German vehicle technology firm Continental and California-based Iteris are developing intelligent infrastructure to help cities deploy connected and automated vehicles.

The programme brings together vehicle and infrastructure sensor expertise to improve safety and efficiency throughout transportation networks. The collaboration will support infrastructure transformation by future connected and automated vehicles (CAVs).

Continental has entered a collaboration agreement with smart mobility infrastructure management firm Iteris for communities across North America, with the goal of readying cities for advancements in connected and automated vehicle technologies.

“Smart mobility is in our DNA at Continental and we are constantly improving and innovating to help make roadways safer for all who use them,” said Murali Srinivasan, vice president for Continental in North America. “As we look to a future with more CAVs, the infrastructure will play a bigger role, demanding updates in sensing, connectivity and communication capabilities. Our long and proven history in safety sensorics fits naturally with Iteris’ expertise in intelligent infrastructure management to contribute to greater environmental awareness and increased road user safety.”

The traffic infrastructure collaboration will leverage automotive sensors, and infrastructure-to-vehicle (I2V) connectivity to make city transportation systems across North America more efficient, while supporting local and regional transportation agencies’ efforts to achieve their Vision Zero goals.

Information generated by the automotive sensors will be used to enable cooperative perception capabilities. In addition to sharing a connected vehicle’s location with other V2X-enabled devices, cooperative perception messaging enables that vehicle to share what it senses – a pedestrian or car, for example – with the rest of its connected environment.

The collaboration is focused on improving the transportation infrastructure while working towards a more balanced, intelligent and optimised infrastructure that communicates seamlessly with the mobility ecosystem in the future thanks to expanded sensing capabilities.

“At Iteris, we are committed to helping public transportation agencies and our commercial partners achieve safe, efficient and sustainable mobility through the use of innovative technology, and advanced sensing and communications systems,” said Todd Kreter, senior vice president at Iteris. “We are thrilled to announce this partnership with Continental, a pioneer of automotive safety and connected mobility technologies, to explore new intelligent infrastructure that will help make roads safer, more efficient and sustainable, while readying cities and automotive OEMs for advancements in connected and automated vehicle technologies.”

Srinivasan added: “Historically, infrastructure and automotive development happened largely independent from one another. Our efforts will help blur that boundary, ensuring that sensor data can be used in new and important ways to create a fuller, real-time picture of a traffic situation.”

In addition to offering more comfort and convenience to drivers, this safety-focused partnership can contribute to stronger V2X effectiveness, critical in reaching the goal of Vision Zero.

The US Department of Transportation believes that V2X technology has the potential to address approximately 80 per cent of unimpaired vehicle crashes. Roadway injuries and fatalities also impact people outside of vehicles. And according to the National Safety Council, in the USA approximately 30 per cent of all road fatalities are vulnerable road users, which include pedestrians, cyclists, scooters and motorcyclists.

Founded in 1871, Continental generated preliminary sales of €37.7bn in 2020 and employs more than 235,000 people in 58 countries and markets.