LG Electronics and Seoul Metropolitan Govt Drive Forward Traffic Safety with V2X Solutions

LG Electronics, in partnership with the Seoul Metropolitan Government, has recently implemented an advanced accident prevention system in school zones in Seoul, South Korea.

The company is advancing traffic safety solutions by leveraging vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communications, enabling vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure interaction. V2X is a crucial component in the progress of autonomous driving, enabling vehicles to communicate with each other and the surrounding infrastructure, paving the way for safer and more efficient road systems.

As part of the ‘Seoul Smart ITS 2.0 Deployment Project,’ this initiative aimed to enhance traffic safety and evaluate the effectiveness of the system. LG deployed its in-house developed 5G Network-based V2X system, known as ‘Soft V2X,’ facilitating seamless communication between vehicles and surrounding infrastructure. 

Soft V2X is a cloud-based service that functions as a comprehensive data collection and analysis platform. It effectively gathers and processes diverse information, such as the pedestrians’ and vehicles’ positions, heading, and velocity. This data is then utilized to provide real-time alerts to drivers and vulnerable road users, keeping them informed about potential safety risks on the road. 

The advanced solution also facilitates communicating pertinent details regarding nearby road conditions and traffic signals by connecting with intelligent Roadside Units (RSUs) equipped with AI cameras. 

Users can conveniently access the Soft V2X application, available for installation via smartphone apps, and integrate it into various connected mobility devices, such as e-bikes, e-scooters, motorbikes, and in-vehicle infotainment or telematics systems.

The intelligent system employs technology to monitor and analyze the ever-changing dynamics of traffic environments, ensuring that drivers and vulnerable road users are well-informed and equipped to navigate potential hazards. 

In a notable demonstration conducted in school zone areas within Gangseo-gu, a suburb in western Seoul, Soft V2X showcased its capabilities with the participation of 6,700 individuals, including students and staff from two elementary schools and a kindergarten. 

Over a span of six months, the cloud-based service delivered more than 40,000 real-time notifications to pedestrians and vehicles, alerting them to potential traffic hazards.

As a result, 74.8 percent of pedestrians and 68.4 percent of drivers and vulnerable road users promptly responded by taking appropriate measures to mitigate the risks, such as adjusting their speed or altering their course of movement.

Seizing the opportunity presented by the 26th 5G Automotive Association (5GAA) Meeting held in Seoul on May 11, LG invited 70 global automakers and industry experts to partake in the demonstration and firsthand experience of Soft V2X. 

The company has plans to unveil an advanced iteration of Soft V2X during a trial event at the forthcoming 5GAA meeting in Detroit, USA, scheduled for October. This enhanced version of Soft V2X will introduce tailored services that cater to various markets’ distinct requirements and demands.

With the growing significance accorded to pedestrian safety and ongoing government-led discussions, LG foresees a substantial interest in the capabilities offered by Soft V2X. 

Je Yeong-ho, head of C&M Standard Lab at LG Electronics, recently spoke to the media about the announcement. “We will secure technology leadership in cloud-based connected mobility platforms for vehicle and pedestrian safety through continuous research and development,” he said.