3M™ Connected Roads

Materials and technology for intelligent transportation systems.

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The future is closer than you think

Vehicles with assisted-driving capabilities are already on the roads and at 3M, we’re committed to helping make that future a reality. Many of the automated technologies found in cars today use the same infrastructure drivers have relied on to help them safely navigate for years. Our goal is to continue to help improve safety through enhanced infrastructure for both human drivers and automated vehicles.

Road safety

Moving from analog messages designed for human eyes to digital messages designed for self-driving and autonomous vehicles means vehicles can interpret the surrounding environment and quickly respond.
Mobility

With vehicle infrastructure integration, road safety materials can connect directly to vehicles, quickly helping designate construction zones and potential safety hazards so vehicle mobility and traffic flow can improve.
Redundancy

With redundancy, intelligent transportation technology can take over in situations when GPS isn't able to work, such as in a tunnel or when buildings are blocking the satellite signal, or when pavement markings aren't visible to the vehicle’s camera due to snow or sun glare.

Machine-readable lane marking technology

Bright and durable advanced lane markings work with automated vehicle sensors to detect lines outside the vision-based spectrum, helping to improve lane detection and traffic safety in the most extreme weather conditions.
Advanced sign technology

Compatible with traditional signage, advanced signs are human- and machine-detectable for high readability so drivers and vehicles can navigate better and make decisions faster.
DSRC: Wireless communication

Dedicated short-range communications technologies can relay alerts without relying on vision-based systems.

Real-time wireless messages are relayed before vision-based systems to communicate an upcoming work zone, adding a layer of redundancy to help identify potential safety hazards for workers and drivers.