The State of the Current Road Infrastructure

 
The government designed roads, traffic lights and signs when it was inconceivable to think that there would be any self-driving vehicles on the road. While drivers are well-versed in traffic signals and signs alerting them to when they should or should not drive their vehicle, AVs need different alerts in the form of radio or cellular network signals. Now, various self-driving companies are exploring the idea of working with smart analytic companies to advance the technology of both the vehicles and the infrastructure. In fact, many industry leaders also believe smart roads are needed for the future of AVs.

What Smart Infrastructure Means for the Roadways
While companies like Intellistreets (www.IlluminatingConcepts.com) have been around for a decade, in Miami-Dade County (Fla.), the autonomous vehicle research team at Ford is exploring how emerging technology from smart infrastructure can provide additional information to the AV before it even arrives at an intersection. While many cities have different types of traffic signals - horizontal, vertical, posted in the corner of the intersection as opposed to in the middle of the intersection - AI algorithms unite smart infrastructure with AVs, which enable the launch of these vehicles in new locations much faster. In Las Vegas, Motional's driverless vehicles are partnering with Derq to test how driverless technology reacts when given an even broader perspective than it already has. The collaboration has created a "bird's-eye view" for the AVs at some of the most highly-trafficked intersections in the city.
While some self-driving companies currently don't rely on smart infrastructure, the AV industry is realizing that it's an important piece of the puzzle when it comes to accelerating the ability to deploy more AV routes in different cities and countries. In addition, transportation systems can't achieve safety without smart infrastructure. The need for innovative technology on the roads is growing. The U.S. Secretary of Transportation, Pete Buttigieg, has even stressed on the importance of building better infrastructure as well as the technology for self-driving cars.
The incorporation of AI and video analytics in smart roads will further the development of the technology of driverless vehicles. These innovations will also revolutionize the safety, comfort and performance of not only the autonomous vehicles, but also the overall transportation ecosystem