Equipment Loan Program
- Sharika Hegde
- William Martin
- Michelle Ramirez
▰ ABOUT THE EQUIPMENT LOAN PROGRAM
The CAV Support Services (CAVSS) offers an Equipment Loan Program that provides deployers with the opportunity to borrow and test connected vehicle (CV) equipment from vendors to ensure these devices will work with their existing infrastructure. In addition to CV equipment, specialized equipment is also available for loan. The Equipment Loan Program also provides support and equipment for testing activities at the STOL testbed.
The CAVSS Program seeks to spur innovation among early adopters of CV application concepts using best available and emerging technologies. By allowing potential adopters of CV technology to familiarize themselves with the equipment options for deployment, users have the opportunity to explore their options and learn more about how the technology works in conjunction with CAV.
Deployers can borrow equipment in 30-day increments with the ability to extend the loan if there is no other request for the equipment. Equipment can be borrowed, shipped to deployers, and returned to the program free of charge. Agencies can expect to receive equipment from the program within a month.
▰ AVAILABLE EQUIPMENT
Users can submit an equipment loan request by submitting a ticket at the online help desk. The following types of CV equipment are available for loan:
 Siemens RSU
| A transceiver that is mounted along a road or pedestrian passageway that broadcasts data to OBUs or receives data from OBUs in its communications zone. The CAV Support Services Equipment Loan Program offers both dedicated short-range communications (DSRC) RSUs and cellular vehicle-to-everything (C-V2X) RSUs from a variety of manufacturers. |
 Danlaw OBU | A device located on or integrated within vehicles to collect the vehicle’s data and/or provide an interface through which ITS services can be provided, e.g. tolls, navigation, and travel information. An OBU continuously transmits vehicle data in the form of Basic Safety Messages (BSMs) to other vehicles, RSUs, infrastructure, and devices. The CAV Support Services Equipment Loan Program offers both dedicated short-range communications (DSRC) OBUs and cellular vehicle-to-everything (C-V2X) OBUs from a variety of manufacturers. |
 Traffic Signal Controller | Hardware designed to provide real-time visualization and logging of traffic signal phase and timing information to vehicles approaching signalized intersections. |
| Hardware (equipped on vehicles) that enables vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) and vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) communication using DSRC or C-V2X radios. |
| V2X Hub is a message handler that acts as a translator and data aggregator/disseminator for infrastructure components of a connected vehicle deployment. It is open-source software, available for download or pre-installed on a computer from the loan program. |
| Smart Arrow Boards are connected devices that provides real-time key lane closure information to motorists, government agencies and operations managers. |
| Arrow Board Kits enhance existing arrow boards to connect with popular navigation software such as Waze, Google Maps, and more to keep motorists informed of upcoming hazards and traffic changes. |
| Thermal sensors allow for sensing and detection of vehicles, vulnerable road users, and wrong way drivers. |
| Laptops are needed for many testing scenarios, especially when field testing. The loan program has both Linux and Windows-based computers available. |
| Tablets are useful when testing OBU Human Machine Interfaces (HMIs). The loan program has both Android and Apple tablets available. |
| GPS/GNSS kits allow for location data collection for various applications, including location data collection for test tracks, connected corridors, or use with the Work Zone Data Collection Tool. |
To request more information regarding the Equipment Loan Program, deployers can email CAVSupportServices@dot.gov.