Starting off in Las Vegas, Nevada, Traffic Light Information, an Audi connect PRIME feature will let drivers know when the traffic lights will change.
The features is available on select 2017 Audi A4, Q7 & allroad models, and enables the car to communicate with the infrastructure in select cities and metropolitan areas across the U.S. The car receives real-time signal information from the advanced traffic management system that monitors traffic lights via the on-board 4G LTE data connection.
When approaching a connected traffic light, Traffic Light Information displays the time remaining until the signal changes to green in the driver instrument cluster, as well as the head-up-display (if equipped). Providing the driver with this additional information helps reduce stress and allows the driver to relax knowing approximately how much time remains before the changing of the light.
This “time-to-green” feature will be the first feature to leverage the Audi Traffic Light Information service. In the future, it may be possible to integrate information from these advanced traffic management systems into vehicle start/stop features, navigation systems to optimize routing, and predictive services such as presenting the driver with a speed recommendation designed to maximize the number of green lights one can make in sequence. All of these services would be designed to either improve efficiency, drive time or traffic management.
Traffic Light Information is launched this December in the U.S. beginning with Las Vegas, Nevada and will be available to customers with select Audi A4, Q7 and A4 allroad models (manufactured after June 1, 2016) equipped with an active Audi connect PRIME subscription. Continued expansion to additional cities across the U.S. is ongoing as Audi works with municipalities to prepare their infrastructure for V2I connectivity. Audi has partnered with Traffic Technology Services (TTS) to facilitate the transfer of traffic light data to Audi vehicles.
Audi claims it’s contribution to making in the connected infrastructure will enrich the experience for Audi owners first, then ultimately for all drivers as other manufacturers begin to integrate this technology into their vehicles. In the future smart cities will be able to use this technology to better understand traffic patterns and could adapt traffic signal behavior to reduce congestion and improve traffic flow.
Nevada issued autonomous vehicle licenses for Audi to drive from California to Las Vegas three years ago, and now Las Vegas is the first city to go live with V2I integration. The integration of this technology further demonstrates that Las Vegas is the model for smart cities of the future.
Traffic Light Information is the latest in a line of pioneering connected car innovations by Audi. In 2010, Audi was the first manufacturer to offer a mobile connectivity enabled vehicle. Since then, Audi connect® has continued to expand on its industry-leading services and capabilities. In 2014, Audi was the first manufacturer to offer 4G LTE connectivity in the Audi A3 model line. Strategic partnerships and proprietary scalable infotainment architecture has allowed Audi to continuously offer our customers the latest in mobile connectivity solutions.