Stellantis to Test New Connected Vehicle Safety Technologies in Michigan

Stellantis, a global automobile company with its North American headquarters in Auburn Hills, today announced it will be exploring two new connected safety notification technologies — multi-access edge computing (MEC) and Safety Cloud — giving drivers advanced notification warnings of potential hazards in their path.
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a jeep wrangler 4xe charging its battery
Stellantis will be testing two new connected vehicle safety technologies in Michigan, including one on the 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe (pictured) at U-M’s Mcity test facility. // Courtesy of Jeep

Stellantis, a global automobile company with its North American headquarters in Auburn Hills, today announced it will be exploring two new connected safety notification technologies — multi-access edge computing (MEC) and Safety Cloud — giving drivers advanced notification warnings of potential hazards in their path.

“Greater connectivity speeds, improved hardware and expanded software expertise have opened new opportunities for Stellantis with safety systems being one of the many areas we focus on,” says Mamatha Chamarthi, head of software business and product management. “Through smart and strategic partnerships, we will capitalize on next-generation systems and prove out the technology.”

Working with the 5G Automotive Association (5GAA) partnership, one test will demonstrate cellular 5G connection with the MEC platform, allowing localized systems to quickly make decisions at the point where data is collected.

One example is on-site cameras and sensors collected detailed data at an intersection that is beyond what a single vehicle can “see” with its on-board systems. The MEC system would take this data and communicate safety risks to on-site pedestrians and approaching vehicles.

Testing partners with 5GAA include Intel, Verizon, Harman, Altran, Telus, and American Tower. The tests will be conducted on a pair of 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe plug-inn hybrids at the University of Michigan’s Mcity test facility with near-term plans to expand to the Detroit are with cooperation from the state Department of Transportation.

The second system is closer to production and is an advanced warning system to indicate when emergency vehicles are in close proximity. Engineering teams collaborated with HAAS Alert to pilot a new feature that delivers alerts to the vehicle’s Uconnect system when responding emergency vehicles and/or other roadway hazards tracked by the Safety Cloud digital warning system are in close proximity.

The initial real-time test includes company-owned vehicles in metro Detroit with 2018 model-year and newer Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, and Ram vehicles equipped with Uconnect. The pilot project will measure and identify the effectiveness of delivering safety alerts to in-car screens, the impact the service has on driver safety, and opportunities for improvement.