The U.S. Army has commenced testing of radio technology on a convoy of vehicles on Interstate 69 in Michigan for purposes of autonomous vehicles research.
A technology called "dedicated short-range communications," enables the military vehicles to communicate with each other, as well as roadside sensors that document things like location, speed and driving conditions. The Army’s Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC) has tested it for years, but this marks the first tests on a public highway, according to The Detroit News.
"In the future, when we’re integrating more automated features in vehicles, we need to make sure they operate on public roadways," said Doug Halleaux, public affairs officer for TARDEC. "This is the first step in getting to that point."
Testing will be carried out on a 21-mile stretch of I-69 in St. Clair and Lapeer counties, which is located near TARDEC’s headquarters in Warren. The I-69 route will include six roadside sensors that will collect data and "talk" back to the vehicles. These sensors are supplied by the Michigan Department of Transportation.
Four vehicles will be deployed during the testing, with drivers still controlling the vehicles. Data collected during the trips will be used to help the vehicles sense brake lights, upcoming curves in the road, bridge heights, lane closures and other potential obstacles. While there is no timetable on deploying fully-autonomous military vehicles, TARDEC will expand its testing capabilities in hopes of perhaps using the vehicles in the future.
Paul Rogers, TARDEC’s director, said in a statement, "The safety and force protection potential with automated driving may fundamentally change the way we as an Army approach logistics and transportation."
View The Detroit News article.
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