Vehicle infrastructure integration
Encyclopedia
Vehicle Infrastructure Integration (VII) is an initiative fostering research and applications development for a series of technologies directly linking road vehicles to their physical surroundings, first and foremost in order to improve road safety. The technology draws on several disciplines, including transport engineering
, electrical engineering
, automotive engineering
, and computer science
. VII specifically covers road transport although similar technologies are in place or under development for other modes of transport. Planes, for example, use ground-based beacon
s for automated guidance, allowing the autopilot
to fly the plane without human intervention. In highway engineering
, improving the safety of a road
way can enhance overall efficiency. VII targets improvements in both safety and efficiency.
Vehicle infrastructure integration is that branch of engineering,which deals with the study and application of a series of techniques directly linking road vehicles to their physical surroundings in order to improve road safety.
. VII's development relies on a business model supporting the interests of all parties concerned: industry, transportation authorities and professional organisations. The initiative has three priorities:
technology relies on vehicle-based radar and vision systems. For example, this technology can reduce rear-end collision
s by tracking obstructions in front or behind the vehicle, automatically applying brakes when needed. This technology is somewhat limited in that it senses only the distance and speed of vehicles within the direct line of sight. It is almost completely ineffective for angled
and left-turn collisions . It may even cause a motorist to lose control of the vehicle in the event of an impending head-on collision
. The rear-end collision
s covered by today's technology are typically less severe than angle, left-turn, or head-on collisions. Existing technology is therefore inadequate for the overall needs of the roadway system.
VII would provide a direct link between a vehicle on the road and all vehicles within a defined vicinity. The vehicles would be able to communicate with each other, exchanging data on speed, orientation, perhaps even on driver awareness and intent. This could increase safety for nearby vehicles, while enhancing the overall sensitivity of the VII system, for example, by performing an automated emergency maneuver (steering, decelerating, braking) more effectively. In addition, the system is designed to communicate with the roadway infrastructure, allowing for complete, real-time traffic information
for the entire network, as well as better queue
management and feedback to vehicles. It would ultimately close the feedback loops on what is now an open-loop transportation system.
Through VII, roadway markings and road signs could become obsolete. Existing VII applications use sensors within vehicles which can identify markings on the roadway or signing along the side of the road, automatically adjusting vehicle parameters as necessary. Ultimately, VII aims to treat such signs and markings as little more than stored data within the system. This could be in the form of data acquired via beacons along a roadway or stored at a centralised database and distributed to all VII-equipped vehicles.
between vehicles could be reduced so that there is less empty space on the road. Available capacity for traffic would therefore be increased. More capacity per lane will in turn mean fewer lanes in general, possibly satisfying the community's concerns about the impact of roadway widening. VII will enable precise traffic-signal
coordination by tracking vehicle platoon
s and will benefit from accurate timing by drawing on real-time
traffic data covering volume, density and turning movements.
Real-time traffic data can also be used in the design of new roadways or modification of existing systems as the data could be used to provide accurate origin-destination studies and turning-movement counts for uses in transportation forecasting
and traffic operations
. Such technology would also lead to improvements for transport engineers
to address problems whilst reducing the cost of obtaining and compiling data. Tolling
is another prospect for VII technology as it could enable roadways to be automatically tolled. Data could be collectively transmitted to road users for in-vehicle display, outlining the lowest cost, shortest distance, and/or fastest route to a destination on the basis of real-time conditions.
, mobile phone
signals
, and vehicle registration plate
s. GPS is becoming standard in many new high-end vehicles and is an option on most new low- and mid-range vehicles. In addition, many users also have mobile phones which transmit trackable signals (and may also be GPS-enabled). Mobile phones can already be traced for purposes of emergency response. GPS
and mobile phone tracking, however, do not provide fully reliable data. Furthermore, integrating mobile phones in vehicles may be prohibitively difficult. Data from mobile phones, though useful, might even increase risks to motorists as they tend to look at their phones rather than concentrate on their driving. Automatic registration plate recognition
can provide high levels of data, but continuously tracking a vehicle through a corridor is a difficult task with existing technology. Today's equipment is designed for data acquisition and functions such as enforcement
and tolling, not for returning data to vehicles or motorists for response. GPS will nevertheless be one of the key components in VII systems.
and toll collectors will occur, but the network traffic will be sent via encrypted tunnels and will therefore not be decipherable by the VII system.
