed in Oakland County (Detroit region)
Safety Pilot Model Deployment (Ann Arbor)
New York (2008 ITS World Congress)
Florida (Orlando; 2011 ITS World Congress)
Virginia (under construction in Northern Virginia)
Arizona (Maricopa County [Phoenix])
California (installed 2005; currently being upgraded)

8. Test Bed Objectives Near Term Objectives Long Term Objectives Users
Upgrade and rejuvenate the existing Test Bed
Ensure compliance with national standards (RSE, Backhaul, and Back Office)
Take current applications to operational status
Long Term Objectives
Serve as a incubator and proving ground for Connected Vehicle technology and applications
Build partnerships with a focus on current and future Connected Vehicle research
Leverage the proximity to the Silicon Valley to take the Test Bed and associated research to the next generation
Users
Automotive OEMs (BMW, VW/Audi, Mercedes, Toyota)
DSRC Vendors (Arada, Savari, Denso?)
Transit agencies (Santa Clara VTA, SamTrans)
Potential Silicon Valley Partners

9. California Connected Vehicle Test Bed
Stanford
Cambridge
California
Page Mill
Portage/Hansen
Matadero
California Test Bed
Curtner
Ventura
Los Robles
Maybell
Charleston
Proposed
TBD
Existing

10. Example Installation

11. Actual Installation (Page Mill Road and El Camino Real)
View of the completed installation looking southbound up El Camino Real.

12. Example Layout Schematic

13. Connected Vehicles set the stage for Vehicle Automation!
Vehicle Data
latitude, longitude, time, heading angle, speed, lateral acceleration,
Infrastructure Messages
longitudinal acceleration, yaw rate, throttle position, brake status,
Signal Phase and Timing, Fog Ahead
steering angle, headlight status, wiper status, external temperature,
Train Coming Drive 35 mph
turn signal status, vehicle length, vehicle width, vehicle mass,
50 Parking Spaces Available
bumper height

14. Questions and Discussion
For more information, please visit:
Caltrans Improves Mobility Across California