The parties will be focusing on Motorola’s ‘Motodrive’ architecture, which is designed to send large amounts of wireless data from transmitter devices mounted on light poles along the roadside to cars equipped with on-board devices. In addition, vehicles equipped with the Motodrive platform will be able to send data back to the pole-mounted devices, and even send and receive data to and from surrounding vehicles.
Earlier this year, Motorola provided Department of Transportation officials with a first look at the technology. The company demonstrated how passengers may one day be able to access real time video and high speed internet connections from a moving vehicle.
Among the many possible applications of the technology, Motorola and the Department of Transportation will be looking at how vehicles may be able to detect potholes, ice-patches or other road hazards. Similarly, it has been suggested that cars could be able to send each other automatic braking alerts for use in low visibility, or notify drivers before they enter construction or school zones.