Although the system will be able to detect signal and speed violations, it will not have the capability to identify the violator and report them. The detection is for the purpose of alerting the violator and/or approaching vehicles, to prevent collisions.
s. They could be attenuated by compensating for the presence of vehicles without VII or perhaps by maintaining roadways where vehicles without VII are permitted to travel.
Those opposed to tolling believe it will make driving prohibitively expensive for motorists in the lower-income bracket, conflicting with the general wish to provide equal services for all. In response, public transit discounts or road use discounts can be considered for qualifying individuals and/or families. Such provisions currently exist for numerous tolled roadways and could be applicable to roadways that are tolled via VII. However, as VII could allow for the tolling of every VII-enabled roadway, the provisions may be ineffective in view of the increased need to provide user-efficient transit services to every area.
There are proof of concept tests being performed in Michigan and California that will be evaluated by the US DOT and the auto manufacturers, and a decision will be made, jointly, about whether or not to move forward with implementation of the system at that time.
An additional option is to provide updates whenever a vehicle is brought in for inspection or servicing. A major limitation here is that updating would be in the hands of the user. Some vehicle owners maintain their vehicles themselves, and periodic inspections or servicing are considered too infrequent for updating VII. Motorists might also be reluctant to stop at rest-stops for an update if they do not have the possibility of driving in an internet-enabled city.
Alternatively, if receivers were placed in all vehicles and the VII system was primarily located along the roadside, information could be stored in a centralised database. This would allow the agency responsible to issue updates at any time. These would then be disseminated to the roadside units for passing motorists. Operationally, this method is currently considered to provide the greatest effectiveness but at a high cost to the authorities.
could be enacted; and the units could be examined during inspections or services for signs of tampering. This method has many of the limitations mentioned in relation to the frequency of inspection and motorists who perform their own servicing. It also raises concerns regarding the honesty of vehicle technicians performing the inspections. The ability of technicians to identify signs of tampering would be dependent on their knowledge of the VII systems themselves.
Magnet
s, electric shock
s, and malicious software
(virus
es, hacking
, or jamming
) could be used to damage VII systems - regardless of whether units are located inside vehicle or along the roadside. Extensive training and certification would be required for technicians to inspect VII units within a vehicle. Along the roadside, a high degree of security would be required to ensure that the equipment is not damaged and to increase its durability. However, as roadside units could well be placed on the public right-of-way - which is often close to the edge of the roadway - there could be concerns about vehicles hitting them (whether on purpose or by accident). The units would either have to be built so that they do not provide a threat to motorists: perhaps in the form of a low-profile and/or low-mass object designed to be run over or to break apart (which would entail a relatively inexpensive unit); or the unit would have to be shielded by a device such as a guardrail
, raising safety concerns of its own.
in the software will likely be high.
Legislation will be required to set in place access to the VII data and communications between applicable agencies. In the USA
, for example, an Interstate
is a Federal roadway that is often maintained by the State, but the local county or municipal authorities may be involved too. The legislation would need to set the levels of authority of each agency. In Pennsylvania
, for example, municipalities tend to have greater authority than counties and sometimes even the State whereas neighboring Maryland
has more authority at the county level than at municipal level; and State roads are almost exclusively controlled by the State. It would also have to be determined which other agencies can use the data (i.e. law enforcement, Census
, etc.) and to what degree it is permissible to use the information. Law enforcement would be needed to minimise data misuse. The various levels of authority could also increase incompatibility.
The specific applications now being developed under the U.S. initiative
are:
In mid-2007, a VII environment covering some 20 square miles (51.8 km²) near Detroit will be used to test 20 prototype VII applications. Several automobile manufacturers are also conducting their own VII research and trialling.
Transport engineering
Transportation engineering is the application of technology and scientific principles to the planning, functional design, operation and management of facilities for any mode of transportation in order to provide for the safe, rapid, comfortable, convenient, economical, and environmentally...
, electrical engineering
Electrical engineering
Electrical engineering is a field of engineering that generally deals with the study and application of electricity, electronics and electromagnetism. The field first became an identifiable occupation in the late nineteenth century after commercialization of the electric telegraph and electrical...
