KPIT Launches Vehicular Communication Platform

KPIT Launches Vehicular Communication Platform, Car2X

"Car2X enables development of emerging applications requiring communication between car to car (C2C) and between cars to roadside (C2I) infrastructure.

Thursday, October 23, 2008: KPIT Cummins has launched the Car2X platform to enable communication solutions in vehicular environments. The platform is based on Dedicated Short Range Communication (DSRC) technology and involves platform software solution by KPIT Cummins on Freescale's MPC5121e processor for telematics applications.

Car2X enables development of emerging applications requiring communication between car to car (C2C) and between cars to roadside infrastructure (C2I). DSRC is a Wi-Fi based technology exclusively for the automotive industry.

"The Car2x platform will enable car manufacturers and Tier-1 suppliers to develop diverse automotive communication applications for the 'connected car' of the future. The launch reiterates our commitment towards creating cutting-edge technology solutions for our customers," said Kishor Patil, chief executive officer and managing director, KPIT Cummins.

Supporting the industry common protocols for vehicle communication, the platform is compliant with IEEE DSRC and Wireless Access in a Vehicular Environment (WAVE) set of standards designed for the transportation and automotive industries, including 802.11p, 1609.3, and 1609.4. It enables position and location based services using GPS and in-vehicle networking services using CAN.

"Car2X provides an affordable embedded computing platform needed to support ongoing automotive industry development of emerging safety and telematics applications that will help reduce intersection and rear-end collisions, improve energy efficiency and address mobility issues such as urban congestion," said Mike Bryars, manager, global telematics operations, Freescale Semiconductor."

On KPIT:
http://www.kpitcummins.com/index.htm

C2C communication with MIMO...

Berkeley tested the MIMO system (from LitePoint) in vehicular environments.

See the original article:
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Berkeley Researchers Exploring DSRC Channel with LitePoint MIMO Test System

They're using IQnxn^plus to better understand channel characteristics and to test innovations

BERKELEY, CA — October 22, 2008 — Using one of the first LitePoint IQnxn^plus units to be shipped, Connectivity Lab researchers at University of California, Berkeley, are delving deeper into the channel characteristics of vehicles in motion communicating via dedicated short-range communications (DSRC) based on IEEE 802.11p. Using a 4x4 MIMO configuration, the team is now able to "see" multiple incoming waves, their directions and angles, and their interactions.

"Before, we were looking at the composite effects of the multipath signals but had no way to examine the various wave contributions. IQnxn^plus, using separate antennas, VSAs, and VSGs lets us better understand what’s going on in the physical channel," explained Ian Tan, a Berkeley graduate student and team member.

In addition, Tan said, the IQnxn^plus is being developed into a software-defined-radio (SDR) test bed. "It will provide a hardware platform for rapid prototyping of any improved communications schemes or beam-forming algorithms our group proposes. Naturally, seeing performance improvements with real hardware and software is much better than just simulations."

About DSRC

DSRC refers to one-way or two-way, short- to medium-range wireless communications methods intended specifically for automotive applications. Some applications envisioned using DSRC include: emergency warning system for vehicles, cooperative adaptive cruise control, cooperative forward collision warning, and intersection collision avoidance.

IEEE 802.11p is associated with DSRC. It is a draft amendment to the IEEE 802.11 standard that adds wireless access targeted for the vehicular environment, and defines enhancements to 802.11 aimed at supporting Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) applications. This includes data exchange between high-speed vehicles and between the vehicles and the roadside infrastructure in the licensed ITS band of 5.9 GHz (5.85-5.925 GHz).

Prior DSRC Work by Berkeley

The Connectivity Lab, working under the guidance of Professor Ahmad Bahai, had completed an earlier phase of DSRC exploration that looked at the effect of channel impairments on communications efficiency. "A lot of 802.11p specifications are based on 802.11a, which, in turn, targets primarily indoor wireless applications with stationary or slowly-moving radios," Tan explained. "At highway speeds, with multipath signals under both line-of-sight and non-line-of-sight conditions, it is possible that 802.11p specifications could fall short on avoiding inter-carrier interference. Our work, using IQview VSAs and omni-directional antennas produced data from over 200 locations and required 50 GBs of storage. We found that, for the most part, 802.11p was suitable to the DSRC automotive environment for short packets. However, with longer packets, channel variance over the longer transmission times will exacerbate inter-carrier interference. As a result, we believe there are opportunities for enhanced performance with improved processing."

