Skip to main content

Japan looking at technology to prevent hacking of self-driving cars

According to the Japan Times, Japan’s Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry is concerned about the possibility that a cyber attack on self-driving car systems might lead to traffic accidents. It has drawn up guidelines in a bid to defend against the hacking of a proposed next-generation driving support system that aims to help accelerate the development of autonomous driving cars. The ITS (Intelligent Transport Systems) Connect Promotion Consortium, which is made up of automakers and electronics-m
August 24, 2015 Read time: 2 mins
According to the Japan Times, Japan’s Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry is concerned about the possibility that a cyber attack on self-driving car systems might lead to traffic accidents. It has drawn up guidelines in a bid to defend against the hacking of a proposed next-generation driving support system that aims to help accelerate the development of autonomous driving cars.

The ITS (Intelligent Transport Systems) Connect Promotion Consortium, which is made up of automakers and electronics-maker, is developing the system with the government. It plans to establish specifications on the technology to prevent cyber attacks in autumn this year.

The system is aimed at helping ensure safe driving by distributing information on nearby automobiles and pedestrians, traffic signals and data collected through radio communications to moving vehicles and alerting drivers to possible dangers such as blind spots. It is also expected to improve automatic emergency braking technologies to prevent collisions.

The consortium will consider encrypting such information by using special technologies to prevent it from being altered.

Autonomous driving uses such equipment as an on-vehicle camera and sensor that collect information on the surrounding environment, with related technologies being developed by automakers and electronics-makers.

Toyota is said to be considering introducing equipment compatible with the system in a planned fully remodelled version of its Prius hybrid vehicle and other vehicle models.

Related Content

  • Cisco, NXP invest in Cohda Wireless to enable the connected car
    January 7, 2013
    In a partnership that they say will advance intelligent transportation systems (ITS) and car-to-X communications, US-headquartered IT provider Cisco and Dutch semiconductor supplier NXP Semiconductors are to invest in wireless communications specialist Cohda Wireless. The three companies will apply their collective expertise and technologies to help automotive OEMs, suppliers, enterprises and consumers to connect vehicles with ITS infrastructure. This will be spearheaded by producing the first automotive-q
  • Toyota to test in-car traffic signal alert system
    May 1, 2013
    Japan’s Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) is to carry out public-road tests of its driving support system that uses ITS1 technology to transmit information from traffic lights to vehicles. For the tests, one road in Toyota City will be equipped with a system to transmit traffic light signal information via the 700-Mhz band to vehicles equipped with on-board testing systems. The system receives the information and alerts drivers via the audio system and the navigation system screen.
  • South Korean experts to establish emergency call service
    September 2, 2016
    According to South Korean news agency Yonhapnews, a group of electronics and intelligent transport systems experts have established a forum to initiate the establishment of an electronic safety system that automatically calls emergency services when there's a car accident.
  • EETS: still struggling to become reality
    December 4, 2013
    Erich Erker, Norbert Schindler, Peter Tschulik from Siemens Electronic Tolling examine the barriers to EETS deployment. Tolling in Europe was introduced to pay for the construction and operation of individual tunnels, bridges and highways and has evolved in major steps. The original manual tolling systems were highly disruptive to traffic flow and required the creation of large toll plazas, with multiple lanes and toll booths to ensure an acceptable throughput. With the introduction of Dedicated Short Range