Connected Vehicle
The task: recognise hazards sooner and avoid accidents
To improve active safety in traffic, cars should be equipped with driver assistance systems that are able to communicate with each other and also with the traffic infrastructure. Specifically, this means: every car must be able to tell other road users about road conditions and the traffic situation based on information it has collected with its own sensors.
The service: Cirquent makes Car2X Communication possible
Cirquent has been working for many years on the development of modern vehicle IT systems on the commission of BMW Group Research and Technology. Car2X Communication – in other words, direct communication between vehicles on the one hand and infrastructure on the other – is one of the focal point in this area. Within the scope of EU research initiatives the BMW Group, in close collaboration with Cirquent, has developed a generic vehicle interface and architecture that links various systems. Development and operation of the IT infrastructure for communication are important tasks for Cirquent.
The benefits: preventive safety in traffic
The EU-sponsored PReVENT project was just one of many research projects dealing with preventive traffic safety. Cirquent was one of several companies that worked on the sub-project, Wireless Local Danger Warning (WILLWARN). The aim of this project was for cars to warn other cars as they pass by: vehicles fitted with Wireless LAN technology (WLAN) warn each other about hazards while they are on the road – hazards such as fog, objects on the road or icy conditions.
Details about digital data transfer between cars in flowing traffic
Digital data transfer in flowing traffic
Transferring digital data between cars in flowing traffic is a particular challenge. It is implemented via wireless local ad-hoc networks that can send and receive. The networks develop spontaneously between cars, organise themselves and function with no external infrastructure: as soon as the vehicles come within reach, they open an "ad hoc" communication channel, and can exchange news – assuming a uniform transfer standard exists. In this process each vehicle, which at high speeds often has only a few seconds in which to communicate, takes on the role of the sender, the recipient or a facilitator so that other more distant vehicles can also be reached.
Cirquent develops processes for situation recognition
However, cross-manufacturer communication with other vehicles not only depends on fast, error-free and secure data transfer, it is also important that the systems recognise the situation reliably. In the case of road works this is relatively easy, as drivers can be made aware of a hindrance with transmitters in the pylons or road markings, for example. But to define hindrances in general it is necessary to develop suitable recognition processes. Cirquent developed a process based on values from driving dynamics. For instance, from the driver's steering and braking behaviour it can be deduced whether he had to avoid an obstacle or simply negotiated a bend.
Information about the national research project, Network on Wheels
Network on Wheels research project with Cirquent
The national research project, Network on Wheels (NoW), was sponsored by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research. NoW developed the technical fundamentals for Car2X Communication. The aim was to specify a marketable communication system for traffic that exchanges data between vehicles.
More safety, more comfort, more service
In addition to active safety functions, NoW also considered convenient hotspot-based applications that would support a market launch. The idea was that these would provide drivers with benefits even when only a few vehicles are fitted with the system. For example, BMW Group Research and Technology and Munich Technical University implemented the application together with a car park payment function. This allows drivers to simply confirm payment of the parking charge via the board computer display as they leave the car park.
Another conceivable application: local music downloads in the car. A research vehicle was equipped with an integrated card reader. This allows drivers to buy their favourite songs using their credit card at the push of a button. Cirquent developed the user interface for this. Direct contact with the Internet and its many services is also possible.
