Mazda will start trials next month of a system enabling vehicles and trams to communicate with one another – the first of its kind in the world. It will begin testing its Mazda6 ASV-5 (Advanced Safety Vehicle) on public roads in Japan this year.
The car will also take part in the 20th ITS World Congress Tokyo 2013, demonstrating a futuristic safety system that will see streetcars (trams) and automobiles communicating with each other on the streets of Hiroshima.
How does it work?
Using 700MHz radio waves, the system allows cars and trams to share a variety of data, including the type and location of a vehicle, the direction they’re heading, and braking and indicator information.
What's the technology?
The ASV-5 is equipped with autonomous millimetre wave and microwave sensors as well as cameras to monitor its surroundings and keep track of pedestrians, road markings, other vehicles and, of course, trams.
The trials will demonstrate the communication system’s ability to prevent accidents. They will be conducted on the streets of Hiroshima, where trams carry 150,000 people daily. A consortium made up of Mazda, the University of Tokyo, Hiroshima Electric Railway Co. and Japan’s National Traffic Safety and Environment Laboratory developed this technology.
The Tram Revival
In many European cities, trams represent a vital public transportation link. Most countries in Central and Eastern Europe have an extensive tram infrastructure. In the UK, despite an extensive tramway closure programme, they're set to make a revival. The Edinburgh tram network is due to start carrying passengers in 2014– which is likely to be the first step towards an extensive expansion of tram networks in the UK.
There is clearly renewed interest in trams globally as a form of eco-friendly public transport, whilst developments in technology are also reducing the impact that cars have on the environment. This experiment by Mazda is the first step towards collaborative research aimed at establishing a safe transportation system that takes advantage of both rail and vehicular transport.
Mazda is a leader in the development of advanced safety technologies - for example, with its i-ACTIVSENSE technology, supporting the driver in recognising and judging hazards in a variety of driving situations. They've also developed the SKYACTIV engine– a series of technologies developed by Mazda that increase fuel efficiency and engine output.