NEC Corporation of America (NEC) and the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI) announced this week that they have created a roadway warning system that relies on private 5G and artificial intelligence (AI) to potentially identify dangerous traffic conditions and hazards…

He said that the system can identify and then alert drivers to hazardous situations in driver and pedestrian blind spots. “This solution can reduce crashes and fatalities, as well as support automated driving from roadside infrastructure,” he continued.

The pair conducted tests from January to March 2023 on Virginia Smart Roads, a closed test-bed research facility managed by VTTI and the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) located in Blacksburg, Virginia. Cameras and private 5G base stations were installed on signal poles and transmitted high-definition traffic images via private 5G using the n78 frequency band (CBRS), enabling real time analysis of the images using AI.