At the University of Michigan's Institute for Transportation Research, scientists have launched a project on an unprecedented scale in which they believe Wi-Fi will help the world avoid accidents and congestion in the future.
During the year, testing of DSRC technology - specialized communication over short distances - will be carried out on three thousand cars.
On-board computers installed in cars (instead of tablets and laptops), using a wireless network, will automatically transmit about ten messages per second to each other. The system, detecting an emergency position for the car, will immediately alert the driver using video, vibration or sound, also providing options for preventing an accident. The head of the Institute, Peter Sweetman, announced the already available platform with six applications to help avoid dangerous situations.
During testing, all the information received will be carefully collected and processed so that the project developers can determine the accuracy and effectiveness of the warnings and signals issued by the system.
The successful completion of the project will mark the end of a 10-year collaboration to bring the new technology into reality. In the near future, this will give our cars the opportunity to exchange information not only with each other, but also with road signs, receiving the necessary information directly on the on-board computer.
Scientists call their project the beginning of a new era, which is leading to the creation of hundreds of new applications like this one. After all, progress is moving by leaps and bounds.
Testing the system required an investment of $ 25 million, most of which (80%) was kindly provided by the US Department of Transportation. In addition, eight world-renowned automobile concerns took part in the project through partnership agreements: Ford, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai-Kia, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Toyota and Volkswagen.
