Written by: Ashley Kronsell Oller
The EcoCAR EV Challenge provides the next generation of engineers with the opportunity to design, test, and refine cutting-edge vehicle technologies. A key focus area of this current series is the development and evaluation of Connected and Automated Vehicle (CAV) features, which are advanced systems designed to make driving safer and more efficient.
From lane-centering and adaptive cruise control to navigation through complex intersections, EcoCAR teams are tasked with integrating and optimizing these systems in their Cadillac LYRIQs. Through hands-on testing and rigorous evaluation, students gain valuable real-world experience, working both on vehicle dynamometers at the California Air Resources Board and on-track at the General Motors Proving Grounds. These efforts ensure that each feature performs reliably in controlled lab environments as well as in dynamic, real-world conditions.
To support this level of precision, EcoCAR leverages cutting-edge tools developed by Argonne National Laboratory, including the Longitudinal Automated Replay System (LARS). LARS is a vehicle-integrated hardware platform with a custom software stack that enables the automated execution of highly accurate speed traces, which are essential for validating prototype features such as Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) and advanced driver-assistance technologies. By creating consistent, repeatable scenarios, LARS allows teams to thoroughly test and refine their CAV systems.
Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) testing is powered by FlexCorridor, another Argonne innovation. FlexCorridor uses flexible Road Side Units (RSUs) to generate Signal Phase and Timing (SPaT) messages and intersection map (MAP) data on demand, adapting in real time to the state of the Vehicle Under Test (VUT). This testing event measures how well vehicles can receive and interpret critical data, such as intersection layouts and signal timing, then autonomously navigate through intersections with maximum safety and efficiency. This dynamic setup allows teams to test connected vehicle technologies in a wide variety of intersection scenarios without needing permanent physical infrastructure.
These innovations not only increase the competition’s technical rigor but also provide students with hands-on experience developing the systems and tools that will define the future of connected and automated mobility.
To learn more about have CAVs are evaluated in EcoCAR, watch the latest video below:
