Ipswich to help shape the future of driving
07 August 2020
Ipswich will play a major role in an innovative new pilot program designed to help cars communicate with each other.
Up to 500 Ipswich-based drivers are invited to take part in the Ipswich Connected Vehicle Pilot - Australia’s largest on-road trial of connected vehicle technology.
The program, which is being delivered by the Department of Transport and Main Roads, will allow connected vehicles to ‘talk’ to infrastructure and share information and safety alerts on road conditions and traffic.
Mayor Teresa Harding said it was an exciting opportunity for Ipswich drivers to be closely involved in a State Government initiative, and to shape the future of driving in Australia.
Mayor Harding congratulated the State Government and thanked the state members for choosing Ipswich.
“You have chosen well. What better place to hold a trial of advanced technology than in Ipswich,” Mayor Harding said.
“The city of Ipswich has a long history of innovation, advanced manufacturing and technology in Queensland. The Ipswich Connected Vehicle Pilot is another great example of innovation in our region.
“This is a great opportunity for Ipswich drivers to be at the forefront of innovation in connected vehicle technology and I’m sure the lucky 500 participants will be excited to road-test this cutting edge technology.
“Using technology and data through the Ipswich Connected Vehicle Pilot has the potential to unlock huge benefits for our city by reducing congestion and making our roads safer.”
Program participants will have a small display installed on their vehicle’s dashboard, along with a temporary, clip-on roof antennae that transmits and collects information between vehicles and infrastructure, and a small data box which is located under the driver’s seat of each vehicle.
To be eligible for the pilot program, drivers must be based in Ipswich and drive a minimum of three hours in the city each week.
Assistant Minister of State and Member for Ipswich, Jennifer Howard, encouraged the community to sign up and said she wants Ipswich and Queensland to lead the way on new vehicle technology.
“We’ve got a record $23 billion for road and transport upgrades right across Queensland, supporting 21,500 jobs, as we deliver an economic plan for recovery,” Ms Howard said.
“This pilot builds on our roads investment, and will tee up Ipswich and Queensland to become a hub for new vehicle technology.
“Not only do we want Queensland roads to be ready for future technologies, we want Queensland industry to be ready too and to create the jobs of the future right here.
“There is a great opportunity for up to 500 drivers to be a part of this ground-breaking research project, enabling us to find out more about the safety benefits of connected vehicles, and how we need to prepare for them to be on Queensland Roads.”
The Department of Transport and Main Roads is delivering the Ipswich Connected Vehicle Pilot (ICVP) in partnership with Motor Accident Insurance Commission, QUT's Centre for Accident Research and Road Safety – Queensland, iMOVE Australia, Telstra and the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications.
Lexus Australia will also be joining the pilot, using two connected RX450h vehicles in the pilot, allowing them to better understand the technology which will be further developed and used as a built-in feature in future models.
Visit qut.edu.au/research/icvp to find out more.