CAV Guide

CAV guide. What does CAV mean?

It seems that the more we innovate, the more complex the world becomes. Maybe you would not agree on this statement, but instead agree that the more complex the words and acronyms become!

This website aims to improve the understanding of the road safety practitioner community of the Connected And Autonomous (CAV) world and this section will help you go through the different definitions, terms and acronyms that are linked to both connected and automated vehicles.

So, what are ‘connected’ and ‘autonomous’ vehicles?

A broad definition of a connected vehicle can mean any vehicle capable of wireless connectivity to: the internet, LAN or the cloud (V2N); other vehicles (V2V); infrastructure or control centres (V2I); and personal devices, such as those carried by pedestrians (V2P).

In general, the term tends to apply towards connectivity to the internet or local wireless networks. When used in this context, the term relates principally to driver information services, such as navigational support, infotainment, or driver aids. It is these V2N systems that are most commonly supported by current vehicles. C-ITS enabled vehicles in the future, however, provide a much wider opportunity. They will focus much more on V2V, V2I and V2P technologies, using wireless communication to provide real-time information on road hazards, potential incidents, traffic movement, and the wider local environment.

Autonomous vehicles are the result of combining this connected technology with AI and the software and hardware necessary to take control of the vehicle away from a human and into the hands of the vehicle itself. The degree to which autonomous vehicles are adopted will depend on the pace of technology change, how the complexities of a mixed fleet are dealt with, and the pace at which the UK is able to move towards full autonomy.