美國國家公路交通安全局（NHTSA）尚未對專用短程通信技術(shù)（DSRC）下達強制使用令，但許多公司已經(jīng)計劃在車間通訊及車對基礎(chǔ)架構(gòu)通訊中使用該技術(shù)了。作為基礎(chǔ)建設(shè)方的施樂公司正計劃在收費和商用車監(jiān)控等許多任務中將DSRC定為標準。
一直以來，NHTSA都在努力研究DSRC，因為它可對安全造成巨大影響。盡管DSRC目前還未納入標準，但NHTSA對其未來潛力十分看好。施樂等公司認為該技術(shù)極有可能用于許多其他功能。
“如果NHTSA要求在汽車中應用DSRC，那么我們就要關(guān)注它的潛能，”施樂公司技術(shù)、政策與戰(zhàn)略部門高級主任Joe Averkamp表示。“可以把它當作付費設(shè)備使用，這意味著應答機將被淘汰。”
自2010年并購Affiliated Computer Services以來， 施樂公司已實現(xiàn)大規(guī)模成長，公司希望將自己的基礎(chǔ)設(shè)施服務范圍擴大至汽車行業(yè)。目前，美國數(shù)州的收費業(yè)務和汽車監(jiān)控系統(tǒng)都由施樂公司進行管理，此外，施樂還管理著一個政府民間合作項目，項目涵蓋32個跨州運營的貨運公司，約有50萬名司機參與其中。
施樂公司與密歇根大學交通運輸轉(zhuǎn)型研究中心一起合作進行了一個研究項目，從一個模擬城市開始，最終將擴大并覆蓋2萬輛車。這些試驗將幫助它們發(fā)現(xiàn)在信息安全與隱私保護方面需要解決的問題。
“在安全的世界中，車輛都是匿名的，” Averkamp表示。“但只要到了計費環(huán)節(jié)，我們就必須應對頭緒繁多的身份數(shù)據(jù)，對司機用戶進行管理。”
許多公司都在考察DSRC對其他功能的支持潛力。公司如果希望在提升用戶興趣的同時增加新的技術(shù)應用，那么這樣做有助于攤銷成本。然而這些增加的功能不能妨礙DSRC實現(xiàn)其主要目標。
“首要原則是決不可以干擾通訊安全，” Averkamp表示。“一旦確定要在車里應用這個技術(shù)，那么人們就希望充分利用它，給駕駛員帶來更好的體驗，比如說用于找停車位，同時也可以緩解擁堵。此外也可以設(shè)置一個車載提醒功能，比如說，告訴司機免費駕駛至馬里蘭需要20分鐘，但用快車道可以節(jié)省10分鐘，但需要支付3美元。”
盡管DSRC可能替換某些技術(shù)，但它僅是未來汽車無線通訊協(xié)議中的一種。藍牙技術(shù)將在駕駛室內(nèi)使用，而4G等蜂窩網(wǎng)絡連接將負責遠程通信和大規(guī)模數(shù)據(jù)傳輸。
Xerox eyes DSRC for vehicle infrastructure support
The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) hasn’t yet issued a mandate for dedicated short range communications (DSRC), but many companies are planning for the eventual adoption of vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure communications. On the infrastructure side, Xerox is eyeing DSRC as a potential standard for many tasks such as tolling and commercial vehicle monitoring.
NHTSA is continuing to research DSRC because it can have a big impact on safety. The agency appears bullish on its potential, though no requirements have been set. Companies like Xerox feel there’s a high likelihood that the technology can be used for many additional functions.
“We’re looking at DSRC’s potential if NHTSA requires it in all cars,” said Joe Averkamp, Senior Director, Technology, Policy & Strategy, at Xerox. “It could be used as a payment device for tolling. If it’s used, it could become a national standard, which means the transponder inventory will go away.”
Xerox hopes to expand its infrastructure services in automotive, which grew substantially when it acquired Affiliated Computer Services in 2010. The company manages tolling operations and vehicle monitoring systems in several states. Xerox also manages a public-private partnership that spans 32 states trucking companies with around 500,000 drivers.
The company has partnered with the University of Michigan Mobility Transformation Center to participate in studies that are beginning with a simulated city before eventually expanding to 20,000 vehicles. Those trials will help companies figure out issues including security and privacy.
“In the safety world, vehicles need to be anonymous,” Averkamp said. “When it comes to tolling, drivers are subscribers we’ll need to manage that bifurcated identity environment.”
Many companies are examining DSRC’s potential for providing additional features and functions. That would help companies amortize the cost of adding the technology while also generating more customer interest. However, these additional features can’t detract from DSRC’s primary goal.
“The first rule is that nothing can interfere with safety communications,” Averkamp said. “Once the technology is put into the car, you might as well leverage it to give the driver a better experience, maybe by finding a parking space, which also helps reduce congestion. You can also provide in-vehicle signage, telling someone that driving time to Maryland is 20 minutes for free but paying to use the high occupancy vehicle lane costs $3 and cuts the time to 10 minutes, for example.”
While DSRC may displace some technologies, it will be just one the wireless communication protocols used in future vehicles. Bluetooth will be used inside the cabin, while cellular links like LTE will handle long-range communications and large amounts of data.
施樂公司認為，如果車間通訊及車對基礎(chǔ)架構(gòu)通訊技術(shù)能夠廣為接受，那么DSRC就可以支持多種功能的應用。