Driverless vehicles are communicating with traffic lights as part of an intelligent transport trial that is set to improve traffic efficiency and road safety in New South Wales.
An intelligent transport systems (ITS) trial taking place on Sydney’s busy streets is utilising SCATS Cit-e, a software solution which provides vehicle-to-infrastructure communication between intelligent traffic systems and Connected and Automated Vehicles (CAV).
The software is intended to improve driver behaviour, traffic efficiency, deliver network insights to support performance and optimisation, and improve the safety and efficiency of automated vehicles.
Cit-e is being developed as part of SCATS (Sydney Coordinated Adaptive Traffic System), an intelligent real-time traffic management platform designed to help monitor, control, and optimise road networks and ensure smooth traffic flow, prioritise different road user movements, improve road user journey times, and achieve sustainability goals by reducing emissions and energy consumption.
SCATS was developed by the New South Wales Government Department of Main Roads in 1975 and was one of the first adaptive control systems to be available commercially. It continues to be developed by a dedicated team within Transport for NSW.
Vehicle-to-infrastructure technology
SCATS Executive Director, Adele Beachley, said that the Cit-e software developed by SCATS aims to make drivers move more efficiently and more safely.
“This vehicle-to-infrastructure technology aims to save lives by feeding data about pedestrians, cyclists, other motorists and traffic light signal changes from specially equipped junctions to vehicles fitted with a radio receiver,” Ms Beachley said.
“As vehicles approach the traffic lights, Cit-e can send messages about the intersection’s layout, right of way, timing of signal changes and warnings of imminent hazards – including vulnerable road users such as pedestrians crossing part of the junction.”
The application in the vehicle uses its turn signals, navigation information and/or other inputs along with the information provided by the intersection controller to warn drivers if their intended movement is likely to conflict with an active pedestrian or cyclist movement.
Cit-e junctions can also provide approaching vehicles with information regarding the signal timing and geometry of the intersection. The vehicle uses this information, together with its speed and acceleration profile, to determine if there is a risk of violating a red light.
“By warning drivers of possible red-light violations and of the potential to endanger other road users, Cit-e can have demonstrable effects on road safety.
“But it can also alert drivers waiting at a junction of an imminent change to a green light, increasing the efficiency of traffic flow, as well as allowing for lights to be held for green longer when queues emerge.”
Transport for NSW Director of Future Mobility, Evan Walker, said that vehicle safety is a critical part of making roads safer and independent modelling has shown that vehicle safety improvements have saved more than 700 lives over the past decade.
“The safety outcomes from this technology for drivers and pedestrians could be substantial, and it is closer than many may realise,” Mr Walker said.
“As we’ve seen in the trial, existing car models can be retrofitted with a wireless receiver and driver notification system.
“Though the trials in collaboration with the University of Sydney have partly been taking place using Connected and Automated Vehicles (CAVs), they have also included a Volkswagen retrofitted to receive the data transmitted by the upgraded intersection infrastructure.
“Leveraging smart infrastructure has real-world, immediate applications and will compliment automated features such as lane keep assist and emergency braking that already exist in various vehicle models and are constantly being tested at by our team at Transport’s Future Mobility Testing and Research Centre.”
Trialling on local streets
Two self-driving vehicles have driven in live traffic on the streets of Chippendale using wireless connectivity to interact with traffic lights equipped with the SCATS Cit-e technology.
As the automated vehicles approach the specially equipped traffic lights, Cit-e sends information about the local traffic conditions to a receiver in the vehicle, which uses the information in conjunction with the vehicle’s position, direction and velocity to gauge whether it is likely to commit a red-light violation or endanger other road users.
The vehicles were designed by researchers at the Australian Centre for Robotics within the University of Sydney’s Faculty of Engineering, and safety-tested at Transport for NSW’s Future Mobility Testing and Research Centre at Cudal.
Mr Walker said that the research centre continually supports developmental testing for new and upcoming CAV and C-ITS technology.
“Transport for NSW is addressing potential hurdles in scaling automated vehicle technology by conducting a review of vehicle policy and legislation to include automated and connected features, testing how this technology works in real life and providing that information back to vehicle manufactures directly, to policy makers and also to drivers through ANCAP star ratings.”
The trial was showcased at the ITS Summit in Sydney – which was held from 13-15 August – and attendees from around the world experienced the integrated solution for the first time.
“Showcasing Cit-e and its role in a C-ITS (Co-operative Intelligent Transport Systems) Automated Vehicle trial was a key opportunity to demonstrate the New South Wales Government’s commitment to advancing smart mobility that makes our roads safer and more efficient,” Ms Beachley said.
“The ITS Summit allowed for valuable feedback and engagement with industry leaders, reinforcing the importance of these technologies for the future of transport networks.
“It’s always exciting for the SCATS team to share the technological advances we continue to make. As pioneers and innovators of this industry with proven, rich and deep domain knowledge, SCATS continues to be world leading and adopted by cities globally.”
Looking toward a smarter traffic future
While the Cit-e software has been designed with driverless vehicles in mind, SCATS has designed the software to be able to provide its valuable data to standard vehicles as well. With the technology able to be rolled out long before driverless vehicles become commonplace, Cit-e is set to be commercially available soon.
“We aren’t just future-proofing, we will be ready to offer Cit-e solutions from next year, so the technology is ready,” Ms Beachley said.
“Embracing it early means the traffic efficiencies and safety outcomes start sooner in New South Wales, as well as supporting the development of local industry and expertise.
“The next steps for us are delivering Cit-e to the market next year, with technology that has the potential to make immediate impacts on road safety and traffic efficiency.”
Mr Walker said that preparing for the introduction of automated vehicles and future-proofing traffic networks will help Transport for NSW harness the benefits and understand the risks associated with this technology.
“From that we can formulate the right policies and infrastructure investments to get the most out of it.
“A national harmonisation initiative is examining how to ensure Australia takes a consistent approach to the adoption and rollout of C-ITS technology. Transport for NSW is a key stakeholder in this process, and once a national approach is finalised, New South Wales should be looking to lead in the adoption and deployment.
“Failure to prepare could lead to us missing the benefits of the technology through slow or poor adoption.
“But equally, the reality is that it’s a long way before there are safe, fully self-driving vehicles on our roads. Cit-e on the other hand won’t just prepare us for that future – it will support vehicles that already exist on our roads.”