, automotive engineering
Automotive engineering
Modern automotive engineering, along with aerospace engineering and marine engineering, is a branch of vehicle engineering, incorporating elements of mechanical, electrical, electronic, software and safety engineering as applied to the design, manufacture and operation of motorcycles, automobiles,...
, and computer science
Computer science
Computer science or computing science is the study of the theoretical foundations of information and computation and of practical techniques for their implementation and application in computer systems...
. VII specifically covers road transport although similar technologies are in place or under development for other modes of transport. Planes, for example, use ground-based beacon
Beacon
A beacon is an intentionally conspicuous device designed to attract attention to a specific location.Beacons can also be combined with semaphoric or other indicators to provide important information, such as the status of an airport, by the colour and rotational pattern of its airport beacon, or of...
s for automated guidance, allowing the autopilot
Autopilot
An autopilot is a mechanical, electrical, or hydraulic system used to guide a vehicle without assistance from a human being. An autopilot can refer specifically to aircraft, self-steering gear for boats, or auto guidance of space craft and missiles...
to fly the plane without human intervention. In highway engineering
Highway engineering
Highway engineering is an engineering discipline branching from civil engineering which involves the design, construction and maintenance of Highway Systems. Highway Engineering become prominent towards the latter half of the 20th Century after World War 2. Standards of highway engineering are...
, improving the safety of a road
Road
A road is a thoroughfare, route, or way on land between two places, which typically has been paved or otherwise improved to allow travel by some conveyance, including a horse, cart, or motor vehicle. Roads consist of one, or sometimes two, roadways each with one or more lanes and also any...
way can enhance overall efficiency. VII targets improvements in both safety and efficiency.
Vehicle infrastructure integration is that branch of engineering,which deals with the study and application of a series of techniques directly linking road vehicles to their physical surroundings in order to improve road safety.
Goals
The goal of VII is to provide a communications link between vehicles on the road (via On-Board Equipment, OBE), and between vehicles and the roadside infrastructure (via Roadside Equipment, RSE), in order to increase the safety, efficiency, and convenience of the transportation system. It is based on widespread deployment of a dedicated short-range communications (DSRC) link, incorporating IEEE 802.11pIEEE 802.11p
IEEE 802.11p is an approved amendment to the IEEE 802.11 standard to add wireless access in vehicular environments . It defines enhancements to 802.11 required to support Intelligent Transportation Systems applications...
. VII's development relies on a business model supporting the interests of all parties concerned: industry, transportation authorities and professional organisations. The initiative has three priorities:
- evaluation of the business model (including deployment scheduling) and acceptance by the stakeholders;
- validation of the technology (in particular the communications systems) in the light of deployment costs; and
- development of legal structures and policies (particularly in regard to privacy) to enhance the system's potential for success over the longer term.
Safety
Current active safetyActive safety
In engineering, active safety systems are systems activated in response to a safety problem or abnormal event. Such systems may be activated by a human operator, automatically by a computer driven system, or even mechanically...
technology relies on vehicle-based radar and vision systems. For example, this technology can reduce rear-end collision
Rear-end collision
A rear-end collision is a traffic accident wherein a vehicle crashes into the vehicle in front of it, usually caused by tailgating or panic stops...
s by tracking obstructions in front or behind the vehicle, automatically applying brakes when needed. This technology is somewhat limited in that it senses only the distance and speed of vehicles within the direct line of sight. It is almost completely ineffective for angled
Side collision
Side collisions are vehicle crashes where the side of one or more vehicles is impacted. These crashes often occur at intersections, in parking lots, when two vehicles pass on a multi-lane roadway, or when a vehicle hits a fixed object....
and left-turn collisions . It may even cause a motorist to lose control of the vehicle in the event of an impending head-on collision
Head-on collision
A head-on collision is one where the front ends of two ships, trains, planes or vehicles hit each other, as opposed to a side collision or rear-end collision.-Rail transport:...
. The rear-end collision
Rear-end collision
A rear-end collision is a traffic accident wherein a vehicle crashes into the vehicle in front of it, usually caused by tailgating or panic stops...
s covered by today's technology are typically less severe than angle, left-turn, or head-on collisions. Existing technology is therefore inadequate for the overall needs of the roadway system.
