MIT calls car-to-car communication one of 10 'Breakthrough Technologies for 2015'

CadillacV2V12.jpg

General Motors' V2V (vehicle to vehicle) communication technology has the potential to mitigate many traffic collisions by sending and receiving basic safety information such as location, speed and direction of travel, between vehicles that are approaching each other. It will provide useful warnings to drivers, like this "Hard Braking Ahead" warning. Cadillac will introduce V2V technology on the 2017 Cadillac CTS. (Photo by Rob Widdis for Cadillac)

(Rob Widdis)

DETROIT, MI - The Massachusetts Institute of Technology's global independent media organization has included car-to-car communication among 10 "Breakthrough Technologies for 2015," and given General Motors a nod in the process.

The MIT Technology Review cited GM's work at its Warren research center in developing the technology, in addition to its commitment to car-to-car tech in a forthcoming, production-model 2017 Cadillac CTS.

MIT Technology Review describes car-to-car communication, also known in the auto world as V2V (vehicle-to-vehicle) technology, as something that could potentially save thousands of lives.

"More than five million crashes occur on U.S. roads alone every year, and more than 30,000 of those are fatal," MIT Technology Review says. "The prospect of preventing many such accidents will provide significant impetus for networking technology."

The kind of technology demonstrated to MIT Technology Review came via a Cadillac DTS. The car was able to alert the driver, and prompt him to slam on the brakes, as an oncoming vehicle that was hidden behind a hedge was headed toward him.

"Already many cars have instruments that use radar or ultrasound to detect obstacles or vehicles," MIT's Technology Review says. "But the range of these sensors is limited to a few car lengths, and they cannot see past the nearest obstruction."

GM began demonstrating its V2V technology about a decade ago. It essentially involves radio broadcasting radio technology, with the car broadcasting out 10 times a second.

V2V technology could help mitigate car crashes and help bring down congestion by communicating basic information on the cars' locations, speeds and travel directions.

MIT Technology Review's other nine Technology Breakthroughs for 2015 included the Magic Leap start-up app, Nano-Architecture, Project Loon, Liquid Biopsy, Megascale Desalination, Apple Pay, Brain Organoids, Supercharged Photosynthesis and the Internet of DNA.

Separately, Metro Detroit highways are on their way to becoming a testing ground for vehicle-to-infrastructure technology, according to the Michigan Department of Transportation.

GM, Ford Motor Co. and the University of Michigan are working with MDOT to deploy vehicle-to-infrastructure communication technology-enabled corridors on more than 120 miles of road in Metro Detroit.

The primary stretch being equipped is on Interstates 96 and 696 from US-23 in Brighton to Interstate 94 in St. Clair Shores. The area was selected to be the region's first "connected corridor" because it has some of the heaviest traffic volumes, according to an announcement by MDOT in September. Portions of I-94, US-23 and I-75 are expected to follow.

David Muller is the automotive and business reporter for MLive Media Group in Detroit. Email him at dmuller@mlive.com or follow him on Twitter

If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.