Utilizing Connected Vehicle Guidance Systems to Nudge the Autonomous Vehicle Revolution

Published Date : 27 October 2025

Posted by : Sanya Mehra

In order to provide their customers with the finest experience, Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) have invested heavily in their vehicles over the years. This commitment is more evident than ever in the automotive sector today, as developments in artificial intelligence (AI) and enhanced connectivity are the dominant drivers of the revolution in autonomous vehicle technology. This core shift will transform our relationship with transport, not making it less practical but safer and more efficient. A technical innovation that is able to propel itself from a beginning to an endpoint is referred to as an autonomous vehicle. A technological innovation that is able to propel itself from a source to a pre-coded destination is an autonomous vehicle. It accomplishes this by utilizing a range of advanced in-car sensors and technologies, including lidar, radar, cameras, and advanced software. The functionality of this technology is segmented into levels that reflect the level of automation, so it is not one monolithic system.

Anatomy of Self-Driving Cars: The Six Levels of Automation

There are six levels of driving automation defined within the commonly used taxonomy called SAE J3016 that was developed by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) International. This classification is used worldwide by automakers and regulatory agencies to categorize automobile capabilities. Each builds upon the one before it, forming a continuum.

• Level 0: No Driving Automation- This is the default, where all the driving tasks that change in real-time are in the hands of the human driver. The car could provide warnings or short-term assistance. For instance, an emergency stop system might alert the driver to an imminent crash but not take control of the car. Even though these systems are useful, the driver remains entirely in control.
• Level 1: Assistance for Drivers- The vehicle provides steering or acceleration/deceleration assistance at this level. Lane centring aid, which maintains a car in the middle of its lane, and adaptive cruise control, which regulates the speed and gap from the front automobile, are two good examples. The human driver is always in the loop and ready to resume control.
• Level 2: Partial Driving Automation- Because the system can steer and accelerate/decelerate at the same time, Level 2 is a giant leap. Level 2 comprises vehicles like General Motors' Super Cruise and Tesla's Autopilot. While not requiring manual control, the driver must still keep an eye on the vehicle and possess the capability to apply the brakes at any given instant. The conditional driving task is still handled by the human driver.
• Level 3: Conditional Driving Automation- The vehicle is now capable of performing the whole dynamic driving task under specific conditions, and the transition from Level 2 to Level 3 is therefore a very important one. In a limited environment, such as traffic congestion, a Level 3 system, such as Audi's Traffic congestion Pilot, can intervene. The human operator has to be available for the system to resume control when commanded to do so. This is a significant distinction as well as a significant technological and regulatory challenge.
• Level 4: Autonomy of High Driving- All dynamic driving activities within a specific and limited operation design domain (ODD) can be taken care of by the car at this level. This means that the car is able to drive independently in a pre-specified area, e.g., a geo-fenced city sector or a special highway, without any human intervention. The vehicle is able to deal with unexpected situations and is able to make a low-risk manoeuvre, like being able to stop safely, in case the system crashes.
• Level 5: Full Automation of Driving- The long-term aim is to have a vehicle that can drive dynamically in every circumstance without any need for human intervention. Because a Level 5 automobile is designed to operate on its own anywhere, on any road, and under any weather conditions, it would not possess a steering wheel or pedals. This level represents the real, fully "driverless" vehicle.

Connected Vehicle Technology's Assistance

V2X (Vehicle-to-Everything) communication, often known as connected vehicle technology, is the nervous system of the transportation system. It enables communication between vehicles (V2V), infrastructure (V2I), pedestrians (V2P), and the cloud. Beyond what a single, unconnected car may provide, this network provides a number of benefits.

• Safety: Connected vehicles give drivers a 360-degree sense of surroundings, far beyond the field of view. A study by the U.S. Department of Transportation points out that V2X communication has the potential to avoid a large majority of crashes. By enabling vehicles to share key information on speed, position, and braking status, the system is able to warn drivers of impending danger ahead around a bend, behind a building, or in a blind spot, allowing extra time to react before a forecasted crash. This all-around sensing feature is one giant leap towards the vision of "zero crashes."
• Green Transportation: Connected vehicles play a crucial role in enabling sustainable modes of transportation. Through the exchange of real-time information with infrastructure, they can streamline traffic flow, prevent congestion, and eliminate unnecessary stops and starts. According to V2V communication research, with the sharing of real-time data and alerts with drivers about optimal speed, connected networks have the potential to allow fuel economies and reduced carbon emissions. Such collaborative synergy between cars and smart infrastructure is a core element of developing sustainable transport infrastructure.
• Communication between one Vehicle to another Vehicle (V2V): V2V communication roughly means that cars reliably and securely can share anonymous information among themselves. Dedicated Short-Range Communications (DSRC) technology typically employs a specific radio frequency band (5.9 GHz in America) in order to facilitate low-latency communications. Because V2V creates a "ad hoc" network that facilitates real-time data exchange among cars, it has been proven to be a vital component of safety and efficiency. Line-of-sight improves traffic flow, encourages cooperative traffic flow, and gives real-time collision warnings; even when it is not practical.

