Vehicular Visions- Challenges and Initiatives

-Stephen Chen

Partner, Global Software Group, LLC

stephenachen@gmail.com

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lobal Software Group LLC

Big Hairy Audacious Goals*

Vehicular Challenges Complexity Maintenance Communications Ecosystem

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Initiatives AUTOSAR “Smart” Servicing VANET New paradigms

* Collins, J and Porras, J., “”Building Your Company’s Vision”, Harvard Business Review, 1996, Volume 74, Issue 5, pp 65-77; “Built to Last: Successful Habits of Visionary Companies”, 1994, 2002.

Vehicular Complexity

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At least five data busses, 80 microprocessors/microcomputers, controlling mission critical and infotainment functions

Vehicular Complexity

Problem – Today’s vehicles contain close to 80 embedded microcomputers controlling mission critical and other functions. Sophisticated software modules in sensors and microprocessors monitor and control every aspect of operating the vehicle, they provide occupant protection and safety features, as well as infotainment services. The lack of an integrated operating environment significantly impedes the testing of these complicated systems and delays model introduction.

Solution Approach – Develop automotive software architectures for facilitating design, development, and testing of complex embedded software components.

Innovations Required – Apply mesh network communications theory to integrating electronics of a vehicle; development of automotive software development kits and platforms

References – 1. “Specification of the Virtual Functional Bus”, www.autosar.org/download/specs_aktuell/AUTOSAR_SWS_VFB.pdf 2. “Motorola Automotive Reveals Latest In-Car Technology at 2004 North American International Auto Show”, www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/01-05-2004/0002083138&EDATE= 3. “Vehicle Bus”, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vehicle_bus

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AUTOSAR (Automotive Open Systems Architecture) paves the way for innovative electronic systems that further improve performance,

safety and environmental friendliness is a strong global partnership that creates one common standard: "Cooperate on

standards, compete on implementation" is a key enabling technology to manage the growing electrics/electronics complexity.

It aims to be prepared for the upcoming technologies and to improve cost-efficiency without making any compromise with respect to quality

facilitates the exchange and update of software and hardware over the service life of the vehicle

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Vehicular Maintenance

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Vehicular Maintenance

Problem – With the introduction of hybrid and electric vehicles, maintenance becomes a critical issue for both manufacturers and consumers.

Solution Approach – Develop “smart” service bays and a comprehensive networked ecosystem for maintaining vehicles.

Innovations Required – Obtaining real-time data from on-road vehicles, alerts, sensor fusion algorithms; Data mining of component usage information

References – 1. “The Power of Information at Your Fingertips”, www.tistechstream.com/PDF/BTSBOTF_BROCHURE_FINAL.pdf 2. Trivedi, Mohan, “Holistic Perception and Dynamic Displays for Active Safety”, in Proceedings of the Third International Conference on Intelligent Sensors, Sensor Networks, and Information Processing, Melbourne, Australia, December, 2007.

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Toyota’s Service Bay of the Future

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Features• Lower warranty and recall costs• Usage information on major components• Reduce service time and errors

Car to Car Communications

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Vehicular Communications

Problem – Traffic congestion, accident avoidance, and driver assist features are necessary to optimize traffic flow. Current approaches utilize cellular networks with navigation applications and real-time traffic data.

Solution Approach – Develop automotive software architectures for deploying car-to-car protocols.

Innovations Required – Move from “lab” to product will require new business models and public policy to incent applications development and deployment,

References – 1. Intelligent Transportation Systems, www.its.dot.gov/index.htm 2. Stojmenovic, I., “VANET: Vehicular Ad Hoc Networks”, www.site.uottawa.ca/~ivan 2. Zhong, T., Xu B., and Wolfson, O., “Disseminating Real-time Traffic Information in Vehicular Ad Hoc Networks”, 2008 IEEE Intelligent Vehicles Symposium 3. “Nokia shows off real-time traffic application”, news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-10101664-94.html

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Vehicular Ad Hoc Networks (VANET)

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Roadsidebase station V2I communication

V2Vcommunication

• Vehicle to Vehicle communications• Vehicle to Road communications• Broadcast emergency messages• Traffic congestion notifications• Accident/weather information• Vehicular advertising• Navigation• Content sharing

Vehicular Ecosystem Challenges

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Vehicular Ecosystem

Problem – In dense urban environments, gasoline powered cars may no longer be sustainable. They create pollution, congestion, and are inefficient for moving people within an urban area. New paradigms beyond the current public transportation systems need to be developed.

Solution Approach – Develop vision for public spaces and people movement

Innovations Required – Pragmatic non-polluting efficient vehicles for people movement in dense urban environments

References – 1. “A Carbon-free Stackable Rental Car, MIT technology Review, November, 2007. 2. “Will the future really look like "Minority Report"?, dir.salon.com/story/ent/movies/int/2002/07/10/underkoffler_belker/index.html

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Cars from “Minority Report”

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• Cars travel on huge highways that have vertical on- and off-ramps.• The road network extends to channels on the sides of buildings, allowing cars to move up and down• Cars are permanently on autopilot

MIT CityCar

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• Stackable electric two passenger city vehicle• One-way sharable user model• CityCar stacks will be placed throughout the city near subway stops, train stations, etc.• Stacks will provide recharging• The CityCar uses a novel “Wheel Robot”, an in-wheel electric motor and suspension system

Small Highly Achievable Goals –BHAG to SHAG

Download the AUTOSAR toolkit, design, develop and test applications

Develop enhancements to Toyota’s maintenance vision

Investigate business case justification for car-to-car communications using cellular, WiMax, DSRC, etc.

Prototype traffic report sharing using VANET concepts on the Dan Ryan during rush hours

Propose public policy changes and industrial incentives for implementing a CityCar/Minority Report vision

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