En route to an open V2X architecture

During 2012 to 2015 the CONVERGE project has defined the organisational and technical foundations of an open and collaborative architecture for V2X-communication. The results of that work have now been made public.

Although the technical requirements for safe and efficient transport of individuals and road freight have long since been fulfilled, a flexible and secure communications network is still required.

"Only if we manage to combine various communication systems such as wireless LAN, mobile data networks and broadcasting, we will be able to use information about traffic conditions in a better and smarter way," project coordinator Horst Wieker said at the presentation of CONVERGE results.

"Our goal has been extending different communication systems for the targeted distribution of information and making them shareable," said Wieker. "Accordingly, we can create the conditions for a significant improvement in traffic flow and enhance road safety."

Funded by the German Federal Government, the CONVERGE project has created a basis for the organisation and operation of a coordinated, open, expandable and decentralised V2X system network. This includes the communication of vehicles with other vehicles, with service providers or with components of the transport infrastructure such as ITS roadside stations.

One of many possible application scenarios is ‘wrong-way driver notification’. The cooperative road infrastructure identifies a wrong-way driver and immediately warns the driver and endangered road users within the immediate area via their Smartphone or on the navigation screen.

CONVERGE has worked to create an architecture which allows any number of content and service providers to interact in a protected network and to disseminate information only as needed by the user’s current geographical position, regardless of their access technology.

Wieker stresses that it is not just about indicating danger: "If traffic reports are intelligently networked with the planned route of a truck and the current availability of truck parking areas, freight transport can be routed more efficiently. This avoids delays at loading ramps and supports the driver compliance with statutory rest periods."

Numerous key players have been involved in the CONVERGE research and preparation of nationally and internationally recognised standards for the V2X architecture. These include service providers, traffic control centres, road infrastructure and mobile operators, automotive manufacturers and suppliers, IT service providers, as well as universities and research institutes.

The results of the project are available online (link <%$Linker:2External<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-16"?><dictionary />000oLinkExternalhttp://www.converge-online.de/?id=000000&amp;spid=enVisit Convergeo-online.defalsehttp://www.converge-online.de/?id=000000&amp;spid=enfalsefalse%>) and initial activities to put the CONVERGE architecture into practice are already being prepared.