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ITS America to bring vehicle/highway
technology 'roadshow' to Meridian

Who could have imagined? Photos without film. Pocket telephones. Geographic locations by satellite. And cars that communicate with each other. Is it possible that specially equipped vehicles will warn of an impending collision? Or communicate weather and road conditions to drivers in other cars?

ITS (Intelligent Transportation Systems) America and several of its members merged the present and future with the past when they introduced a new project during the 50th anniversary celebration of the Interstate last year.

VII (vehicle infrastructure integration) demonstrates the capabilities of technologies that support traffic safety and traveler information, including wireless communication and intelligent processing installed in vehicles and roadside equipment, according to ITS America.

ITD will sponsor a demonstration of the VII Roadshow March 1 in Meridian. The demonstration will unveil the latest advancements in vehicle and highway technology. The demonstration will begin with a 1 p.m. introduction and news conference at the Idaho State Police driving track near the POST Academy.

The event is free and open to anyone interested in automotive and ITS technology. An ITS technology trailer will be on site for the public to walk through and learn about new and emerging technologies. Demonstrations of two technology-equipped vehicles will take place on the track.

Demonstrations will include:

Traffic signal violation warning: An “intelligent intersection:” distributes instantaneous traffic signal information to nearby vehicles. The receiving vehicle uses this data and vehicle positions and speed to determine the risk of an unsafe passage through the intersection.

Public safety vehicle priority signal activation: A public safety vehicle issues a request to the intersection for signal priority. The traffic signal state is changed if appropriate, allowing the vehicle fast, safe passage through the intersection.

In-Vehicle Signing: Dynamic road condition data is received from roadside equipment. Audible driver advisories are presented to the driver as the vehicle approaches an active work zone, avoiding a potentially dangerous situation.

The demonstrations are a collaborative effort of Connexis, DaimlerChrysler, Econolite, TechnoCom, Raytheon and Shel Leader ITS Communications, ITD and the Idaho chapter of ITS America.

Econolite provides the “intelligent intersection” equipment (including the traffic signal controller and associated sensors and processing) used in all demonstrations, according to ITS America.

TechnoCom provides software to interface with the roadside and intelligent intersection equipment, and wireless communication interfaces to the vehicles.
Raytheon provides roadside System Engineering and Integration services and application software. Connexis and Shel Leader ITS/Communications provide overall demonstration organization and coordination.

For more information, call ITD Public Affairs at 334-8005.