US wants all cars to talk to each other with V2V technology

US wants all cars to talk to each other with V2V technology
image courtesy US DOT (department of transportation)

the US national transportation safety board has just called for all cars, trucks, and buses to come equipped with V2V communication systems that let cars ‘talk’ to one another and their environment. research suggests that V2V (vehicle-to-vehicle) and its partner V2I (vehicle-to-infrastructure) communications could address up to 82 percent of automobile crashes, as well as reduce CO2 emissions by helping travelers make informed decisions to avoid congested routes.

automobile manufacturers have been integrating these kinds of communications into their concept car releases for years — see our coverage of the latest connected cars. this official announcement by a government department is an important first step towards the definition of regulations that could ultimately see connected vehicles part of mainstream automotive technology.

concept illustrations of ways that V2V and V2I technology could warn drivers of surrounding conditions
image courtesy US DOT (department of transportation)

the crux of the V2V system is the ‘here I am’ data message. either compiled from the vehicle computer itself, or obtained with third-party measurements like GPS to identify the location and speed of a vehicle. the networked result of such messages paints a dynamic realtime picture of traffic and road conditions. this data can be then be utilized by individual vehicles and drivers in making decisions about routes to take; it can also provide instant warnings to drivers about impending dangers, through flashing lights, beeps, or steering wheel vibrations. although it is a networked system, V2V technology assists but does not replace or override the actions of drivers, differentiating it from the technology behind self-driving cars, are also expected to navigate the streets sooner than originally anticipated.

‘BMW connected drive‘ is a concept car that explores V2V and V2I technology; the new recommendations by the US department of transportation could see these kinds of systems mandatory in all highway vehicles

the recommendation by the US transportation safety board was spurred by two school bus accidents in 2012 that occurred by collisions with trucks at intersections; the official statement was part of the research into a fatal collision in chesterfield, new jersey. if the national highway traffic safety administration (NHTSA) were to develop standards for connected V2V wireless technology, the safety board could require these features to be installed on all highway vehicles.

the NHTSA had already begun testing V2V systems in 2012 with about 3,000 connected vehicles in each of six US cities, including orlando, dallas, and san francisco.