V2P

V2P (Vehicle-to-Pedestrian) communication technology is a core safety architecture within the intelligent connected vehicle and Internet of Vehicles (IoV) ecosystem, dedicated to Vulnerable Road User (VRU) protection. Through low-latency wireless direct communication between on-board vehicle units and smart devices carried by pedestrians (such as smartphones, smartwatches, dedicated C-V2X tags, or wearable IoT gadgets), V2P delivers non-line-of-sight precise positioning and bi-directional collision warnings during critical scenarios—such as when a driver's line of sight is obstructed, within blind spots, or when pedestrians suddenly dash out. It serves as a vital foundation towards realising the vision of zero-casualty urban mobility.

Core Technical Architecture and Operating Principles

The technical architecture of a V2P system primarily comprises pedestrian smart devices (smartphones/wearables), Cellular Vehicle-to-Everything direct communication (C-V2X PC5 mode / Dedicated Short-Range Communications), vehicle On-Board Units (OBU), and intelligent driving domain controllers: 

Pedestrian-Side Low-Power Broadcast and Real-Time Spatial Positioning:

Smartphones or dedicated wearable devices carried by pedestrians run location services continuously in the background. Driven by built-in high-precision GPS/GNSS chipsets and inertial sensors, they broadcast real-time geographic coordinates, travelling speed, heading direction, and identity tags (as a VRU) across the surrounding vicinity at fixed, high frequencies over the C-V2X direct communication band.

Vehicle-Side Beyond-Line-of-Sight Trajectory Computation and Emergency Collision Warning:

Surrounding vehicles equipped with OBU receivers capture broadcast data packets from pedestrian devices in real time. The in-vehicle domain controller computes relative movements in milliseconds by combining the vehicle’s own trajectory, speed, and heading. Once algorithms determine that vehicle and pedestrian paths intersect and the Time-to-Collision (TTC) falls below safety thresholds, the system instantly bypasses visual blind spots to issue prominent "Pedestrian Alert / Forward Collision Warning" visual and audible alerts via the instrument cluster or Head-Up Display (HUD). In high-spec variants equipped with advanced driver assistance systems, Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) will also be triggered simultaneously. 

Safety Guidelines and Physical Limitations 

Strict Prohibition Against Solely Relying on V2P When Pedestrians Lack Broadcasting Devices or When Devices Are Inactive:

V2P active safety depends entirely on active signal broadcasts from pedestrian devices. Drivers must never assume that having V2P permits driving at excessive speeds through crowded pedestrian zones with poor visibility. If pedestrians are not carrying smart devices or have wireless direct communication disabled or in deep sleep mode, the vehicle cannot detect them via V2P. Drivers and safety systems must consistently rely on on-board cameras, LiDAR, and physical sensor suites as an indispensable fail-safe. 

Strict Prohibition Against Disregarding Signal Latency or Packet Loss Caused by Flat Device Batteries or Urban Electromagnetic Interference:

Wireless communication in dense urban canyons is highly prone to multi-path reflections and physical signal blockage by high-rise buildings. Drivers must never entrust their safety entirely to the system if V2P data suffers from noticeable lag, packet loss, or latency. Motorists must remain alert with both hands on the steering wheel at all times, fully prepared to react to sudden pedestrian dash-outs.