Connected cars could soon ‘talk’ to each other

Verizon Business has created and successfully showcased a system where cars 'talk' to each other. Not just idle backyard chatter, but meaningful conversations between themselves and/or the road furniture, for safety and convenience. Say what?

Welcome to vehicle-to-everything communication, people. Also more handily known as V2X, cars can use their sensors to pick up changes in the weather, the presence of other road users, or even unexpected roadworks, and then relay the info to other vehicles.

This vehicular heads-up is being brought to life by Verizon Business's Edge Transportation Exchange platform in the US – in conjunction with (deep breath) the 5G Automotive Association (5GAA), transport departments in Arizona and Delaware, the techy minds at VW Group of America, and some rather clever folk at Rutgers University’s Center for Advanced Infrastructure and Transportation. Lots of chefs in the kitchen for this one.

The fancy V2X platform also enables cars to transmit signals to gantries and even pedestrians in near enough real time. VW Group America’s chief engineer of Connected Infotainment Frank Weith reckons: “Safety alerts and frictionless payments are two great examples enabled by mobile-network V2X.”

Ah yes, the other benefit: VW wants to make it so that you breeze through toll booths without faffing with cards or change. Meanwhile, the Rutgers team is focused on warnings for pedestrians and drivers at tricky intersections, like school crossings or congested junctions.

“Cars are evolving from mechanical vehicles to software-defined mobile devices with the ability to leverage incredible connected technology," says Shamik Basu, VP of Strategic Connectivity & IoT, Verizon Business. "Edge Transportation Exchange leverages that technology to give automakers, governments, and tech developers a robust platform for building out the cellular-connected future of transportation - with visibility and reliability for all road users top of mind.”

We're not sure how to feel about the car listening, learning, but not having to fish around for a debit card on the M6 toll sounds lovely. Any other uses you can think of?