car-to-car communication, DSRC

car-to-car-communication systems Mercedes-Benz expects road safety to be enhanced even further in the future by car-to-car communication systems, which are now undergoing a major testing campaign in Germany. Car-to-car communication systems utilize WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network) radio technology, which enables them to rapidly transmit warnings in time to prevent accidents. Among other things, such systems can be used to warn drivers of fog, black ice, and other dangers right around the next bend. The vehicles serve as transmitters or receivers of information, which they can also forward to other vehicles like a relay runner passing a baton. The critical situations themselves are registered by existing onboard safety systems such as ABS and ESP®. In the future, it may also be possible to have automobiles communicate with roadside beacons in order to optimize traffic flows and prevent the formation of traffic jams. June 20, 2007 WILLWARN car-to-car hazard communication pilot program completed The wireless local danger warning (WILLWARN) program is a low cost hazard dectection system combined with cost effective car-to-car communication and is expected to lead to a new dimension of active driving safety. The program within the European PReVENT framework ran for three years and includes DaimlerChrysler, TNO Automotive, BMW, Phillips, National Technical University of Athens, CNRS-Lle De France Est and HTW Forgis and cooperation partners. The project recently came to completion, but it will take several years before series production based on this research is anticipated. WILLWARN info site June 20, 2007 Frankfurt area selected for Safe Intelligent Mobility Test Deutschland (SIM-TD) DaimlerChrysler, BMW, Volkswagen, Opel, Ford, Audi, Bosch, Continental and Siemens are participating in a car-to-car and car-to-infrastructure field test in the Frankfurt area. Testing is planned for four years with up to 500 vehicles starting late this year. May 27, 2007 Dynamic Information and Navigation Assistant (DIANA) trial continued in Hessen The TMC and cellphone based floating car data trial in the Frankfurt area will be continued. Since 2005 up to 280 vehicles completed two million kilometers reporting 15000 jams so far. The goal is to reduce traffic jams and eliminate them by 2015. May 22, 2007 VII coalition selects Windriver Linux as vehicle on-board platform The Vehicle Infrastructure Integration coalition selected Windriver Linux for their vehicle on-board platform. The coalition consists of the U.S. DOT, ten state DOTs and BMW, DaimlerChrysler, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Nissan, Toyota and Volkswagen. The VIIC will use Wind River's expertise in open source and automotive solutions to deliver a board support package and configure an emulation platform to accelerate development of OBE. In addition, Wind River's global support organization will deliver local support, enabling the decentralized development and field testing for the initiative's disparate members. DOT Vehicle Infrastructure Integration May 22, 2007

OKI tests world's first "Safety Mobile Phone" OKI succeeds in a trial production of a phone with an ultra small dedicated short range communication (DSRC) module to communicate with nearby vehicles, promising enhanced safety for pedestrians and bicyclists. May 28, 2007

California Vehicle Infrastructure Integration testbed
Some photos from the California testbed near the research centers in Palo Alto. The 5.9 GHz DSRC antenna is mounted on a lamppost on a corner of the intersection of El Camino and Page Mill in Palo Alto. The antenna connects to a Denso WAVE radio in a nearby roadside cabinet. A GPS antenna and a GPRS antenna are mounted on top for the location and backhaul. This research is intended to help reduce intersection crashes. At present the applications are simple feasibility tests.
8/26/2006

Pioneering Initiative: Dedicated Short-Range Technology Builds an Info Bridge from Car to Car
- First driving demonstration of car-to-car COM between Mercedes-Benz E-Class and Dodge Durango
- The innovative technology helps to optimize traffic flow and appreciably enhances traffic safety
- DaimlerChrysler is preparing demonstration tests together with the Federal Department of Transportation and several states

Washington/Stuttgart. A pioneering initiative is being shown at the DaimlerChrysler Innovation Symposium by research engineers from the Research and Technology Center North America, based in Palo Alto, California. For the first time, DaimlerChrysler is presenting a dynamic driving demonstration of broadband car-to-car communication between a Mercedes-Benz E-Class and a Dodge Durango. With this initiative, DaimlerChrysler is the first automaker to publicly test this new wireless communications technology. The company is moving forward with this Dedicated Short-Range Communication (DSRC) technology, which makes real-time communication possible between a vehicle and roadside stations and from one vehicle to another.

With the aid of car-to-car communications, the selective forwarding of information helps to optimize traffic flow and appreciably enhances traffic safety. For example, if a vehicle encounters a critical situation such as congestion, fog, ice or an accident, it can pass the relevant information on to all road users in the immediate vicinity of the danger spot. Traffic approaching from further away is given ample warning and can respond to the situation.

Cars equipped with DSRC can communicate directly with one another, also making it possible to transmit braking signals back over several vehicles, giving drivers early warning that they might soon have to brake. In this information network, each vehicle can take on the role of a sender, receiver or router. It allows a chain of information to be passed on, like a relay race. With the aid of this process, known as multi-hopping, information can be spread further to cover a substantial distance. The data exchange between vehicles is made possible by ad-hoc networks. These short-distance connections are spontaneously created between the vehicles as the need arises and can organize themselves without the help of any external infrastructure. DSRC uses Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) technology to transmit data at 5.9 Gigahertz over a distance of up to 1,000 meters.

The technology represents a further significant milestone towards realizing the Vision of Accident-free Driving. According to investigations by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 88 percent of all rear-end accidents are the result either of inattention on the part of the driver or of travelling too closely to the vehicle in front. DCRS can help prevent such accidents or reduce their severity.

The system is primarily designed to enhance safety and improve traffic flow on the road, but it can also be used to transmit other data such as digital music, movies or even map updates for the on-board navigation system into the vehicle which could be added benefits and value. DaimlerChrysler is working with the Federal DOT and several states (Michigan, California and Florida) to prepare demonstration tests of vehicle-to-infrastructure communications. Working through the Vehicle Infrastructure Integration (VII) initiative, DOT is expected to select a set of locations for a series of progressively more integrated tests from 2005 through the end of the decade.

The Vehicle IT & Services Research department in Palo Alto focuses on technologies and applications for infotainment, vehicle relationship management and communication-based driver information and driver support systems. The team of approximately 20 research scientists and engineers at the facility identify new technological trends, develop them further and then implement them in prototypes. The objective is to rapidly equip DaimlerChrysler vehicles with innovations that offer clear customer utility.
Souce DaimlerChrysler
Research & Technology North America
June 07, 2005

Atheros Chipsets Used in Mercedes-Benz Future-Technology Demonstration
Innovative Wireless Capability Heralds New Era in Automotive IT
Atheros press release
November 13, 2001

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