VII would provide a direct link between a vehicle on the road and all vehicles within a defined vicinity. The vehicles would be able to communicate with each other, exchanging data on speed, orientation, perhaps even on driver awareness and intent. This could increase safety for nearby vehicles, while enhancing the overall sensitivity of the VII system, for example, by performing an automated emergency maneuver (steering, decelerating, braking) more effectively. In addition, the system is designed to communicate with the roadway infrastructure, allowing for complete, real-time traffic information
Traffic reporting
Traffic reporting is the distribution of information about road conditions such as traffic congestion, detours, and traffic accidents, generally as part of a radio or television broadcast program. The reports help commuters anticipate and avoid traffic problems. Many reports mention alternate...
for the entire network, as well as better queue
Traffic congestion
Traffic congestion is a condition on road networks that occurs as use increases, and is characterized by slower speeds, longer trip times, and increased vehicular queueing. The most common example is the physical use of roads by vehicles. When traffic demand is great enough that the interaction...
management and feedback to vehicles. It would ultimately close the feedback loops on what is now an open-loop transportation system.
Through VII, roadway markings and road signs could become obsolete. Existing VII applications use sensors within vehicles which can identify markings on the roadway or signing along the side of the road, automatically adjusting vehicle parameters as necessary. Ultimately, VII aims to treat such signs and markings as little more than stored data within the system. This could be in the form of data acquired via beacons along a roadway or stored at a centralised database and distributed to all VII-equipped vehicles.
Efficiency
All the above factors are largely in response to safety but VII could lead to noticeable gains in the operational efficiency of a transportation network. As vehicles will be linked together with a resulting decrease in reaction times, the headwayHeadway
Headway is a measurement of the distance/time between vehicles in a transit system. The precise definition varies depending on the application, but it is most commonly measured as the distance from the tip of one vehicle to the tip of the next one behind it, expressed as the time it will take for...
between vehicles could be reduced so that there is less empty space on the road. Available capacity for traffic would therefore be increased. More capacity per lane will in turn mean fewer lanes in general, possibly satisfying the community's concerns about the impact of roadway widening. VII will enable precise traffic-signal
Traffic light
Traffic lights, which may also be known as stoplights, traffic lamps, traffic signals, signal lights, robots or semaphore, are signalling devices positioned at road intersections, pedestrian crossings and other locations to control competing flows of traffic...
coordination by tracking vehicle platoon
Platoon (automobile)
Grouping vehicles into platoons is a method of increasing the capacity of roads. An automated highway system is a proposed technology for doing this....
s and will benefit from accurate timing by drawing on real-time
Real-time computing
In computer science, real-time computing , or reactive computing, is the study of hardware and software systems that are subject to a "real-time constraint"— e.g. operational deadlines from event to system response. Real-time programs must guarantee response within strict time constraints...
traffic data covering volume, density and turning movements.
Real-time traffic data can also be used in the design of new roadways or modification of existing systems as the data could be used to provide accurate origin-destination studies and turning-movement counts for uses in transportation forecasting
Transportation forecasting
Transportation forecasting is the process of estimating the number of vehicles or people that will use a specific transportation facility in the future. For instance, a forecast may estimate the number of vehicles on a planned road or bridge, the ridership on a railway line, the number of...
and traffic operations
Traffic engineering
Traffic engineering can mean:* traffic engineering , a branch of civil engineering* teletraffic engineering, a field of statistical techniques used in telecommunications...
. Such technology would also lead to improvements for transport engineers
Transport engineering
Transportation engineering is the application of technology and scientific principles to the planning, functional design, operation and management of facilities for any mode of transportation in order to provide for the safe, rapid, comfortable, convenient, economical, and environmentally...
to address problems whilst reducing the cost of obtaining and compiling data. Tolling
Toll road
A toll road is a privately or publicly built road for which a driver pays a toll for use. Structures for which tolls are charged include toll bridges and toll tunnels. Non-toll roads are financed using other sources of revenue, most typically fuel tax or general tax funds...
is another prospect for VII technology as it could enable roadways to be automatically tolled. Data could be collectively transmitted to road users for in-vehicle display, outlining the lowest cost, shortest distance, and/or fastest route to a destination on the basis of real-time conditions.
Existing applications
To some extent, results along these lines have been achieved in trials performed around the globe, making use of GPSGlobal Positioning System
The Global Positioning System is a space-based global navigation satellite system that provides location and time information in all weather, anywhere on or near the Earth, where there is an unobstructed line of sight to four or more GPS satellites...
