Demonstration of Inter-vehicle Communication with Dedicated Moniter in Japan

Japan, 4th Feb, 2009 -- In the field test of an inter-vehicle communication system, which was conduced by Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transportation and Tourism in late January 2009, Fuji Heavy Industries (FHI) Ltd and Mitsubishi Motors Corp employed a on-board system with dedicated monitor for warning the driver about the approaching risks. Whereas, other carmakers use the navigation screen to alert the driver in their systems, e.g., Honda Motor Co Ltd, Mazda Motor Corp and Nissan Motor Co Ltd.
The dedicated monitor overpermes the navigation screen due to the fact that drivers can check the dedicated monitor with less eye movenment.

As illustrated in the following pictures, the dedicated monitor provide warnings by changing the color, indicating the kind and the direttion of dangers with large icons, which are all easy to identifiy for drivers.

"A dedicated monitor is installed on the car navigation monitor. When no vehicle is approaching, the color of the screen is blue. The driver can see the blue color with little eye movement, without looking at the car navigation screen."

"The color of the dedicated monitor turns yellow when there is a vehicle approaching. And the monitor displays an icon corresponding to the type of the approaching vehicle and the possible accident type."

"Mitsubishi's test vehicle. A dedicated monitor is installed on the car navigation system."

"Icons are displayed on the monitor when there is a high risk of collision. The icons in the photo are indicating that a bicycle is moving in the opposite lane when the car is making a right turn at an intersection."

"There is a vehicle approaching in the opposite lane at a right turn."

"The dedicated monitor shows a direction (such as "E" and "W") when there is no vehicle with equipment for inter-vehicle communications in the vicinity."

"Upon the detection of a vehicle with the equipment, the monitor displays the letters "IVC." As long as there is no risk of collision, the monitor continues displaying the letters."

Source and photo courtesy techon.nikkeibp.co.jp