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One of the major challenges that still needs to be addressed
is copyright management. Content owners such as The
Walt Disney Company and Sony BMG are understandably
concerned about the possibility of copies of their music and
video programs being freely available over the Internet. As
a result, they are reluctant to agree to allow their content to
be moved from computer to computer or from computer to
vehicle. Microsoft, Apple Computer and others have begun to
address this problem in the context of portable music players.
The solutions currently available, however, are incompatible
with each other and, generally, haven’t been extended to
video content.
Service, safety and mobility
Of course, the use of the wireless data link is not limited to
just entertainment functions. Once the necessary hardware
has been installed in the vehicle, it can be used for many other
applications. For example, it is possible to transfer diagnostic
data over the wireless network. Using such an application, it
would be feasible to pull the diagnostic trouble codes from your
vehicle, look up their interpretations on the Internet and then
schedule an appointment with a dealer—all without leaving
home. Alternatively, if you chose to take your vehicle to the
dealer first, the diagnostic codes could be downloaded from
your vehicle and a preliminary repair estimate prepared as
you walk from the parking area to the service desk. Another
interesting application is “drive-by inspections.” In this case,
your vehicle’s emissions subsystems could be queried for
proper operation by roadside equipment. If there are no
problems, then your inspection sticker is automatically
renewed without the need to visit an official inspection station.
Vehicle-infrastructure integration (VII) has the potential
to have a more significant impact on our driving experience than
any other wireless application. VII is a joint effort between
the U.S. Department of Transportation and the automotive
manufacturers to use wireless communications to improve
highway safety and traffic flow. The proposed primary
communications link is a variation of 802.11, known as
IEEE 802.11p, or wireless access for the vehicle environment
(WAVE). As currently envisioned, the system will allow
vehicles to exchange critical information with each other
and with roadside infrastructure. Currently, over 100 potential
applications have been identified including:
• Warning when approaching stopped or slowed traffic
too quickly;
• Warning about upcoming congestion and providing an
alternate route;
• Highway merge assistance;
• Automated vehicle collision avoidance maneuvering; and
• Dynamic traffic signal phasing to optimize traffic flow.
It is anticipated that a few high priority VII applications
will be developed and tested over the next 2 to 3 years, and a
decision whether or not to deploy the network will be made
in 2008. If the decision is positive, the initial nationwide
deployment should be completed sometime in 2011 or 2012.
AUTOMOTIVE FUTURE
With all of the wireless network development being completed
by the automotive industry—Delphi and others—it is inconceivable
that the vehicle of the future will not include some
form of wireless data communication. Timing and the specific
applications are still open questions, but it seems that entertainment
applications will likely be implemented first, followed by
service, safety and mobility applications.
References
1. “Multiplex Bus Progression,” C. Lupini, SAE paper 2003-01-
0111.
2. “Vehicle Multiplex Communication,” C. Lupini, SAE publication
R-3 40.
Christopher A. Lupini is Lead Engineer for
the Delphi Serial Data Center of Expertise at
Delphi Electronics & Safety. He has worked
in the data communications industry for
18 years and has been consulting and teaching
for 12 years. Past accomplishments include
assisting in the design and development of
the General Motors Class 2 and GMLAN
protocols, as well as specifying and testing numerous J1850 and CAN
ICs. Mr. Lupini has one patent and has authored a dozen technical
papers and articles, as well as a textbook.
Douglas L. Welk leads a group of engineers
who develop advanced vehicle-based
applications for a variety of wireless data
networks at Delphi Corporation. He has
over 15 years of experience developing
vehicle-based entertainment and
information electronics. Past projects
include FM-Radio Data System (FM-RDS)
receivers and navigation systems. Mr. Welk has authored several
technical papers on, and has several patents and intellectual
property disclosures in, the areas of navigation, information and
entertainment systems.
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