The Ann Arbor Connected Vehicle Test Environment (AACVTE) aims to be the largest operational, real-world deployment of connected vehicles and infrastructure in the world.  The University of Michigan of Michigan Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI) and its partners will build upon an existing model deployment to become the standard for a national implementation. 

The test bed is federally funded, (Federal Highway) state funded (Michigan Economic Development Corporation.) as well as funded by academia, (Michigan Mobility Transformation Center (MTC) the City of Ann Arbor and additional partners*. 

This contract will expand the current connected vehicle test environment, known as Connected Vehicle Safety Pilot Model Deployment (SPMD) and will increase the number of vehicles, roadside equipment and will facilitate additional applications (pedestrians, etc). 

The larger deployment will include:
45 street locations
12 freeway sites
27 square miles (the City of Ann Arbor)
Up to 5,000 equipped vehicles   

In 2012 UMTRI and the USDOT established a test environment (SPMD) located in the northeast quadrant of the city of Ann Arbor and equipped it with the latest connected vehicle and connected infrastructure technology including: 73 lane miles, 25 roadside equipment and roughly 2,800 vehicle (including cars, trucks, etc.)

**Cohda Wireless; Denso; HNTB; MixonHill; Savari; Texas A&M Transportation Institute; WSP/Parsons Brinckerhoff

Fast Facts:

What are the goals of the Ann Arbor Connected Vehicle Test Environment?

• UMTRI and its partners will operate, maintain and upgrade this unique connected vehicle test environment for a period of three years (20105-2018).
• The AACVTE will transition from research mode to an operational deployment
• UMTRI and its partners aim to transition from a government-funded project to one that is self-sustaining.

How many vehicles will be in the AACVTE

UMTRI plans to deploy 1,500 vehicles a year, over three years.  The goal is to have 5,000 vehicles on the road by 2018.

Please describe the technology that is being installed.

The majority of vehicles will be equipped with a vehicle awareness device (VAD).  Several hundred vehicles will be equipped with an after-market safety devices (ASD).   VAD’s transmit a basic safety message (BSM) at the rate of 10 times a second.  ASD’s transmit and receive a BSM.

What is a Basic Safety Message (BSM)?

The VAD and ASD continuously transmits speed and position data from the participating vehicle to other, similarly equipped vehicles, as well as into the surrounding environment where this information can be recognized by research equipment located along the roadside and at intersections. The information transmission in this study occurs during the participant’s usual everyday driving.

What does installation include?

The VAD is a small box, hidden out of sight in the vehicle’s trunk or rear area, with two small antennas – one on or near the rear windshield and another either on the trunk lid or the vehicle’s roof.  The device continuously transmits speed and position data from the participating vehicle to other, similarly equipped vehicles, as well as into the surrounding environment where this information can be recognized by research equipment located along the roadside and at intersections. The information transmission in this study occurs during the participant’s usual everyday driving.

How is this message communicated?

The BSM is communicated wirelessly on a dedicated channel set aside for this purpose by the FCC.  The frequency, 5.9 Ghz was set aside in 1999 to support intelligent transportation systems.   

Are drivers being tracked or monitored in any way?

No. While the data broadcast by the vehicles does include a unique identifier, the data gathered is confidential. Data is collected for research purposes only.

How many roadside devices will be deployed?

The larger deployment will include:
45 street locations
12 freeway sites