Motorola Signs Contract With Michigan to Explore the ’Wireless Super Highway’

11/8/2005, Motorola, Inc. (NYSE: MOT) signed its first contract with The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) and announced the successful deployment and trial of MOTODRIVE -- a wireless network architecture that is aimed at supporting the U.S. government’s Vehicle Infrastructure Integration (VII) initiative.

Motorola and the State of Michigan are exploring how to establish a roadside network that can reduce traffic accidents and road congestion by wirelessly connecting vehicles to the roadside and to other vehicles.

Motorola’s MOTODRIVE architecture assembles components and technologies that quickly, securely, and reliably send large amounts of wireless data from transmitter devices, which are mounted on light poles along the roadside, to cars equipped with on-board devices. The cars are also able to send data to the pole-mounted devices, and can even send and receive data to and from surrounding vehicles. MOTODRIVE test beds are available today and allow Vehicle Infrastructure Integration stakeholders to gain real-world, on-the-road experience.

MDOT is helping fund the deployment of the Motorola system in Southfield as part of the State of Michigan’s ongoing investment in real-world testing of practical Vehicle Infrastructure Integration applications. Motorola’s test bed network is fully functional and MDOT began evaluating communications between select test vehicles, traffic signals and other traffic management devices last week. By adding the Vehicle Infrastructure Integration components at an additional, incremental cost, MDOT is supporting the research and development efforts of private sector technology firms as well as Original Equipment Manufacturers. Michigan’s commitment to Vehicle Infrastructure Integration is focused on supporting advanced automotive manufacturing efforts, making travel safer and relieving congestion.

Motorola, a leader in delivering Seamless Mobility technologies that can support Michigan’s Vehicle Infrastructure Integration initiative, has been active in moving technology concepts from engineering drawing board to real-road test conditions. In addition to the State of Michigan, Motorola has been actively working with other state transportation departments, selected automotive customers and academic research institutions.

A Vision For The Future

Earlier this year during an American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials meeting held in the Detroit area, Motorola provided Department of Transportation officials with their first look at Motorola’s MOTODRIVE architecture. During live demonstrations Motorola showed how passengers may one-day be able to access real time video and high speed internet connections from a moving vehicle.

Motorola also will be conducting live, on-the-road demonstrations of its MOTODRIVE architecture during the Innovative Mobility Showcase at The Intelligent Transportation Society of America (ITS America) World Congress November 6-10, 2005 in San Francisco, Calif.

During ITS World Congress, show attendees will have an opportunity to experience Motorola’s vision of the wireless roadways of the future. Some of the applications that Motorola will demonstrate during the event include:

-- How vehicles may one day be able to detect potholes, ice-patches or other road hazards. The location and severity of the hazard is wirelessly transmitted to nearby vehicles, so that other drivers’ can avoid the hazard. This information will also be transmitted to the local Department of Transportation so appropriate repair and response crews can be deployed.

-- Motorola also will show how its panic brake alert application might operate in foggy or low visibility conditions. If a driver suddenly steps on the brakes, trailing vehicles receive an in vehicle alert recommending that they brake immediately.

-- Other demonstrations include alerts that help drivers avoid close proximity and zone alerts that notify drivers before they enter construction or school zones.

MOTODRIVE was developed through Motorola Labs, which is Motorola’s internal innovation laboratory and key integrator for technologies and solutions that support Motorola’s vision of Seamless Mobility.

About Motorola

Motorola is a Fortune 100 global communications leader that provides seamless mobility products and solutions across broadband, embedded systems and wireless networks. In your home, auto, workplace, and all spaces in between, seamless mobility means you can reach the people, things and information you need, anywhere, anytime. Seamless mobility harnesses the power of technology convergence and enables smarter, faster, cost-effective and flexible communication. Motorola had sales of US $31.3 billion in 2004.
For more information: http://www.motorola.com.

Contact Information

Sue Frederick

Motorola, Inc.

Contact via E-mail