Research Overview

The Connected Vehicle Test Bed and affiliated interoperable test bed environments are real-world, operational test beds that offer the supporting vehicles, infrastructure, and equipment to serve the needs of public and private sector testing and certification activities.

The vision for the test beds is to establish multiple locations as part of a one connected system that can support continued research, testing, and demonstration of connected vehicle concepts, standards, applications, and innovative products. Test environments will also serve as precursors or foundations for State and local deployments using connected vehicles technologies.

The research will result in the establishment of accessible Connected Vehicle Test Beds for the public and private sectors to pursue research, testing, and demonstrations of innovative, next-generation ITS technologies. The Connected Vehicle Test Bed in Michigan and affiliated interoperable test beds will help establish requirements for future test beds that will provide the State and local foundation for connected vehicle deployment.

Affiliated Test Beds

The ITS Joint Program Office is starting an affiliation of 5.9GHz DSRC infrastructure device makers, operators of V-I installations, and developers of applications that use V-I communications.  The goal of creating this organizational structure is to harness the collective abilities of these members to transition the technology toward full deployment by allowing for the exchange of information, the sharing of deployment lessons learned, developing a common technical platform, and expanding test bed options for users. 

The ITS JPO expects to enter into a number of agreements with public, private, and academic organizations to create the affiliation of test beds.  All agreements will give the named organization an equal ability to participate in the affiliation.  These agreements will be structured in a manner that facilitates the exchange of information as well as the sharing of tools and resources across all facilities to support and encourage a consistent, future deployment of 5.9GHz DSRC and other V-I wireless communications technology.

Research Goals

To operate, manage, and maintain the existing Connected Vehicle Test Bed for use by organizations and researchers in both the public and the private sectors, inclusive of the DOT ITS Program’s testing of connected vehicle standards and safety, mobility, and environment-related connected vehicle applications.

• To enhance and/or modify the existing Test Bed and establish it as a model for other test beds.
• To research, develop, and prototype a set of generic management processes, equipment, and back-end services.

Research Approach

• Test Bed Fact Sheet [PDF 1.12MB]

The Connected Vehicle Test Bed recently completed proof of concept testing of 5.9GHZ Dedicated Short-Range Communications (DSRC) for effective safety, mobility and convenience transportation applications.

The Connected Vehicle Test Bed is equipped with 55 roadside equipment units (RSEs) installed along Interstate, divided highway and arterial roadways within a typical suburban area near Detroit. The RSEs are connected to a back office data center which includes a Service Delivery Node and Enterprise Network Operations Center. Each RSE has a DSRC gateway to enable the RSE’s to communicate with DSRC equipped vehicles. In addition of the RSEs, the U.S. DOT has 10 vehicles outfitted with onboard equipment (OBEs), including DSRC radios which are available for testing purposes. The Test Bed is in the process of adding an additional 22 RSEs with Signal Phase and Timing (SPaT) and Geometric Intersection Description along Telegraph Road.

Signal Phase and Timing (SPaT) equipped intersection along Telegraph Road. SPaT describes the signal phase (green, amber, or red) and the amount of time remaining until the change of the phase for each approach and lane at the intersection.  This information can be used in applications to help increase fuel efficiency, safety, and mobility for all road users. Photo Credit: USDOT, Jeremy Durst/SAIC

Check out the SPaT demonstration along Telegraph Road.

Connected Vehicle Test Bed roadside equipment (RSE) mounted along Telegraph Road.  The Test Bed RSEs can broadcast advisory messages and basic safety messages, transmit probe data, host other applications using DSRC, and simulate tolling transactions. Photo Credit: USDOT, Jeremy Durst/SAIC

Next Steps

Over the next 12-18 months the U.S. DOT will be working towards enhancing and building the next generation of test beds. The Department will be upgrading equipment which will feature a common design architecture, interoperable components and shared back office services, and working security processes.

Resources

• Michigan’s V2V Test Bed Touted
• NEW Connected Vehicle Test Bed Brochure Now Available [PDF 1.97MB]
• Connected Vehicle Test Beds featured in Thinking Highways Magazine
• An Analysis of Temperature Pressure Data from Connected Vehicles in the Developmental Test Bed Environment
• U.S. DOT Connected Vehicle Test Bed and Affiliated Interoperable Test Beds [PDF 314KB]

Research Contacts

To learn more about this research, contact:

Walton Fehr
Program Manager, Systems Engineering
Research and Innovative Technology Administration
ITS Joint Program Office
(202) 366-0278
walton.fehr@dot.gov

Jeremy Durst
Michigan Operations Lead
(248) 374-5098
jeremy.s.durst@saic.com