Vehicle-to-vehicle communication safety demonstration impresses

Yesterday, Research and Innovative Technology Administrator Peter Appel and Deputy Assistant Secretary for Administration Brodi Fontenot were treated to a demonstration of Ford Motor Company's new vehicle-to-vehicle safety technology.

It was a thrilling glimpse into one possible future of American transportation.

Brodi Fontenot and Peter Appel are all smiles after surviving their test drive

With vehicle-to-vehicle communication, intelligent cars talk to each other wirelessly, warning drivers of potential dangers. Ford is one of the first automakers to build prototype vehicles demonstrating this exciting new technology, which could also be installed in buses, trucks, motorcycles, and other vehicles.

In the demonstration, Administrator Appel and Deputy Assistant Secretary Fontenot endured several hair-raising potential crash scenarios. And, from potential crash scenario to potential crash scenario, the new technology alerted the driver before it was too late and in ways our current vehicles simply cannot do.

"It wasn't comfortable, knowing that we were being driven deliberately into the most common situations where crashes occur," said Deputy Assistant Secretary Fontenot. "But each time, the vehicle alerted the driver--way in advance of his ability to see the danger on his own."

For example, with a long chain of vehicles moving at speed on a highway, if the lead vehicle brakes sharply, the trailing vehicle's driver remains unaware of the danger until all of the subsequent vehicles slam on their brakes. Sometimes, this is too late to avoid a crash.

But the Ford prototype receives the wireless signal from the lead car and informs the driver immediately--without the dangerous delay of the long chain of brake lights.

The red LED lights along the windshield base on the driver's side advise of danger ahead

In a less common--but perhaps more dangerous--occurence, vehicle-to-vehicle technology can warn a driver when a nearby car is approaching an intersection and is likely to violate the right-of-way.  Imagine approaching an intersection where you have the green light. Now imagine that a vehicle you can't see is approaching from the right and ignores the red light. Unless you and your passengers learn of this reckless approach, you are all in potential peril.

In an environment like our roadways, where every second counts, learning of a developing danger even one second early can make a critical difference. That's where this technology is truly lifesaving.

As the green car approaches, visually obscured by the silver car, the driver is alerted by vehicle-to-vehicle communication

And one of the most attractive aspects of this new technology is its low cost. As amazing as vehicle-to-vehicle communication may seem, it is built on the same wireless technology you have in your home. When these vehicles go into production, we expect the new safety enhancements to add no more to the cost of your car than the seat belts we take for granted today.

And that's good news for all of America's families.

"Each additional vehicle on the road equipped with this technology, "said Adminstrator Appel, "makes everybody on the road safer. So, knowing that it will be affordable is actually a big safety plus."

This technology did not create itself. It is the outcome of a public-private partnership between the Crash Avoidance Metrics Partnership (a coalition of automakers) and RITA's Intelligent Transportation Systems Joint Program Office.

As Ford Automotive Safety Director Jim Vondale said, "Ford has laid the groundwork with WiFi technology, and now we're working with other automakers and government leaders worldwide to develop common standards to bring intelligent vehicles to market quicker and more affordably."

This technology is still a few years from production, but it certainly looks promising today. And if you think you have ideas for other applications using vehicle-to-vehicle communication, don't forget the challenge Administrator Appel blogged about on Monday. We welcome your suggestions at challenge.gov.

Comments

[auto transport terms]

Well, that sounds like something useful, especially when you're driving on the Highway and suddenly you have to jump on the brakes because of traffic jam ahead and sometimes those sudden stops are very dangerous, not to mention that you might be a little too late by the time the car up front stops like that and the crash can't be avoided.

[Mouhamad A. Naboulsi]

V2V communication is the lives saver of tomorrow. The only obstacle is public acceptance of the perceived "big brother" in the car.

A good and deliberate campaign should be launched to dispel these myths and give the automotive manufacturers the cover needed to add DSRC to their car without worrying about market share erosion for being first.

[Glenard A. Munson]

This entry highlights one of the major problems America has with driving; we keep making cars "safer", roads "safer", and do everything we can to protect the driver from him/herself. At what point do we actually begin to address the driver...the principal cause of ALL collisions,and the dismal attitude drivers have about driving?

NOBODY has ever been taught how to run a red light, or coast through a stop sign, or to show total disregard to other road users, so what happened between the time they were TAUGHT how to drive, and now? How do we address this change in attitude in "I come first!", from the original "Driving is dangerous, I should be more careful!"?

As a professional diving instructor, in 3 states, over the last 20 years, I have yet to see Government or private industry address this issue...change the attitude of drivers and the abhorrent statistics will change. By only increasing the "safety" of the roads and vehicles, we empower drivers to feel less inclined to drive in a safe manner, since the danger and risks are no longer perceivable to them.

[Michael E. Bailey]

This new wireless safety technology will go along way in cutting accidents and thre serious enjuries and deaths that result. It also proves that public-privatepartnerships work, and I expect, will become much more common. Best wishes, Michael E. Bailey.

[Cincinnati Subaru]

Appears to be a useful tool to avoid injuries and accidents. The more information the driver has the better chance they will be able to react in the best manner. Cost as stated in the article is low, which could make better safety technology become more common in the future.

[Gary Kreie]

This is great technology and it can eliminate 80% of crashes. I saw in the President's budget that we are budgeting only $22 million on this in 2013. AAA says the US spends $300 billion on crashes each year, and Americans spend $160 billion on car insurance premiums. Is there no way to increase this investment and accelerate implementation? I believe we need to engage the public with a new National Goal based on this technology. I wrote an opinion pieces for he St. Louis Post-Dispatch Suburban Journal on the subject at this link:

http://www.stltoday.com/suburban-journals/metro/opinion/opinion-shaper-technology-can-open-road-to-fewer-car-crashes/article_573066ad-e2a5-524d-a044-f3bb6e2dfca3.html

Also, I set up web page at:

https://www.facebook.com/DANCE2022

to try to get the public interested in increasing investment in this technology, and saving lives.