Cars Converse Via Wireless

Aug. 21, 2012

Wireless vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communications may one day improve on-road safety by having cars talk to cars over the airwaves. For now, a Safety Pilot Model Deployment of 2880 cars is being conducted with the help of the United States Department of Traffic (USDOT) and the Michigan Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI). The deployment is using wireless technology from Cohda Wireless, which is known as dedicated-short-range-communications (DSRC) technology. The deployment is being performed with the hope of learning more about how V2V communications can enable active safety systems that can assist drivers in preventing many roadway crashes.

“Safety Pilot Model Deployment is an exciting and challenging project that will deploy 2800 vehicles with DSRC technology into a real-world driving environment,” notes Debra Bezzina, Safety Pilot Senior Program Manager for UMTRI. “Cohda is a key partner with proven technology. They bring a valuable global perspective that enhances the team.” Safety systems being evaluated include forward-collision-warning (FCW), blind-spot-warning (BSW), lane-change-warning (LCW), and do-not-pass-warning (DNPW) systems.

About the Author

Jack Browne

Technical Contributor

Jack Browne, Technical Contributor, has worked in technical publishing for over 30 years. He managed the content and production of three technical journals while at the American Institute of Physics, including Medical Physics and the Journal of Vacuum Science & Technology. He has been a Publisher and Editor for Penton Media, started the firm’s Wireless Symposium & Exhibition trade show in 1993, and currently serves as Technical Contributor for that company's Microwaves & RF magazine. Browne, who holds a BS in Mathematics from City College of New York and BA degrees in English and Philosophy from Fordham University, is a member of the IEEE.