Cohda Wireless, Cisco and NXP Work to Advance V2V Technology With Motorcycles 

Photo courtesy USDOT.

By Holly Gonzalez 



The University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI) plans to start a study on how cars, trucks, buses and motorcycles communicate through Cohda Wireless’ V2V (car to car) communications technology, adding motorcycles to the V2V mix for the first time to help other drivers know they are present.



The work is being done through the U.S. Safety Pilot Model Deployment. 



UMTRI is partnering with motorcycle makers Honda and BMW and is providing V2V connected vehicle equipment based on NXP and Cohda’s RoadLINK chipset.



Motorcycles are a particular concern for the United States Department of Transportation because more accidents from motorcycles result in injuries and fatalities than from cars. 



Cohda’s CEO Paul Gray said “With V2V communications, the vehicles must be able to communicate with each other, even in an urban setting where buildings prevent the drivers at an intersection from seeing each other,” says Cohda CEO Paul Gray. 



Debby Bezzina, a senior program manager at UMTRI, says it’s important that connected vehicle technology be expanded to vulnerable road users such as motorcyclists and pedestrians.



“We are very proud to see our products being used in this important trial to improve the safety of card rivers and motorcycle riders alike,” she says.



Cohda and Cisco’s equipment provides applications such as curve speed warnings and traffic signal violation warnings. Additionally, Cohda’s vehicle awareness device provides applications such as intersection collision warnings, forward collision warnings and emergency electronic brake lights.