The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) has selected ITS company Yunex Traffic as one of two vendors to help expand the US state’s connected vehicle technology.
During the initial one-year contract, Yunex will assist the department in deploying, configuring and maintaining 150 of the company’s new RSU2X roadside units as part of the CDOT Connected Vehicle (CV) Program’s strategic expansion.
CDOT’s federal project reportedly represents one of the largest single deployments of RSU2X roadside units to date.
“At Yunex, we’re expanding our collaborations all over North America, and we’re thrilled to partner with such an innovative agency,” said Rodney Mathis, president and managing director for Yunex Traffic USA.
“As the largest roadside unit manufacturer in the world, it’s exciting to work with the Colorado Department of Transportation on one of the largest CV technology deployments to date in the USA.”
CDOT deployed its first CV technology in 2016 and the addition of the Yunex roadside units will grow that footprint.
CDOT was awarded a federal BUILD grant to install roadside units along more than 400 miles of interstate corridors, and this deployment will allow the agency to collect and transmit safety and traveller messages to connected vehicles statewide.
The RSU2X will integrate with CDOT’s internally developed connected vehicle ecosystem, which, in turn, was developed from the US Department of Transportation, Intelligent Transportation System’s operational data environment.
CDOT’s CV data ecosystem is integrated with other critical tools in CDOT operations, ensuring interoperability and access of Colorado’s safety critical CV data.
According to Yunex, Colorado was one of the first US states to deploy cellular-to-everything technology (C-V2X) data communication between vehicles and infrastructure.
While the RSU2X is capable of both dedicated short range communications and cellular data communications, the Yunex-supplied roadside units will operate using Colorado’s C-V2X infrastructure.
Yunex Traffic will also provide staff training and configuration and installation assistance to align with CDOT’s CV security protocols.
The project work also includes testing and maintenance, and the RSU2Xs will come with software capable of signal prioritisation for a range of vehicles including buses, snowplows, fire trucks and ambulances.
After the initial one-year term, the agreement may be extended for up to four more years with purchase of additional roadside units.
The RSU2X is said to be compatible with many automakers’ OEM on-board units beginning with 2023 models.