Current DSRC Work

The next phase of the Connectivity Lab’s research is to explore innovations, such as multi-antenna beamforming, that increase the communications robustness of 802.11p in environments with increased RF congestion, harsher multipath, and greater inter-vehicle distances "Here is where the MIMO tools of IQnxn^plus, and its use as an SDR test bed, will help us propose ways to improve DSRC communications," Tan concluded.

About LitePoint Corporation

LitePoint Corporation, based in Sunnyvale California, designs, develops, markets, and supports advanced wireless test solutions for: developers and marketers of branded wireless products; consumer electronics and contract manufacturers; and wireless IC designers. Through its in-house expertise in the design of wireless systems and ICs, LitePoint has developed innovative test solutions to assure products conform to specifications, interoperate with other compliant products, and perform as described. LitePoint's test products address both development and high-volume production, providing its customers with superior return on investment, accelerated time-to-market, improved manufacturing yields, improved product quality, and increased profitability. For more information, visit LitePoint at www.litepoint.com. "

As well, see here:
Berkeley Researchers Exploring DSRC Channel with LitePoint MIMO Test System
(Business News & Technology News, 23 Oct 2008)

Honda demonstrates V2V communication system for motorcyclists

Honda's C2C solution covers also motorcycles ...

The original article
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Honda demonstrates V2V communication system for motorcyclists

October 23, 2008 No matter what your skill level, being aware of what's going on around you is THE most critical safety factor for all road users - if you don't see it coming, you are in big trouble. For motorcyclists, who are simply less visible on the roads and face a much greater risk of death or serious injury in the event that an accident does occur, this factor becomes even more important. In the past, the technology dedicated to inter-vehicle communication has been limited to blowing the horn or perhaps catching a radio report of an accident up ahead, but things are changing fast. This brings us to Honda's latest innovation in the field. The company has debuted a new Vehicle-to-Vehicle Communication (V2V) system aimed at reducing road casualties of both motorcyclists and car drivers which links vehicles within a defined radio range via a wireless LAN network to provide immediate access to data on vehicle location, accidents, congestion or other potential threats that lie ahead.

The system monitors the position, speed, distance and direction of surrounding road users and the collected data is centralized before being sent to drivers and motorcyclists. For the latter, the information can be accessed on their navigation system display or relayed by means of an in-helmet audio system.

The HMI (Human Machine Interface) concept developed by Honda provides both a visual and an audible warning in safety critical situations. The visual element is located close to the rider's lin-of-sight on the upper edge of the motorcycle dashboard and uses changes in color and intensity to intuitively communicate the nature of the threat. This is backed by an audible warning delivered through a Bluetooth link to an in-helmet speaker.

Developed within the ASV (Advanced Safety Vehicle) program in Japan, Honda demonstrated the system for the first time at the CAR 2 CAR Communication Consortium event at the Opel Test Track in Dudenhofen, Germany. The consortium brings together a number of vehicle manufacturers with the goal of bringing greater awareness and therefore safety to our roads.

Although there is no room to doubt the premise that greater awareness equals greater safety, the statistics cited by Honda to underpin their commitment to developing this technology make interesting reading.

EU funded research project (Motorcycle Accident In-Depth Study or MAIDS) collected in 1999 looked at data from 921 motorcycle accidents in 5 European countries. It was found that 88% of the accidents were mainly caused by human error, while 8% were due to external environmental factors such as weather conditions or road infrastructure. In 37 per cent of cases the motorcyclist was the cause of the accident, while in 50 per cent of cases the driver of the other vehicle was responsible. Of this 50 per cent, 72 per cent were so-called 'perception' failures, where the driver failed to see the motorcycle, three per cent were 'comprehension' failures (they saw the motorcycle but the brain did not recognize it as such), and 20 per cent were 'decision' failures (they saw the motorcycle but decided to continue with the intended manoeuvre anyway)... i.e. drivers tend not to see motorcyclists.

It's hoped systems like V2V will have an impact in particular problem areas such as accidents at an intersections and left-turn accidents (right-turn in the UK, Ireland, Australia etc) where a other vehicle cuts across the path of an oncoming motorcycle. Work is continuing into extending the scope of the system to assist more difficult situations. This includes identifying when are motorcyclists hidden in "blind-spots" or pinpointing the location of emergency services vehicles when a siren is sounding.

