Building Expertise for Connected Vehicle Safety Applications

Principal Investigator(s):

Chen-Fu Liao, Former Researcher, Mechanical Engineering

Project summary:

Dedicated short range communication (DSRC) was recommended by the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) as one of several key wireless communication technologies for numerous transportation safety and intelligent mobility applications under the connected vehicle (CV) initiative. Commercially available vehicle awareness devices (VAD), integrated with GPS and DSRC, can be installed in a vehicle without connection to vehicle systems. VAD is capable of only sending the basic safety message (BSM) over a DSRC wireless communications link. VADs do not generate warnings and may be used in any type of vehicle. In addition, the in-vehicle aftermarket safety device (ASD) is capable of sending and receiving the safety messages over a DSRC wireless communications link. The device has a driver interface, runs V2V and V2I safety applications, and issues audible or visual warnings and/or alerts to vehicle operators. This research is exploring the latest sensing and wireless communication technologies and evaluating their capabilities for CV safety applications. The objective of this project is to test DSRC on-board units (OBU), build expertise related to CV initiatives, and position UMN to receive future funding.

Project details: