Vehicle-to-Vehicle communication systems have the potential to save countless lives but only a handful of automakers have adopted the technology.
Volkswagen is now stepping to the forefront by announcing plans to start equipping a handful of models with pWLAN technology starting in 2019.
The system will become standard equipment and the company says it will allow their models to ‘speak’ to other Volkswagens as well as cars made by different manufacturers. The system will also have vehicle-to-infrastructure technology so cars can send and receive information from things such as traffic lights.
Volkswagen’s system has a communications radius of approximately 500 meters (1,640 feet) which makes it virtually “possible to look round the corner.”
At launch, the system will be focused on providing warnings and information about traffic risks that arise at short notice. This could include things such as accidents or congestion ahead.
Volkswagen went on to say the system is advanced enough that it can identify potential traffic hazards such as black ice detected by on-board sensors. This information would then be shared with surrounding vehicles to warn their drivers about the potential danger.
The advantages of the technology are expected to grow in the future as more vehicles and infrastructure become ‘smart.’
Photo Gallery
