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012 Dedicated Short Range Communications (DSRC) Platform

Submitted by admin on Wed, 18/03/2009 - 13:24
Name Dedicated Short Range Communications (DSRC) Platform.
Short Description
  • DSRC Wireless system built on an embedded platform containing powerful general purpose processing and a variety of standardised input/output capabilities.
  • Primary application in the transport industry with mobile units communicating with each other, with fixed roadside infrastructure, and potentially on approach to the home.
Features and Options
  • Units are suitable for mounting on vehicles or on infrastructure, e.g. mounting on traffic lights, street crossings.
  • DSRC wireless channel (for vehicle to vehicle and vehicle to roadside comms)
  • Smart camera for car counting (e.g. queues), car and pedestrian and sign detection.
  • GPS plus inertial navigation (plus wireless location?) for precise location when mounted on a vehicle.
  • Bluetooth channel (for personal electronics  such as phones, PDAs, headphone/earphones, and entertainment units)
  • CAN bus channel for interfacing to the vehicle controllers
  • USB channel for computer test beds, miscellaneous computing devices, and access to power.
  • Integrated with the car info-tainment system.
  • Optional solar cell add-on module.
  • Optional integration with traffic management systems, e.g. loop detectors, traffic light control.
What problem is
being solved?
  • Safety - reduces accidents and improves emergency response.
    • Speed zones: schools zones, construction zones. 
    • Pedestrian crossings (inform vehicles of pedestrians).
    • Accident reporting, and accident and traffic hazards warnings.
    • Report driver fatigue for long-haul truck drivers.
    • Vehicle to vehicle safety, e.g. adaptive cruise control, collision avoidance.
  • Energy Saving - saves on greenhouse gas emissions.
    • Advisory speeds (to avoid stopping a red lights).
    • Traffic congestion warnings.
  • Traffic Efficiency - reduces travel time for road users.
    • Congestion management.
  • Roads infrastructure management - reduces costs of road and bridge maintenance.
    • Communication with trucks regarding weight limits and permissible road usage.
  • Tolling including congestion tolls.
  • Car park traffic management and advice.
  • Points of interest / advertising / route information / local navigation.
  • Link on approach to home - e.g.. garage door opening, visitor alert, turn on the lights.
  • Supports co-operative vehicle technologies.
Skills Required
  • DSRC wireless channel, a Bluetooth channel, a CAN bus channel, and a USB channel.
  • Human/machine interface.
  • Decoding and display device for retrofit to motor vehicles.
  • Information transmission device at roadside.
  • SCADA integration.
  • Database application.
  • Traffic flow/congestion management.
Stakeholders
  • Readily identifiable stakeholders:
    • RTA.
    • Telco’s.
    • Emergency Services.
    • Police.
    • Automobile manufacturers and after-market.
    • Home automation manufacturers.
    • Motoring/transport organisations.
    • The ITS (Intelligent Transport Systems) Australia project.
    • NICTA DSRC project.
    • Telematics cluster.
Suggested Collaborators (if known) Stakeholder representatives.
Target and
End Market
  • There is a real need from the safety viewpoint.
  • Transport industry (initially road).
  • Could be deployed in other transport/logistics applications such as ports vehicle/container management.
  • There is export potential.
Time Frame
  • Need proof of concept (technical and commercial) - 18? months.
  • Ready retrofit solution would obviate the need to wait until the car manufacturers fit these before there is any uptake.
'Champions' Name: The Warren Centre - Tony Strasser (SKM); GIC - John Humphreys
Company: The Warren Centre www.warren.usyd.edu.au
Relevant Grant(s)
(if known and if applicable)		  
Commercialisation Considerations (if known)  
Key issue / comment
  • The range of technology involved will need a collaborative development team.
  • Suitable size for a showcase project.  Has many elements some of which could be quick wins.
  • Australia has/had an international reputation for intelligent traffic management systems.
  • Critical mass and retro-fitting the existing vehicle fleet.
  • A pilot may require a large investment.
  • A pilot would be more achievable if the area involved could be dedicated and contained.
  • Export potential but the topic is receiving international attention.
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