Toyota and its luxury brand Lexus are planning to launch technology to connect vehicles and infrastructure in the US in 2021.
The two companies plan to deploy dedicated short-range communications (DSRC) systems on vehicles sold in the US commencing in 2021.
Toyota and Lexus plan to implement the systems across most of their lineup by the mid-2020s.
The move will deliver enhanced safety benefits to drivers, including increased road safety and efficiency, with better advances in connected- and automated driving systems.
Toyota stated that DSRC transmissions allow in vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) and vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) communications, which is collectively known as V2X.
The technology has been tested via government and industry collaborations and has already deployed in some areas in the US.
The technology helps in broadcasting anonymized vehicle information several times per second, including location, speed and acceleration.
Other DSRC-enabled vehicles and devices can use the data to help in drivers in avoiding collisions.
Toyota said communication can also be enabled in providing drivers with helpful information in real-time such as potential hazards, or slow or stopped vehicles ahead or signals, signs and road conditions that may be difficult to see.
Toyota Motor North America (TMNA) CEO Jim Lentz said: “By allowing vehicles' intelligent systems to collaborate more broadly and effectively through DSRC technology, we can help drivers realize a future with zero fatalities from crashes, better traffic flow and less congestion.”
At present, 92% of all Toyota and Lexus vehicles sold in the US have Toyota Safety Sense or Lexus Safety System + with AEB standard.
DSRC will communicate using seven channels of the 5.9 GHz spectrum band that has been allocated for Intelligent Transportation Systems.
Toyota said as the technology does not require cellular or data network, vehicles equipped with DSRC do not incur any cellular network carrier charges.
DSRC, which is based on auto industry standards, allows Toyota vehicles to communicate with other automakers’ vehicles.
