The OmniAir Consortium briefed FCC engineers and Wireless and Public Safety bureau staff on efforts to enable “trusted communications” for vehicle-to-everything services in the 5.9 GHz band, said a filing posted Friday in docket 19-138. “OmniAir described how its Certification and Conformance Testing Program for V2X radio devices helps to realize these ‘trusted communications’ between the roadside infrastructure, vehicles and other transportation users to enhance public safety,” the consortium said: OmniAir discussed “specifics of the certification and testing program, including what standards are tested against, the tested attributes of V2X radio devices and the role of FCC equipment authorization.” The group represents companies and testing labs in the intelligent transportation space.

DSP Concepts and Analog Devices are collaborating on a system for automotive OEMs aimed at accelerating design cycles for in-car audio, they said Tuesday. The ADI Listn Ez-Audio system uses ADI Sharc+ digital signal processing hardware and an Audio Weaver development platform from DSP Concepts. The system enables OEMs to incorporate a fully featured and preconfigured audio layout with essential user controls and features optimized for automotive cabin applications, including stereo audio output for systems with up to 12 channels, plus equalization and control capabilities, they said.

A broad group of stakeholders urged the FCC to act as quickly as possible on cellular vehicle-to-everything waiver requests to use the 5.9 GHz band, in a meeting with staff from the FCC Office of Engineering and Technology, and Wireless and Public Safety bureaus. “The parties explained that the Joint C-V2X Waiver Request -- and similar requests from a growing number of public transportation authorities, automakers, and equipment manufacturers -- provide an opportunity to unleash investments in C-V2X and make good on the promise of intelligent transportation system safety services in the upper 5.9 GHz band,” said a filing posted Friday in docket 19-138. “In the last months of the calendar year, automakers finalize design cycles and place equipment orders for future vehicle model launches,” the filing said: “Granting C-V2X waivers in the very near future will enable automakers to plan for the deployment of C-V2X in production line vehicles.” Among those represented at the meeting were the 5G Automotive Association, automakers, the Utah and Virginia department of transportation, Panasonic of North America, Advantech and Qualcomm. Some expect the FCC to act soon on the waivers (see 2209010047).

Representatives of the Alliance for Automotive Innovation urged action on cellular vehicle-to-everything waiver requests, in meetings with FCC Office of Engineering and Technology staff and an aide to Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel. The group cited new estimates from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration “that 9,560 people died in motor vehicle traffic crashes during the first quarter of 2022, which would represent a seven percent increase as compared to the same time period during 2021 and represent the highest number of first quarter traffic fatalities since 2002,” said a filing posted Friday in docket 19-138. Approving the waivers and resolving 5.9 GHz interference concerns would “expedite the availability of V2X to the driving public, increasing roadway safety,” the alliance said.

Renesas Electronics completed the purchase of India-based 4D imaging radar technology company Steradian Semiconductors, now a wholly owned subsidiary, it said Monday. Steradian’s radar offerings enable accurate object recognition and power efficiency in a small chip, they said. The combination of Renesas’ advanced driver-assistance system SoCs, power management ICs, timing products and software for object recognition with Steradian's radar tech will simplify the design of automotive radar systems and accelerate product development, they said. Terms weren't given.

ITS America updated FCC staff, mostly from the Office of Engineering and Technology, on its stance on cellular vehicle-to-everything in the 5.9 GHz band, in meetings. “The participants discussed the need for expeditious grant of waiver requests to deploy V2X systems pending adoption of a Second Report and Order in this proceeding; the necessity of continued coordination between the FCC, other government agencies, and the transportation industry; as well as a potential reimbursement mechanism for incumbent licensees required to transition their operations,” said a filing Thursday in docket 19-138: The group “also urged the FCC to adopt service rules in its Second Report and Order that would protect V2X services from interference.” Industry observers expect the FCC to act soon on C-V2X waiver requests (see 2209010047).

More than 10 million vehicles will be capable of short-range vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communications by 2025, reported ABI Research Wednesday. The V2X movement is “full steam ahead” in China, nearing an “inflection point” in Europe and is “closer to getting the green light” in the U.S., it said. Europe last year was the region with the largest fleet of short-range V2X communication-enabled cars but all from a single automaker, Volkswagen, said ABI: "Given the lack of commitment of more automakers so far, by 2023, China alone will overtake Europe. The inauspicious scenario in Europe is leading industry players to place more emphasis on cellular network tests for the time being. However, there are still fundamental business model challenges to be overcome with this route.”

DTS launched a series of global events covering the in-cabin automotive space with Sense Media Group, producer of AutoSens conferences. The launch event is InCabin Brussels, taking place Thursday, following the AutoSens conference, they said Monday. InCabin Brussels will feature companies in the in-cabin space, including DTS, Bosch, Euro NCAP, Tobii, LG, Optalert, Sony, Omnivision, indie semiconductor and STMicroelectronics, the companies said Monday. Also participating are automakers implementing in-cabin technologies. “Automotive has conquered the vehicle exterior, but the next revolution is all about solving the vehicle interior, especially its role as a third space,” said Adi Capata, DTS senior vice president-engineering, a keynote speaker for the event. Sensing technology is important for the in-cabin future, with implications for consumers, OEMs and technology providers, Capata said, citing applications including vehicle safety, wellness and immersive entertainment. The advisory board for InCabin includes experts from Volvo, General Motors, Bosch, Aptiv, Veoneer, Arriver, Warner Music Group, Xperi, Seeing Machines, Smart Eye, Cipia, Tobii, Nvidia, Omnivision and LG. The Human Factors, Perception and Cognition Lab at Lafayette College, Easton, Pennsylvania, is also on the board.

ADT partnered with Uber on a mobile safety monitoring service, the companies announced Tuesday. Uber users in the U.S. can get live help via phone or text from ADT professional monitoring agents using the Safe by ADT platform that’s integrated into the Uber app, they said. Riders can access 24/7 ADT monitoring while on a trip by tapping the Safety Toolkit in the Uber app to receive reassurance if they feel uncomfortable during their ride or to request emergency response, they said. Once a call or text exchange is initiated, an ADT agent monitors an ongoing trip, stays in contact throughout the trip, and calls 911 on the user’s behalf with trip details, such as the vehicle’s make, model, license plate number and GPS location, they said. No fee or subscription is required to use the Safety Toolkit, an ADT spokesperson emailed.

The National Transportation Safety Board supported a December waiver request by proponents of cellular-vehicle-to-everything use of the 5.9 GHz band asking to be able to deploy as quickly as possible (see 2112140070). “The NTSB has a long history of advocating for collision avoidance technology that relies on radio spectrum made available by the FCC” and has issued eight recommendations since 1995 to that effect, said a filing posted Monday in docket 19-138. Protect the spectrum from interference, including from Wi-Fi, NTSB advised. Granting a waiver “is necessary to allow auto manufacturers, infrastructure owner-operators, and others to move forward with the development of connected vehicle technology. Implementing this technology now is a critical step toward reducing the number of crashes and fatalities on our roadways.”