, mobile phone
Mobile phone
A mobile phone is a device which can make and receive telephone calls over a radio link whilst moving around a wide geographic area. It does so by connecting to a cellular network provided by a mobile network operator...
signals
Signal (electrical engineering)
In the fields of communications, signal processing, and in electrical engineering more generally, a signal is any time-varying or spatial-varying quantity....
, and vehicle registration plate
Vehicle registration plate
A vehicle registration plate is a metal or plastic plate attached to a motor vehicle or trailer for official identification purposes. The registration identifier is a numeric or alphanumeric code that uniquely identifies the vehicle within the issuing region's database...
s. GPS is becoming standard in many new high-end vehicles and is an option on most new low- and mid-range vehicles. In addition, many users also have mobile phones which transmit trackable signals (and may also be GPS-enabled). Mobile phones can already be traced for purposes of emergency response. GPS
GPS tracking
A GPS tracking unit is a device that uses the Global Positioning System to determine the precise location of a vehicle, person, or other asset to which it is attached and to record the position of the asset at regular intervals...
and mobile phone tracking, however, do not provide fully reliable data. Furthermore, integrating mobile phones in vehicles may be prohibitively difficult. Data from mobile phones, though useful, might even increase risks to motorists as they tend to look at their phones rather than concentrate on their driving. Automatic registration plate recognition
Automatic number plate recognition
Automatic number plate recognition is a mass surveillance method that uses optical character recognition on images to read the license plates on vehicles. They can use existing closed-circuit television or road-rule enforcement cameras, or ones specifically designed for the task...
can provide high levels of data, but continuously tracking a vehicle through a corridor is a difficult task with existing technology. Today's equipment is designed for data acquisition and functions such as enforcement
Police
The police is a personification of the state designated to put in practice the enforced law, protect property and reduce civil disorder in civilian matters. Their powers include the legitimized use of force...
and tolling, not for returning data to vehicles or motorists for response. GPS will nevertheless be one of the key components in VII systems.
Limitations
There are numerous limitations to the development of VII. A common misconception is that the biggest challenge to VII technology is the computing power that can be fitted inside a vehicle. While this is indeed a challenge, the technology for computers has been advancing rapidly and is not a particular concern for VII researchers. Given the fact that technologies already exist for the most basic of forms of VII, perhaps the greatest hurdle to the deployment of VII technology is public acceptance.Privacy
The most common myth about VII is that it includes tracking technology; however, this is not the case. The architecture is designed to prevent identification of individual vehicles, with all data exchange between the vehicle and the system occurring anonymously. Exchanges between the vehicles and third parties such as OEMsOriginal Equipment Manufacturer
An original equipment manufacturer, or OEM, manufactures products or components that are purchased by a company and retailed under that purchasing company's brand name. OEM refers to the company that originally manufactured the product. When referring to automotive parts, OEM designates a...
and toll collectors will occur, but the network traffic will be sent via encrypted tunnels and will therefore not be decipherable by the VII system.
Although the system will be able to detect signal and speed violations, it will not have the capability to identify the violator and report them. The detection is for the purpose of alerting the violator and/or approaching vehicles, to prevent collisions.
Other public concerns
Other public acceptance concerns come from advocates of recreational driving as well as from critics of tolling. The former argue that VII will increase the automation of the vehicle, reducing the driver's enjoyment. Recreational driving concerns are particularly prevalent among owners of sports carSports car
A sports car is a small, usually two seat, two door automobile designed for high speed driving and maneuverability....
s. They could be attenuated by compensating for the presence of vehicles without VII or perhaps by maintaining roadways where vehicles without VII are permitted to travel.
Those opposed to tolling believe it will make driving prohibitively expensive for motorists in the lower-income bracket, conflicting with the general wish to provide equal services for all. In response, public transit discounts or road use discounts can be considered for qualifying individuals and/or families. Such provisions currently exist for numerous tolled roadways and could be applicable to roadways that are tolled via VII. However, as VII could allow for the tolling of every VII-enabled roadway, the provisions may be ineffective in view of the increased need to provide user-efficient transit services to every area.
