Skip to main content

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 networ
June 24, 2015 Read time: 3 mins

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: 2 External <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-16"?><dictionary /> 0 0 0 oLinkExternal http://www.converge-online.de/?id=000000&amp;spid=en Visit Convergeo-online.de false http://www.converge-online.de/?id=000000&amp;spid=en false false%>) and initial activities to put the CONVERGE architecture into practice are already being prepared.

Related Content

  • TRL announces new student award initiative
    September 22, 2016
    The UK Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) has launched the TRL Student Award, which aims to tap into the creative skills of today’s younger generation in the UAE in order to help solve practical, real life problems while also helping the region in its move towards more growth and development. The initiative will award some of the region’s top student minds for their proposals of innovative and sustainable transport solutions in a special awards ceremony on the sidelines of Gulf Traffic 2016, which will
  • ITS European congress papers deadline extended
    January 8, 2014
    The deadline for paper and special interest session proposal submissions for the ITS European Congress and Exhibition in Helsinki has been extended to midnight on 14 January. We have already received many valuable submissions and we thank you for your contributions. Papers and special interest session proposals should be submitted through the submission portal, which also provides the submission guidelines. For further details on the congress and exhibition, visit the Congress website.
  • Transportation oriented coverage of Vision Show
    September 26, 2014
    In recognition of the growing importance of machine vision techniques in traffic management technology, ITS International’s publisher (Route One) is working with the organiser of the Vision Show (Stuttgart, Germany 6-8 November) to produce a special publication for the show and daily video reports. While machine vision technology is well established in other sectors, applications in transportation have been slow to arrive but are now quickly catching up. The transport-focused publication will be handed
  • 44th annual ASECAP Study and Information Days
    January 22, 2016
    ASECAP, the European Association of tolled road infrastructures operators, is holding its annual meeting at the InterContinental Hotel, Madrid, Spain from 23-25 May. The event will explore the key role of the toll motorways in ensuring integrated and sustainable mobility in Europe and will offer the opportunity to discuss EU integrated transport approach and, more specifically, on how to meet the challenges towards the EU 2020 Strategy. It will also look into the future of transport from the current interna