Tampa Hillsborough Expressway Authority (THEA) will host its first public demonstration of the technology it plans to deploy as part of the Tampa Connected Vehicle Pilot in 2018.
US authorities have decided to require automakers to supply all new cars with Internet access technology starting in 2021, and the first test of this technology will take place in Tampa Hillsborough Expressway.
The first demonstration of a car with internet access took place Monday on the downtown end of the Lee Roy Selmon Expressway.
The car is equipped with sensors that can identify anything that is around it, including other cars, pedestrians and the highway.
THEA plans to equip approximately 1,600 privately owned automobiles with connected vehicle technology to communicate with downtown traffic and pedestrian signals to enhance safety and improve traffic flow.
The project is funded through a grant from the US Department of Transportation.