The Global Positioning System, or GPS

The Global Positioning System (GPS) is a satellite navigation system that provides accurate time and position. Although it is a relic of the past, its application and development in networked vehicles have rendered it irreplaceable. GPS receivers in vehicles use signals from a group of satellites orbiting the globe to determine their exact location. This data is of significant value for:

• Navigation and Cartography: GPS is the backbone of modern-day navigation, providing the driver with turn-by-turn directions and real-time traffic conditions.
• Automated Vehicle Use: Reliable localization and mapping for driverless cars rely on high-accuracy GPS, typically augmented with lidar and cameras. GPS informs the vehicle where it is on the map, to a few centimetres accuracy, which is required for safe driving.
• Geographical Information Systems (GIS): Gathering GPS data from a large fleet of networked vehicles, maps of traffic, road conditions, and geographical features can be assembled as complete and real-time maps for valuable feedback into urban planning as well as transportation management.
• On-Board Diagnostics (OBD): On-board diagnostics (OBD) is a car's integrated self-diagnostic and reporting system. OBD delivers real-time information on the car's performance and condition. The OBD-II standard, enforced in the United States by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), forces automobiles to monitor emission-related systems and components. The OBD port, usually found under the dashboard on the driver's side, provides repair techs with access to this information, such as Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs), in order to identify problems instantly. The development of OBD systems, as outlined in several government regulations, has concentrated on standardizing communication protocols (such as J1850 and ISO 9141-2) to allow for generic scan tools to be employed to read and clear codes, thus empowering both repair technicians and car owners.

Areas Implementing the Capabilities of Connected Vehicles

The take-up of connected car technology is not even worldwide but is focused in specific regions with favourable regulation and extensive technology infrastructure. The Asia-Pacific basin, in fact, has come up as a hub for connected car innovation and uptake. This is fuelled by a number of causes, such as the quick embracing of 5G networks, increasing safety and security standards, and the common adoption of IoT (Internet of Things) in the automotive market.

The increasing adoption of 5G in car models, growing vehicle safety, security standards, growing commercial vehicles, and the use of IoT in the automotive sector are anticipated to be key drivers boosting demand for connected cars in the Asia Pacific. A recent study estimated that 5G technology connected car volume sales in China would hit about 7 million units by 2025, representing 40% of the country's total connected vehicle rate of sales.

China: China is a market leader in the connected vehicle market. A study estimates that by 2025, around 70% of new vehicles sold in the country will be equipped with some type of connected technology. The government has also heavily invested, with more than USD 15 billion committed to smart city plans, much of which goes towards enhancing vehicle connectivity. China's drive to build 5G networks will result in connected car sales totalling almost 7 million units by 2025, representing 40% of the total connected vehicle sales rate in the nation.

India: The Indian passenger vehicle market is a fast-growing landscape. In an analysis by the Indian Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF), the market was worth US32.70 billion in 2021and is projected to reach US 54.84 billion by 2027. India is also taking big steps when it comes to electric vehicle (EV) uptake, with governmental schemes such as the FAME (Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles) scheme.

Japan: Since the 1997 launch of the Toyota Prius, there has been a significant demand for hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), and the country has a long history of promoting electric transportation. By 2035, the Japan government already has big plans to have all new automobiles sold be electric or hybrid. New electric car sales were almost 1.4 million in 2020, according to the Japan Automobile Dealers Association (JADA). HEVs comprised 97.8% of all new electric vehicles delivered during 2020, PHEVs and BEVs representing a smaller but increasing percentage.

Conclusion

As cars increasingly integrate computer hardware and software, and the world grapples with universal needs of safe, efficient, and fun travel, wireless data communication stands to revolutionize the transportation industry. With the secure and compatible interconnection of vehicles, consumer units, and devices, connected vehicle technology is not just a trend; it is the future. Thanks to the support of the international transition towards smart cities and sustainable transport, this revolution may turn out to be positive for society as a whole. More than 4.5 billion individuals around the world were actively using the Internet in April 2021, indicating the extent to which our society has become interconnected. Further, the expansion of the ICT industry has hugely contributed to GDP and R&D investment, proving the social and economic transformation this revolution in technology is with close kinship. Autonomous cars will not only revolutionize the way of transport, but also bring in a greener and brighter future as perceived through the joint investment of world-leading firms and governments.