Groupe Renault and the SCOOP project have teamed-up to test new autonomous vehicle technology on a fleet of 1,000 Méganes. SCOOP was launched by the EU in order to test the deployment of cooperative intelligent transportation systems. Under SCOOP, trials of future V2V and V2X connectivity solutions will be conducted in real-world driving conditions.
SCOOP is being carried out in collaboration with a range of partners in France, including the French Ministry for the Ecological and Inclusive Transition, regional authorities, infrastructure operators, universities and research centers.
The Mégane vehicles are equipped with sensors and computers that gather and analyze vehicle data such as speed, steering wheel angle, possible tire grip problems in relation to the weather, windscreen wiper operation and deployment of airbags. If a problem is detected, the car’s onboard computer automatically sends a warning message to other SCOOP-enabled vehicles and to units positioned along motorways. These units then notify emergency services if a major incident is detected.
In the pre-deployment phase, the units will be installed along 2,000km of roads in the greater Paris region, along the A4 motorway, in the Isère department in eastern France, on the Bordeaux ring road and in Brittany.
The onboard computer, which issues the warning messages, uses a high-performance wireless communication protocol that harnesses latest-generation ITS G5 technology, operating on a dedicated frequency (5.9GHz). These systems have been developed for moving objects and offer a range of up to 1,000m.
The protocol systematically verifies the authenticity of each message and operates quickly in real time to avoid any collisions. It also guarantees that data is processed and held anonymously to protect users’ privacy.
“Groupe Renault is currently in talks with several French companies to include SCOOP-enabled Méganes in their vehicle fleets. In this early phase, we are seeking fleet partners who want use the latest connected technology to test new ways of keeping their employees safer on the road. Under the SCOOP project, trialing these fleet vehicles now also means they are part of building a new ecosystem for Europe’s autonomous, connected cars of the future,” said Nadine Leclair, Groupe Renault SVP, expert fellow.
