Interactive vehicles to boost traffic safety and convenience
Advanced in-car computer systems set to revolutionise road travel,
- Published: 12/05/2010 at 12:00 AM
- Newspaper section: Database
Sudden breakdowns of vehicles often cause road accidents and affect other motorists. But driving in the future could become safer and more pleasant as drivers benefit from a communication system enabling vehicles to communicate with each other.
A driver enjoys better safety as he can view the traffic conditions ahead and essential information along the route plus benefit from a warning system that notifies motorists when accidents occur.
This is known as the "Car Talk" pilot project, initiated by the National Electronics and Computer Technology Centre (Nectec), with the collaboration of King Mongkut's Institute of Technology North Bangkok (KMUTNB), King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT), and Asian Institute of Technology (AIT).
Nectec Passakorn Prathombutr, Nectec's director of the Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) program, noted that the project focuses on active safety with an attempt to prevent accidents before they happen. Road accidents can be reduced through vehicles communicating with one another.
The "Car Talk" project comprises of two major communications systems: Vehicle to Vehicle (V2V) and Vehicle to Infrastructure (V2I). Inside the car is a computer terminal that allows the driver to see the conditions along the route he intends to take.
One feature of V2V that Nectec demonstrated at Science Park area is that once a number of vehicles are running the system, when an accident occurs and triggers sudden braking by one of the drivers, the vehicle will automatically send a signal to those who are following and transmit the image from the first to the last car. There is also a signal to remind drivers of speed limits, or to signify available car-parking spaces.
Also, Passakorn noted: "When at a blind corner where a driver cannot see other vehicles approaching, the radio frequency can sense them and will warn him in advance."
He then pointed out how, through the V2I system, the driver can communicate with the infrastructure such as the roads, traffic boards and information centres on the network.
For example, the traffic board can transmit the speed limit straight to the vehicle to alert the driver.
In the future, in the new models of electric cars, such as Nissan, there will be an IT system installed to notify drivers how far the vehicle can travel before a recharge is required, as well as inform the motorist of the locations of electric stations along the route.
The system also covers infotainment, where drivers or passengers can use the Internet while in the car or chat with other drivers nearby.
Passakorn admitted that the V2V system is the most ambitious project because every vehicle needs a computer to communicate with each other.
However, he said, with higher end mobile phones, V2V becomes more promising as drivers can use their in-car computers as mobile phones. "Today's mobile phone is more intelligent and functions like a computer," Passakorn said, noting that the research team is now developing applications and hopes that in the next few years, the V2V would be able to comply with Android phones.
The mobile wireless terminal, running on 2G/3G mobile cellular network and DSRC, enables the vehicle to communicate with other cars, the infrastructure or Internet network.
The V2I system sends signals between the vehicles and the infrastructure. By using the signal from a cellular base station, the system can track and run two-way communication. However, the users have to pay for airtime based on the package.
Passakorn demonstrated the function by riding through the Convention Centre, where the system scanned for vacant parking lots and notified the driver of this information.
One way to save costs is to eliminate the need for users to pay airtime charges by setting up nodes along roadsides to transmit information through Wi-Fi or active RFID.
Nectec has tested the V2I system of having the car communicating with the infrastructure with the example of having the vehicle run past a petrol station, triggering the information of fuel prices and available parking spaces to show up on the car monitor. The LBS (location-based service) will also display the location of the vehicle on a map and issue warnings when motorists approach intersections, pedestrian crossings and toll gates.
V2I already has potential in Thailand and interested parties can install it today because Nectec has employed the protocol of G-Box, an embedded system for two-way vehicle communications.
The director explained that G-Box is a new in-vehicle digital assistant system that collects and stores data such as location and speed, which is sent back via the GPRS mobile phone network to a central server. The device connects with an electronic control unit (ECU) and automotive controller area network so the device status is known at all times.
In the short term, the research team has developed the pilot system to prove in theory and in field tests that it works and they will further develop the program to apply to general vehicles, thereby increasing road safety and access to traffic information for motorists.
"The system can be both an additional component for after-market, or built-in," Passakorn said.
He added that in the long term, the team has the goal of upgrading the ITS industry in Thailand. "Instead of forever being a buyer, we should turn ourselves into a technology developer to reduce imports and maintenance, while also increasing road safety," he concluded.
Relate Search: Sudden breakdowns, Car Talk, National Electronics and Computer Technology Centre, King Mongkut's Institute of Technology North Bangkok, King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Thonburi, Asian Institute of Technology
About the author
- Writer: Sasiwimon Boonruang
- Position: Database Reporter
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