August 8, 2012 at 4:55pm by Alexander Stoklosa
Car-to-car and car-to-infrastructure communication technology research is on the rise, but it has reached a new high with the announcement of a major real-world test taking place in Germany. Commonly referred to as car-to-X communication, inter-car and inter-infrastructural networks are being studied by a number of automakers for a variety of safety- and driver-assistance-related uses. The basic idea: Cars that can talk to one another as well as the infrastructure they interact with will make for a safer and more informed driving environment. (For example, GM most recently announced that it is looking to tap into short-range Wi-Fi networks to help its pedestrian-detection systems determine the location and trajectories of pedestrians via their cell phones.) The test is happening in and around Frankfurt, Germany, and is backed by a consortium of automakers, tech institutions, and government agencies operating under the SimTD banner. It will involve a fleet of 120 cars operating on actual roads until the end of the year.
Included in the 120-car fleet will be specially equipped Audi A4s, BMW X1s, Ford S-Maxes, Mercedes-Benz C-classes, Opel Insignias, and Volkswagen Passats. SimTD’s public-road–based test will be used to gather data on the effectiveness of car-to-X–enabled technologies such as:
- Electronic Brake Light: When a car brakes, it sends a signal to any cars behind it; this way, drivers in following cars are informed of the braking event ahead of them during inclement weather, low-visibility situations, or even if the view ahead is obstructed by a hill or curve.
- Traffic Management: Cars monitor traffic situations and feed data such as speed or stoppages to other cars.
- Obstacle Warning: Like traffic management, obstacle warning serves to alert other drivers of road obstructions or dangers.
The real-world test is essential for finding out more about car-to-X’s crowd-sourced update capabilities, which could influence future driver-warning systems. But besides potentially helping drivers make better decisions, the tech’s effectiveness also has significant ramifications for the future of autonomous vehicles and semi-autonomous active-safety systems. That’s because in addition to offering crowd-sourced updates on roadway conditions, another aspect of car-to-X tech involves cars identifying the location and behavior of other cars around them. Volvo is putting this functionality to use in its road-train research, while BMW is using it to help bad drivers turn left. It’s not a huge jump from the aforementioned Electronic Brake Light, giving drivers a heads-up that they need to brake, to the computer disregarding the driver completely and automatically applying the car’s brakes—many cars already do this using radar and some software code.
- Feature: Driving In a Fake Swedish Town
- Comparison Test: Night-Vision Systems Compared from BMW, Mercedes, and Audi
- Comparison Test: 2013 Audi S6 vs. 2013 BMW M5, 2012 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG
Not to sound too alarmist to driving enthusiasts, but car-to-X very much is yet another stepping stone toward autonomous vehicles becoming a reality. But on the upside, it also has the potential to help save your tuchis in a jam. So there’s that, which is nice.
Other Stories You Might Like
Tags: Autonomous Safety, Car-to-X communication, safety, wireless internet |