DaimlerChrysler first in the world to bring Car-2-X Communication
Muamer Hodzic December 5, 2006
DaimlerChrysler is set to bring out a new technology that will have cars warn each other of impending danger. This, along with self parking and the Pre-Safe technology, is one step closer to the time where cars will drive themselves.
Until then, this techonolgy will give motorists the ability to detect danger even if the danger spot lies around the next bend or over the horizon. This has now been successfully verified by DaimlerChrysler experts and their partners in a field test conducted at the conclusion of the “WILLWARN” (Wireless Local Danger Warning) European research project. During the course of this test, five vehicles equipped with WLAN-based radio technology used the “Car-2-X Communication” system to radio details of critical situations detected by their on-board sensors – fog, black ice or obstacles on the road such as broken-down vehicles – to following cars. These early warnings enabled the drivers of the cars behind to prepare for the danger and adapt their speed in plenty of time.
DaimlerChrysler had already tested this technology some six years ago – a world first at the time – by sending the first ever inter-communicating vehicle fleet out onto the road as part of the “FleetNet” research project. This field test demonstrated that WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network) technology, which had already proven a success when used for wireless Internet access, also allowed vehicles to communicate with each other. One of the key benefits is that expensive, fixed-installation transmitting and receiving devices are not required, since the cars themselves act as both transmitters and receivers. The cars establish an ad-hoc radio network and send any necessary warnings to all other vehicles within a radius of around 500 metres. For vehicles outside of this radio range, the cars act as relays and pass on any warnings in much the same way as a relay runner would hand over a baton. No additional sensors are required to detect critical situations, since the necessary information is provided by the anti-lock braking system (ABS), the Electronic Stability Program (ESP), the steering-angle sensors, the outside thermometer or the navigation system.
