As cities grow and traffic becomes more complicated, and as vehicles move closer to full autonomy, one technology emerges as crucial for enhancing road safety and smart mobility: vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication.

V2X is a key component of the connected car ecosystem, enabling vehicles to communicate not only with each other but also with infrastructure, pedestrians, networks, and even the cloud. It serves as the vital link that provides situational awareness beyond what drivers can see and the limitations of on-board sensors. At SolidRun, we develop high-performance, energy-efficient computing platforms that bring these real-time, safety-critical systems to life.

While the dream of accident-free roads and smooth traffic flow is enticing, achieving it involves tackling significant technical and systemic challenges, including ultra-low-latency communications, secure data management, and large-scale infrastructure deployment. In this article, we examine the current landscape of V2X, its future direction, and how embedded technology platforms like those from SolidRun are essential in making this vision a reality.

The potential of V2X: enhancing safety, efficiency, and autonomy

At its essence, V2X aims to broaden a vehicle’s understanding of its surroundings. It facilitates real-time data sharing between vehicles and nearby infrastructure to aid in collision avoidance, optimize traffic flow, prioritize emergency vehicles, and more.

For instance, a vehicle nearing an intersection can receive alerts about another car that is about to run a red light, even if that car is obscured by buildings or fog. Buses and ambulances can signal for green lights in advance to minimize response times. Vulnerable road users, such as cyclists or pedestrians, can be digitally recognized and communicated with by vehicles equipped with V2X technology.

The upside of V2X isn’t theoretical; it’s measurable. The U.S. Department of Transportation estimates that V2X could help prevent up to 80% of non-impaired crash scenarios. That’s not just fewer fender benders; that’s fewer lives lost.

On top of that, smarter signaling and real-time traffic coordination mean less time stuck at red lights, fewer emissions, and smoother commutes. And while V2X isn’t a replacement for LiDAR, radar, or other on-board sensors, it’s a powerful complement—filling in the blind spots and enabling vehicles to make better, faster decisions. It’s not just about safety today; it’s laying the groundwork for full autonomy tomorrow.

Figure 1: V2X facilitates real-time data sharing between vehicles and nearby infrastructure to aid in collision avoidance, optimize traffic flow, and prioritize emergency vehicles. (Source: SolidRun)

Engineering real-time intelligence at the edge

For V2X to work, the system must process, interpret, and react to vast amounts of data, instantaneously and securely. This is where companies like SolidRun and their immense engineering expertise come in.

SolidRun designs and manufactures edge computing platforms that sit at the heart of V2X-capable devices, both in vehicles (on-board units, or OBUs) and on infrastructure (roadside units, or RSUs). These systems must be rugged, secure, and capable of real-time operation in a variety of harsh environments.

The i.MX 8XLite system-on-module, for example, is purpose-built for V2X applications. It integrates dual Arm Cortex-A35 cores, optional Cortex-M4 for real-time control, and a robust suite of automotive-grade interfaces including CAN-FD, 100BASE-T1 automotive Ethernet, and GPIOs. This combination allows system developers to build tightly synchronized control loops for everything from message processing to actuation in milliseconds.

When integrated into V2X platforms, such as those deployed by the company consider it GmbH under the CiT – Communication in Traffic brand, these compute modules enable functions such as:

• Low-latency DSRC (IEEE 802.11p) communication
• GNSS-enhanced positioning
• LTE connectivity for backhaul
• Secure message signing and validation via on-board HSMs

These are not just specs; they are the building blocks of a vehicle’s ability to understand and safely interact with its dynamic environment.

Figure 2: i.MX 8XLite system-on-module (Source: SolidRun)

Overcoming the challenges of V2X deployment

V2X holds massive potential, but real-world adoption is still finding its footing. Part of the challenge is that there’s no universal playbook—different regions are pushing different standards. Some are all in on DSRC, while others are betting on cellular-V2X, and the result is that automotive platforms often need to support both, or at least be flexible enough to switch depending on where they’re deployed.

Then there’s the infrastructure gap. Unlike most in-vehicle tech, V2X depends on cities and municipalities to build out RSUs, upgrade intersections, and stand up back-end systems—none of which happens overnight. Add in the complexity of security and privacy—because now, your car is broadcasting sensitive data that needs to be protected with serious encryption, public key infrastructure, and hardware-based trust anchors—and the stakes get even higher.

And finally, V2X is a race against time. For applications such as emergency braking or blind-intersection alerts, you’re dealing with end-to-end latency requirements under 100 ms. That means every part of the system, from the hardware to the software stack, has to be built for ultra-fast, deterministic performance. There’s just no room for lag.

Addressing these challenges requires a tightly integrated system, from silicon to software to deployment. That’s why modular, flexible platforms, such as the system-on-modules and edge gateway solutions offered by SolidRun, that allow rapid development, prototyping, and scaling are becoming increasingly vital.

Real-world momentum

The shift from pilot projects to real deployments is underway. In Europe, cities like Hamburg, Barcelona, and Vienna are rolling out connected intersections and integrating OBUs into public transport fleets. In the U.S., states such as Michigan, Utah, and Florida are partnering with automotive OEMs and technology providers to deploy corridor-wide V2X networks.

We’re excited to see SolidRun’s technology supporting these efforts. In collaboration with CiT – Communication in Traffic, for example, our platforms power both roadside and in-vehicle V2X units that are already installed in European cities. These systems prioritize ambulances, monitor traffic conditions, and help vehicles detect otherwise-unseen pedestrians and cyclists.

Looking ahead

As we look to the next phase of connected mobility, V2X will serve as a foundational technology layer, not just for traffic safety but for fully autonomous vehicles, fleet orchestration, smart logistics, and city-scale mobility optimization.

For SolidRun, it all comes down to building platforms that are ready for what’s next. That means designing systems that are future-proof and flexible enough to support evolving standards such as 5G NR V2X. It means embedding security from the start—with hardware-based encryption and key management baked in, not bolted on. It means delivering real-time performance that’s consistent and deterministic, so edge analytics and safety-critical decisions aren’t left to chance.

And of course, everything we build has to be rugged enough to survive the realities of automotive and roadside deployment. Because in V2X, there are no second chances.

Ultimately, we see V2X not as a siloed feature but as a public good, one that demands collaboration across industry, government, and technology layers. We’re committed to engineering the tools that make that possible.

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