Advanced technology is being increasingly used in modern cars to help enhance the drive more secure and comfortable. V2V is such technology.
V2V is a vehicle to vehicle communication system with of help of which the vehicles on roads can communicate with each other through messages and information exchange. This technology will enable cars to “speak” with each other. This approach is adopted as a road safety measure to ensure safety of people in the vehicle as well as those on the road. The vehicles on road can exchange information with each other on distances, the traffic coming ahead and the vehicle that may be approaching from behind informing the driver about the threats and giving him necessary instructions to avert them.
Research is being carried out to make it a viable option. With the implementation of this technology, the future of automobiles can become more saving and the frequency of road mishaps can be reduced to a great extent.
A little statistics
A survey by National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has found that implementing this technology on road can reduce the road accidents in U.S.A by 76%. An additional figure can be accommodated in the existing figures and predictions are being made that the road accidents can be curbed by 81% but interacting the V2V communicating systems with infrastructure support such as traffic management systems.
A bit about technology
Initial developments are being made through short range communication based on WiFi. In the first phase, emphasis will be only laid of intimating the danger levels to the driver and the system will not take control of the car. The later developments are aimed at the system taking control of the car in case of imminent dangers by implementing measures like applying brakes, taking a suitable course or stopping the car. The range will be approximately 300 meters.
The surroundings will be monitored for speed, direction, location and braking. Different long and medium range ultrasonic and solid state sensors, transmitters and receptors will be used to this effect. Dedicated short range communications (DSRC) has a range of maximum 1000 meters and uses 5.9 GHz frequency channel.
These vehicles can coordinate with other vehicles on the move in order to avoid intersection and ensure adequate clearances. This system can also be able to interpret the obstacles, traffic signals and notify the driver or take auto corrective steps in case of overdrive. These can also help a driver in parking a vehicle correctly. Research is also on to equip this system with capabilities to communicate with the traffic management system to ensure routes with minimum traffic so that the traffic can be coordinated in an orderly manner. These systems can also be used by the law enforcing bodies to identify the vehicles and keep a track of their movements in different ways.
The key utilities
Though the system can be manipulated in different ways to accommodate for various uses and benefits but the key utilities remain the same. They provide a higher safety feature and the vehicles are made capable of sensing the risks and analyzing the surroundings to make judicious decisions on the road.
The smartness of the system lies in the fact that it can display various parameters on windscreens when combined with the approach of augmented reality. This includes dangerous proximity levels with other vehicles on the road, the approaching traffic from ahead and behind, the obstacles and car parking directions. The interaction with traffic management systems is a high edge technique and should be audited well before putting into application.
In the near or distant future
Several prototypes have been successfully tested and the development of the products in underway. Research is being undertaken to make it more user friendly and interactive with the help of augmented reality based technology. Other technologies like GPS can also be integrated with the modules to enhance the capabilities of the V2V systems. Countries like U.S.A are planning to make it mandatory to implement V2V communication system in every vehicle in the days to come and other countries are expected to follow the lead. This will ensure high levels of safety to life and property with the number of road mishaps decreasing with every passing day and putting a step ahead towards a safer and more organized and smart future.