Trends in the auto industry seem to be all over the place – interconnectivity, battery-electric vehicles (BEVs), and autonomous self-driving cars seem to be the top three. We’ve seen examples of all of these increase in the last few years. Consumers being able to keep connected to their car via their smartphone or smart speaker (Amazon Alexa, Google Home) have been some of the most prevalent, with BEVs slowly becoming the norm in automotive mode lineups. Self-driving cars are still something we’re working on, and after the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) slapped Waymo back into reality, it doesn’t seem like the U.S. is going to give the greenlight any time soon. Overseas, however, there are several countries whose governments have considered the installation and commercial use of autonomous automobiles. Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) subsidiary Mitsubishi Electric seeks to embrace it through a new partnership with Commsignia Ltd.

Who is Commsignia Ltd.? Founded in 2012, Commsignia has been developing vehicle-to-everything (V2X) solutions that could become the very basis of other huge tech ventures we’ve seen before. The Hyundai Motor Group “Smart City”, Mitsubishi Electric changing city infrastructure to communicate with vehicles, and even the SUSTIE building MMC created after the successful use of a V2X charger from Hitachi Europe. Commsignia also develops OBU and RSU systems, as well as OEM integrated software, that can support functions related to V2X Connectivity, Security, and Applications to usher in the next generation of autonomous car technology.

So, how well combining Commsignia's V2X solution with Mitsubishi Electric's High-Definition Locator (HDL) information benefit? By using a V2X platform the safety of autonomous-driving can be increased, and advanced-driver-assistance systems (ADAS) will become smarter. In other countries, Commsignia and Mitsubishi Electric are capitalizing on the possibility of autonomous technology through the implementation of V2X systems in automobiles. Mitsubishi Electric is already mass-producing HDL systems that can accurately determine vehicle locations based on data from roads, lanes, and other physical conditions surrounding moving vehicles. Using V2X tech that can allow onboard vehicle devices to talk to one another is the next step in autonomous car technology.

We’ve asked consumers why the stigma about self-driving cars in the past, aside from not wanting to give up control, the common issue is, “I trust myself, but not everyone else on the road.” In other words, just because a few people have a self-driving car doesn’t mean it’s a perfect situation, especially when considering disrespectful drivers and road rage. The only way having autonomous vehicles in mass would work is if everyone had a self-driving car. Then, all of hose autonomous cars could form a network and communicate with each other, share data, and avoid collisions and other auto incidents. That’s the goal Mitsubishi Electric and Commsignia are aiming for – using V2X technology so the onboard sensors of one vehicle (LiDAR, cameras, etc) can accurately detect driving conditions in its surroundings and improve the accuracy of driver-attention warnings of potential collisions. Stellantis just announced a V2X endeavor very similar to this.

Is it a coincidence or the new trend? Join the discussion on NowCar social media.

Photo Source/Copyright: Mitsubishi Electric