NXP and Columbus partner for smart mobility

NXP Semiconductors is moving into the next phase in its smart city collaboration with the US city of Columbus, Ohio, the winner of the 2016 US Department of Transportation’s $40 million Smart City Challenge. NXP will contribute key technologies for smart and safe mobility to the newly opened Smart Columbus Experience Centre.

The centre allows visitors to see how new mobility options, such as connected, autonomous, shared and electric vehicles, will help make Columbus a more connected community. Hands-on educational experiences and technology demonstrations aim to show visitors how technology and innovation in transportation can grow the local economy and create ladders of opportunity for central Ohio residents.

NXP and Cohda Wireless will deploy a connected vehicle environment through the centre’s electric vehicle test drive area so drivers can experience this future technology in person. NXP has also donated an electric motorcycle with an accompanying drone that alerts the driver to dangers or delays ahead.

As part of its commitment to Columbus, NXP will continue to contribute key mobility technologies to the Smart Columbus Experience Centre, including:

• NXP’s RoadLINK V2X technology allows cars to communicate with each other as well as with intelligent traffic infrastructures. The IEEE802.11p dedicated short range communications (DSRC) standard allows cars to securely connect to each other as well as to infrastructure. DSRC technology is the only ADAS sensor that can look around the corner and offers lowest latency in the communication;
• Smart card IC technology that enhances transportation for all citizens by supporting secure and convenient public transportation ticketing and payment systems, including contactless transit fare solutions;
• Highly secure NXP radio frequency identification (RFID) solutions designed to promote public safety and convenience. Smart city applications for this NXP technology include vehicle window stickers that enhance driver convenience and reduce municipal costs by eliminating the need for stop-and-pay stations in public parking spaces.

Visitors will soon experience first-hand how driving electric is an exciting, convenient, sustainable and affordable way to get around Columbus. A fleet of six electric vehicles will be on display and available for test drives through a connected vehicle environment provided by NXP and Cohda Wireless.

“Smart mobility starts with education and a desire to shape a new future. The new Smart Columbus Experience Centre brings technology and education together and is unique to the smart mobility projects we are implementing around the world,” said Peter Esser, head of US Government Affairs, NXP.

“The Smart Columbus Experience Centre was made possible through partnerships with industry leaders such as NXP and Codha wireless,” said Jordan Davis, director, smart cities for The Columbus Partnership. “The Experience Centre is an exciting community space where we will together demonstrate how cities can use technology to improve people’s lives.”

If you like this, you might be interested in the following:

Getting hands-on with Smart Columbus
The US city has opened an experience centre to show how new mobility options can transform lives and the city
Read more

Columbus unveils smart city operating system
The US city claims it is a "first-of-a-kind" smart city data management platform that will help it understand and analyse data to tackle complex urban challenges
Read more

Smart intersection aims to increase safety
US city of Columbus will be the beneficiary of one of the first real-world implementations of the technology

Read more