Launched on 8 March 2021, the Autonom-e shuttle, currently being tested in Louvain-la-Neuve, is about to take an important step forward. As of 8 May, it will cross the Porte Lemaître traffic light intersection to reach Avenue Einstein. This junction is located at the intersection of Boulevard Baudouin 1er and Avenue Einstein.
This second phase represents a major technological challenge, with an autonomous vehicle taking full responsibility for crossing a traffic light junction. Thanks to a V2X communication system for Vehicle to Infrastructure, and for the first time in Wallonia, the vehicle picks up the information transmitted by the traffic lights (red or green phases) and adapts its behaviour according to them, on approach, when crossing and when exiting the intersection.
This intersection was therefore redesigned in order to install traffic lights and the necessary devices for good communication between the technological systems used. This challenge was met by the SPW Mobility teams, who coordinated all the players involved and identified the most suitable technical solutions to enable the intersection to be crossed safely.
