Image: Driverless robotic vehicles. Image: Australian Centre for Robotics, University of Sydney.
Two self-driving robotic vehicles are currently cruising through a Sydney neighborhood in an Australian-first intelligent transport trial aimed at making our roads safer.
The robotic driverless vehicles, designed by researchers at the University of Sydney’s Australian Centre for Robotics, communicate directly with “talking” traffic lights as they navigate the streets of Chippendale in this live traffic trial. The traffic lights are powered by Transport for NSW’s home-grown Sydney Coordinated Adaptive Traffic System (SCATS).
“It’s great to have something here in Sydney that we can test under Australian conditions,” Dr. Stewart Worrall, senior researcher in the Australian Centre for Robotics, said in a statement. “This technology isn’t just about autonomy; it’s also about developing advanced driver assistance systems that can help drivers make better, safer decisions on the road.”
How Does the Technology Work?
At the core of the trial is cutting-edge vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) technology that aims to feed real-time data about pedestrians, cyclists, motorists, and traffic signal changes to both driverless and manually operated vehicles.
When the vehicle approaches an intersection, the Cit-e software, currently under development, sends information to a receiver in the vehicle. The data includes “the intersection’s layout, right of way, the timing of signal changes, and any warnings of imminent hazards, including vulnerable road users.”
The receiver uses this information along with the vehicle’s position, direction, and speed to calculate whether it is likely to commit a red-light violation or endanger other road users.
According to Transport for NSW and the Australian Centre for Robotics, this technology could improve road safety even before the arrival of driverless vehicles in the future. The Cit-e software is expected to be launched in 2025, and it will be possible to retrofit it to standard vehicles.
Smart Car Innovation
“As cars get smarter, there’s the opportunity to make them safer and save lives on NSW roads,” said Minister for Roads, John Graham.
“This innovative technology will put NSW at the forefront of the national conversation on smart car innovation and road safety. This vehicle-to-infrastructure technology can make a difference now, years before driverless vehicles become the norm because it can be retrofitted to existing intersections and built into the cars of today,” said Graham.
Secretary of Transport for NSW, Josh Murray, emphasised that the technology will “future-proof our traffic network and prepare our roads for an automated driving future.”
“These new trials help us understand the challenges and demonstrate the feasibility of introducing emerging technology so we’re able to channel it in our day-to-day running of the network,” added Murray.
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