Coordination
A major issue facing the deployment of VII is the problem of how to stand up the system initially. The costs associated with installing the technology in vehicles and providing communications and power at every intersection are significant. Building out the infrastructure along the roadside without the auto manufacturers' cooperation would be disastrous, as would the reverse situation; therefore, the two parties will need to work together to make the VII concept work.There are proof of concept tests being performed in Michigan and California that will be evaluated by the US DOT and the auto manufacturers, and a decision will be made, jointly, about whether or not to move forward with implementation of the system at that time.
Maintenance
Another factor for consideration in regard to the technology's distribution is how to update and maintain the units. Traffic systems are highly dynamic, with new traffic controls implemented every day and roadways constructed or repaired every year. The vehicle-based option could be updated via the internet (preferably wireless), but may subsequently require all users to have access to internet technology. Many local government agencies have been testing deployment of internet facilities in cities and along roadways, for example at rest-stops. These systems could be used for VII updating.An additional option is to provide updates whenever a vehicle is brought in for inspection or servicing. A major limitation here is that updating would be in the hands of the user. Some vehicle owners maintain their vehicles themselves, and periodic inspections or servicing are considered too infrequent for updating VII. Motorists might also be reluctant to stop at rest-stops for an update if they do not have the possibility of driving in an internet-enabled city.
Alternatively, if receivers were placed in all vehicles and the VII system was primarily located along the roadside, information could be stored in a centralised database. This would allow the agency responsible to issue updates at any time. These would then be disseminated to the roadside units for passing motorists. Operationally, this method is currently considered to provide the greatest effectiveness but at a high cost to the authorities.
Security
Security of the units is another concern, especially in the light of the public acceptance issue. Criminals could tamper with VII units, or remove and/or destroy them regardless of whether they are installed inside vehicles or along the roadside. If they are placed inside vehicles, laws similar to those for tampering with an odometerOdometer
An odometer or odograph is an instrument that indicates distance traveled by a vehicle, such as a bicycle or automobile. The device may be electronic, mechanical, or a combination of the two. The word derives from the Greek words hodós and métron...
could be enacted; and the units could be examined during inspections or services for signs of tampering. This method has many of the limitations mentioned in relation to the frequency of inspection and motorists who perform their own servicing. It also raises concerns regarding the honesty of vehicle technicians performing the inspections. The ability of technicians to identify signs of tampering would be dependent on their knowledge of the VII systems themselves.
Magnet
Magnet
A magnet is a material or object that produces a magnetic field. This magnetic field is invisible but is responsible for the most notable property of a magnet: a force that pulls on other ferromagnetic materials, such as iron, and attracts or repels other magnets.A permanent magnet is an object...
s, electric shock
Electric shock
Electric Shock of a body with any source of electricity that causes a sufficient current through the skin, muscles or hair. Typically, the expression is used to denote an unwanted exposure to electricity, hence the effects are considered undesirable....
s, and malicious software
Malware
Malware, short for malicious software, consists of programming that is designed to disrupt or deny operation, gather information that leads to loss of privacy or exploitation, or gain unauthorized access to system resources, or that otherwise exhibits abusive behavior...
(virus
Computer virus
A computer virus is a computer program that can replicate itself and spread from one computer to another. The term "virus" is also commonly but erroneously used to refer to other types of malware, including but not limited to adware and spyware programs that do not have the reproductive ability...
es, hacking
Hacker (computer security)
In computer security and everyday language, a hacker is someone who breaks into computers and computer networks. Hackers may be motivated by a multitude of reasons, including profit, protest, or because of the challenge...
, or jamming
Radar jamming and deception
Radar jamming and deception is the intentional emission of radio frequency signals to interfere with the operation of a radar by saturating its receiver with noise or false information...
) could be used to damage VII systems - regardless of whether units are located inside vehicle or along the roadside. Extensive training and certification would be required for technicians to inspect VII units within a vehicle. Along the roadside, a high degree of security would be required to ensure that the equipment is not damaged and to increase its durability. However, as roadside units could well be placed on the public right-of-way - which is often close to the edge of the roadway - there could be concerns about vehicles hitting them (whether on purpose or by accident). The units would either have to be built so that they do not provide a threat to motorists: perhaps in the form of a low-profile and/or low-mass object designed to be run over or to break apart (which would entail a relatively inexpensive unit); or the unit would have to be shielded by a device such as a guardrail
Guardrail
Guardrail can refer to*Guard rails installed on road sides for automobile safety*RC-12 Guardrail, a U.S. Army intelligence-gathering aircraft based on the C-12 Huron*Roof edge protection, rails installed on roofs to protect construction and roofing workers...
