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Intelligent transportation systems (ITS) integrate advanced information technology, data communication, electronic sensing, control, and computer technologies into ground traffic management to create a comprehensive transport management system that operates in real time, accurately, and efficiently across a wide area. The primary service targets are people and vehicles.
Industry development and direction
In recent years, the intelligent transportation sector has developed rapidly and shown notable progress in many areas. The direction of ITS development is closely linked to the evolving needs of people and vehicles. As ITS advances, both users and vehicles continue to change. Automotive technology may undergo major innovations over the next decade, so monitoring current vehicle technologies is important for companies preparing for future changes in intelligent transportation.
Below are five of the most advanced automotive technologies in recent development.
1. Audi traffic signal recognition system
Audi's traffic signal recognition system connects a vehicle's onboard network to a city's central traffic signal network to receive signal information in real time and provide guidance to the driver. For example, if the driver encounters a red light, the instrument cluster can display the remaining time. When the light turns green, the system can engage modes that aim to minimize fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. It can also use signal information to avoid congested stretches and suggest smoother navigation routes. Audi reports that the technology can reduce CO2 emissions by about 15% and planned to offer it on certain new models.
2. Google's self-driving car
Although fully autonomous vehicles still seem futuristic to some, Google has been developing the technology incrementally. Autonomous vehicles use cameras and radar to detect objects and avoid collisions. Rear-mounted antennas can receive satellite-based traffic information to assist computation. Google's self-driving cars have been tested extensively and have obtained limited road permissions in some U.S. states. While full autonomy may not arrive immediately due to safety considerations, the technology already has practical value for long-distance driving and as an advanced driver assistance tool that could significantly change the driving experience.
3. Volvo vehicle-to-vehicle communication
The concept of intelligent roads depends on connectivity, and Volvo has proposed a practical approach. Using a WLAN-like wireless network, a connection can be established between two vehicles equipped with transmit and receive units to enable inter-vehicle communication. Practical benefits include warnings about obstacles ahead, alerts to slow down, and notifications of congestion with alternative route suggestions displayed on the in-car screen. This reduces the need for taxi drivers to use radios or phones and gives previously isolated private cars a level of connectivity. Many European automakers have adopted similar technologies to work toward a common vehicle interconnection platform.
4. Land Rover augmented smart window system
Land Rover demonstrated a near-future vehicle connectivity concept in which most windows, including the windshield, function as smart displays. These can show navigation data, points of interest, images, and other contextual information. At night, the sunroof could overlay constellations for an enhanced passenger experience. The ultimate direction of this work is to turn vehicle windows into interfaces similar to smartphones or tablets, allowing users to view emails, browse web content, and use various apps, effectively treating the vehicle as a connected terminal.
5. Audi adaptive cruise and automated driving assistance
Compared with fully autonomous prototypes, Audi's adaptive cruise and automated driving assistance technologies are expected to reach the commercial market sooner. By integrating radar and cameras into a consolidated sensor array, these systems provide steering assist, automatic throttle control, and automatic braking for safer automated cruising. Audi tested the system on an A7 model, achieving automated operation up to about 64 km/h, and incorporating features such as collision prediction, automatic window closure, and seatbelt pretensioning. Automakers planned to introduce these functions on higher trim models in the near term, indicating that automated driving features are likely to appear in consumer vehicles soon.
