Ahead of the first official day of CES 2019, Ford announced in a blog post its commitment to deploy cellular vehicle-to-everything (C-V2X) technology in all of its new vehicle models in the U.S. beginning in 2022.
The move follows on its plans to equip every model it releases in the U.S. with conventional cellular connectivity by the end of 2019.
Ford is among a handful of companies demonstrating C-V2X at CES 2019 this week using Qualcomm’s technology, namely the Qualcomm 9150 C-V2X chipset.
Audi and Ford vehicles, as well as Ducati Multistrada 1260 motorcycles, are being used to demonstrate a cooperative intersection use case, exhibiting how C-V2X can be used between vehicles to negotiate the right of way in entering a 4-way, non-signalized intersection.
The companies also are exhibiting additional Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V), Vehicle-to-Pedestrian (V2P) and Vehicle-to-Infrastructure (V2I) safety scenarios to demonstrate the maturity and potential of C-V2X technology.
The V2V use case features the Intersection Movement Assist (IMA) scenario, which is a key countermeasure to address angle collisions at intersections, while the V2P scenario shows how C-V2X can be used to protect vulnerable road users, including pedestrians and bicyclists. The V2I use case features the Work Zone Warning scenario, which is designed to provide drivers advanced warning of road construction ahead, allowing them to maneuver in a safe manner.
According to a press release, this week’s Las Vegas demonstrations follow the successful showings of C-V2X trial validations and interoperability conducted throughout 2018 in Europe, Japan, Australia, China and the United States, as well as the first live C-V2X interoperability demonstration between a motorcycle, vehicles and roadside infrastructure, which was hosted by several leading automotive and technology companies, including Ducati and Qualcomm Technologies.
Audi, Ducati and Ford are among several global automakers that have closely evaluated C-V2X technology for its reliability, high-performance capabilities and readiness through rigorous testing.
The CES 2019 show is a prime time for Qualcomm and its partners to showcase C-V2X. Other car manufacturers are solidly treading down the Dedicated Short Range Communications (DSRC) path, but Qualcomm, which also announced a C-V2X trial with the city of Las Vegas, says C-V2X is the superior technology and the only V2X alternative that provides a clear evolution path to 5G in a backward compatible manner.