, raising safety concerns of its own.
Data input
Yet another limitation is in digitizing the inputs for the VII system. VII systems will probably continue to sense existing signs and roadway markings but one of the goals is to eliminate such signs and markings altogether. This would require converting the locations and messages of each item into the VII system's format. Responsibility for this work would probably fall on the highway agencies which nearly all face difficulties in funding, manpower, and available time. Implementing and maintaining VII systems may therefore require support at the national level.Communications and authorization
While VII is largely being developed as a joint research enterprise involving numerous transport agencies, it is likely initial products will be tailored to individual applications. As a result, compatibility and formatting issues could well arise as systems expand. Overcoming these difficulties could require complicated translation programs between different systems or possibly a complete overhaul of existing VII systems in order to develop a more comprehensive approach. In either case, the costs and potential for bugsSoftware bug
A software bug is the common term used to describe an error, flaw, mistake, failure, or fault in a computer program or system that produces an incorrect or unexpected result, or causes it to behave in unintended ways. Most bugs arise from mistakes and errors made by people in either a program's...
in the software will likely be high.
Legislation will be required to set in place access to the VII data and communications between applicable agencies. In the USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, for example, an Interstate
Interstate Highway System
The Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways, , is a network of limited-access roads including freeways, highways, and expressways forming part of the National Highway System of the United States of America...
is a Federal roadway that is often maintained by the State, but the local county or municipal authorities may be involved too. The legislation would need to set the levels of authority of each agency. In Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, for example, municipalities tend to have greater authority than counties and sometimes even the State whereas neighboring Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
has more authority at the county level than at municipal level; and State roads are almost exclusively controlled by the State. It would also have to be determined which other agencies can use the data (i.e. law enforcement, Census
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
, etc.) and to what degree it is permissible to use the information. Law enforcement would be needed to minimise data misuse. The various levels of authority could also increase incompatibility.
Recent developments
Much of the current research and experimentation is conducted in the United States where coordination is ensured through the Vehicle Infrastructure Integration Consortium, consisting of automobile manufacturers (Ford, General Motors, DaimlerChrysler, Toyota, Nissan, Honda, Volkswagen, BMW), IT suppliers, U.S. Federal and state transportation departments, and professional associations. Trialling is taking place in Michigan and California.The specific applications now being developed under the U.S. initiative
are:
- Warning drivers of unsafe conditions or imminent collisions.
- Warning drivers if they are about to run off the road or speed around a curve too fast.
- Informing system operators of real-time congestion, weather conditions and incidents.
- Providing operators with information on corridor capacity for real-time management, planning and provision of corridor-wide advisories to drivers.
In mid-2007, a VII environment covering some 20 square miles (51.8 km²) near Detroit will be used to test 20 prototype VII applications. Several automobile manufacturers are also conducting their own VII research and trialling.
See also
- Intelligent transportation systemIntelligent transportation systemThe term intelligent transportation systems refers to information and communication technology that improve transport outcomes such as transport safety, transport productivity, travel reliability, informed travel choices, social equity, environmental performance and network operation...
- Tracking
- Vehicle tracking systemVehicle tracking systemA vehicle tracking system combines the installation of an electronic device in a vehicle, or fleet of vehicles, with purpose-designed computer software at least at one operational base to enable the owner or a third party to track the vehicle's location, collecting data in the process from the...
- GPS trackingGPS trackingA GPS tracking unit is a device that uses the Global Positioning System to determine the precise location of a vehicle, person, or other asset to which it is attached and to record the position of the asset at regular intervals...
- Automatic number plate recognitionAutomatic number plate recognitionAutomatic number plate recognition is a mass surveillance method that uses optical character recognition on images to read the license plates on vehicles. They can use existing closed-circuit television or road-rule enforcement cameras, or ones specifically designed for the task...
- Vehicle tracking system
- Automated highway system
- Driverless carDriverless carAn autonomous car, also known as robotic or informally as driverless, is an autonomous vehicle capable of fulfilling the human transportation capabilities of a traditional car. As an autonomous vehicle, it is capable of sensing its environment and navigating on its own...
- Future of the carFuture of the carPotential future car technologies include varied energy sources and materials, which are being developed in order to make automobiles more more energy efficient with and reduced regulated emissions...