The Car 2 Car Consortium’s research and work, coupled with Honda’s latest safety innovation will result in a new era of road safety for all road users, where vehicle communication systems share vital information with the aim of helping to reduce the number of casualties on the roads," said General Manager of Honda (UK) Motorcycles, Steve Martindale. "Honda fully supports the EU targets for traffic fatality reduction and we’re pleased to be able to further our commitment under the European Road Safety Charter with this latest vehicle communication safety system.”

"

More readings:

Honda Demonstrates Life Saving Motorcycle Technology

HONDA’S BIKE THAT TALKS TO CARS

Car to car communication the safety device of the future

Road test for vehicle-to-vehicle communication

Here comes the news from an academia partner of C2C-CC, Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt DLR, on the demonstration of vehicle-to-vehicle communication on 22 and 23 of Oct. 2008 in Germany.

The orignal release:

Road test for vehicle-to-vehicle communication

"

22 October 2008

Car-to-car communication

A large-scale demonstration of inter-vehicle communication will take place on 22 and 23 October 2008. At the Opel proving ground in Dudenhofen near Frankfurt am Main, the new car-to-car (C2C) communication technology is demonstrated in real life. The German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt; DLR) is one of the parties involved in this project. On both days of the event, demonstrations will be given of the synergy between the separate technical components made by the partners in the CAR 2 CAR Communication Consortium (C2C-CC). DLR is joined in the consortium by almost all European automakers, several suppliers, and Fraunhofer and university institutes. The main contributions made by DLR scientists to this major project are the CODAR technology (Cooperative Object Detection And Ranging) and DLR's simulation expertise.

DLR operates a camera system transmitting large-scale image data

During the live demonstration, the audience, consisting of representatives from the automotive industry as well as journalists, will experience the state of the art in innovative C2C technology "live", allowing them to familiarise themselves with the new possibilities created by this technology. The demonstration will revolve around five selected case studies. DLR is responsible for one of these. The task assigned to DLR is to create an almost real-time representation of the traffic situation at the proving ground and all the communication links involved. The idea is to consolidate all the spontaneous, self-organising and short-lived communication links between the vehicles into a traffic situation display showing their precise geographic locations in such a way as to be insightful to laypersons as well. Other case studies will show how C2C technology can be used to prevent collisions between motorcycles and cars or to warn a driver of the presence of a breakdown van hidden from their view behind a curve in the road.

The C2C technology is considered to be a key technology for preventive road safety. The DLR Institute of Communications and Navigation (DLR-Institut für Kommunikation und Navigation) and the DLR Institute of Transportation Systems (DLR-Institut für Verkehrssystemtechnik) have made important contributions to this field over the past months, for instance by developing new methods for cooperative driver assistance based on vehicle-to-vehicle communication.

DLR is using this occasion to showcase its rather unique expertise in another way as well: During several overflights of the proving ground by a specially equipped research aircraft, high-resolution aerial images are recorded and analysed practically in real time to enable large-scale traffic situation assessment. For this purpose, DLR operates a camera system capable of transmitting large-scale image data (48 megapixels per photo, five by ten kilometres in two minutes) to a ground station. This system can record several images per second, enabling observation of dynamic processes such as road traffic. Parameters such as vehicle speeds, vehicle density and length of queues can be determined in this way. The system can improve traffic management during major events and calamities.

"

Companies join for advance automotive safety platform

G4App cooperates with Freescale on active vehicle safety product with emphases on 3D image processing and mobile communications:

Original article:

Companies join for advance automotive safety platform

"Joint platform brings dedicated short-range communications with Web connectivity to mainstream vehicles.

Freescale Semiconductor and G4 Apps are soon to announce availability of a jointly developed, production-ready automotive platform for safety and telematics applications. Designed to support a full range of mobile Web connectivity options including cellular and WiFi, the platform features an industry-proven module for dedicated short-range communications (DSRC).

DSRC is the protocol and radio interface used in the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) VII program for vehicle safety, using bandwidth set aside by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) exclusively for use in real-time vehicle safety and mobility applications. The platform’s cellular and WiFi connectivity and software services enable general-purpose mobile Web connectivity and support the mobility applications underway in the USDOT SAFE TRIP 21 initiative, as well as similar safety and mobility initiatives around the world.

Based on Freescale’s MPC5121e multicore microprocessor, the production-ready automotive safety and telematics platform enables a full-featured solution designed for implementation in volume trials under continuous use. The platform provides a comprehensive reference design that automotive OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers can use to develop higher volume products. “Multiple wireless technologies and exceptional processing power are available today to improve vehicle mobility and safety systems,” said Mike Bryars, manager of Freescale’s Infotainment, Multimedia and Telematics Operation. “Our goal with this platform is to enable automotive manufacturers and suppliers to immediately undertake large-scale trials in everyday use and fine-tune their applications for ubiquitous roll out. The platform is based on the an automotive processor for telematics, enabling fast time to volume production of automotive-grade systems.”

