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

  • December 4, 2012
    Associations News from around the world
    The world’s ITS Associations participated in the ITS World Congress in Vienna, including: New Zealand, which stressed the need for future proof ITS solutions; the Netherlands; Australia called for greater ITS content in road safety strategy; ITS South Africa discussed new strategic opportunities in the country; ITS Nigeria took advantage of the World Congress to stage its global launch; UK ITS professionals were congratulated on their achievements during the Olympic Games by ITS UK; ITS Canada co-hosted a w
  • October 23, 2012
    e-Vignette advantage is simplicity and high compliance, says AGES
    The e-Vignette system of collecting and controlling road user charges has the advantage of simplicity while achieving high compliance from drivers, says service provider AGES. The electronic vignette has superseded the paper vignette as a convenient and faster service without the expense of printing and distributing physical authorisation for road use. Vignette road charging services are time based, requiring neither costly on-board equipment nor interaction with roadside infrastructure. The e-Vignette is i
  • December 5, 2016
    MaaS Markets conference leads delegates from concept to delivery
    MaaS Market is ITS International’s first conference and will provide delegates with the information they need to move from concept to delivery.
  • September 20, 2012
    ITS International: Meet us in Vienna
    ITS International, the number one business-to-business title for anyone involved in advanced technology for the traffic management and urban mobility markets, is in Vienna to report from the ITS World Congress, 2012, http://2012.itsworldcongress.com/content , which takes place from the 22-26 October. Once again, ITS International will lead coverage of the event through its www.DailyNews-Online.com/ITSWorldCongress-2012 site. We are planning to bring you all the latest preview and live event news from the I