The MPC5121e device provides an ideal processing platform for a wide range of automotive telematics and safety applications. Based on Power Architecture technology, the MPC5121e includes an advanced graphics accelerator required for high-resolution 3D processing, along with sufficient capability to support personal device and Web-based infotainment applications and real-time safety capabilities.

“The reduction of traffic fatalities through passive safety systems, such as passenger restraints and air bags, seems to have reached its limits,” said Bob Burrows, CEO of G4 Apps. “To help reduce fatalities even more, the automotive industry is moving to minimise accidents through the use of vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure communications and real-time collision warnings. These same technologies enable us to streamline drive time, improve fuel economy and reduce emissions. With DSRC-based safety applications already running and a host of proven mobility and navigation products now available, our jointly developed platform is designed to provide a visible, reliable and cost-effective solution for the auto industry.”"

Other expresses:
Freescale and G4 Apps Jointly Develop Automotive Safety and Telematics Platform [October 16, 2008]

Car-2-Car communications demonstrated by BMW, VW, Nissan and GM

Considered as the following up activities from the spectrum regulation of 30MHz ITS frequency band at 5.9GHz in EU, BMW, VW, Nissan, and GM have demonstrated their active safety systems based on vehicle-to-vehicle communication technologies:

BMW announces Car-2-Car communications development

*Picture from motorauthority

The Car-2-Car Communication Consortium (C2C-CC) consisting of various European manufacturers, including BMW, Daimler, Renault, Fiat, VW, Honda, Opel, Volvo and Audi has been working on the European Car-2-Car (C2C) communication system that has standard interface agreed by all carmakers and a uniform frequency radio frequency enable the cars to communication effectively.

The recently approved the 5.9 GHz frequency band specifically for C2C communications in Europe marked a key milestone in the standardiyation process for C2C industry.

BMW's C2C system enables vehicles to communicate with other vehicles in the vicinity for the purpose of danger warning, and traffic information exchange. The communication is performed using the Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) technology, which organizes vehicles into ad-hoc wireless network on the road.

Similar system has been developed not only by the partners from C2C-CC, e.g. VW, but also by carmakers outside of the initiative, such as Nissan and General Motors. The systems have to be compatible with each other for being truely effective.

Source and picture courtesy: motorauthority

Volkswagen's Car-2-Car system begins testing


Volkswagen performed a test of its Car-2-Car communication system with a Passat and a Golf, which both use the WLAN technology for information exchange between the cars. Each vehicle can access to the car bus throught the "Car Gate" and get a abstract of car data, such as speed, wheel speeds or status of the hazard flashers, and exchange the information with adjacent vehicles in order to help drivers to aviod adverse situations.

For more information and photo courtesy: motorauthority

Related readings:
Nissan to pilot pedestrian collision avoidance system
GM develops second-generation car-to-car communications system

EU Takes the First Major Step to Establish the Vehicle-to-Vehicle Communication System

Aug. 8th, 2008 -- The European Union passed a motion today to reserve an EU-wide frequency band for vehicle applications. The target of the motion is to reduce road accidents by enabling co-operative information technology systems between automotive OEMs.

An EU-wide frequency band was allocated for ‘immediate and reliable communications between cars, and between cars and roadside infrastructure.’ 30MHz frequency bandwidth within the 5.9GHz band are going to be reserved within the next six months by national authorities purely for road safety applications. The similar frequency bands have been reserved both in the U.S. and in Japan for future vehicle communications systems.

Potential applications running on this frequency band include local danger warning, traffic jam warning, as well as other infotainment services. German car manufacturers are expected to perform extensive field trial for vehicle-to-vehicle communications systems later this year as reported by motorauthority.

Big Step Forward for 5.9 GHz Tolling - MARK IV

A successful story from MARK IV IVHS about their solution of electronic toll collection (ETC), in North America. (pdf)

MARK IV IVHS is an important player in North America ITS market. OTTO is its new generation of technology based on 5.9GHz DSRC that is also the near term viability of VII.

Nov. 19, 2008, New York -- MRRK IV IVHS, the largest supplier of electronic toll collection equipment in northeastern U.S., stated that mileage-based user fee is possible through 5.9GHz DSRC technology. (pdf)