現(xiàn)階段，盡管美國交通公路安全局（NTHSA）尚未強制要求部署V2I（汽車-基礎(chǔ)設(shè)施）通信系統(tǒng)，但支持者堅持認為該技術(shù)將成為自動駕駛汽車成為現(xiàn)實的必要條件之一，并因此大力推動V2I技術(shù)的應(yīng)用。隨著該技術(shù)的不斷成熟，路邊基礎(chǔ)設(shè)施的建設(shè)費用問題也開始凸顯。
在今年4月4日開幕的WCX17 - SAE 2017 全球汽車年會上，來自聯(lián)邦和州政府機構(gòu)的專家組成員分享了各自對V2I部署的看法、探討了目前存在的一些挑戰(zhàn)，并介紹了密歇根州、紐約市、懷俄明州的V2I公路測試項目進展。通過一系列測試，專用短程通信技術(shù)（DSRC）的穩(wěn)健性和可行性都得到了驗證，專家組成員也普遍認為V2I技術(shù)將顯著提高道路安全性，并改善交通擁堵情況。
路邊發(fā)射裝置等V2I道路設(shè)施可以發(fā)揮輔助通訊功能，對車輛的傳感器系統(tǒng)進行補充，因此有望成為完整自動汽車系統(tǒng)的必要組成要素。然而，盡管專家組成員均樂觀地認為，NHTSA將強制要求車輛及路燈等道路設(shè)施必須配備DSRC通信功能，但相關(guān)費用可能會成為一個問題。在此背景之下，邀請私營機構(gòu)加入，可能是一個可行的解決方案。
“我們沒辦法突然‘變’出一大堆錢，來支持V2I系統(tǒng)的部署，”密歇根州交通運輸部的Matthew Smith表示，“即使有了網(wǎng)聯(lián)汽車，我們還是該建橋要建橋，該立樁要立樁，原本的道路開支一點也不會縮小。因此，我們必須求助于私營機構(gòu)，看看能否利用收集的數(shù)據(jù)，幫助節(jié)約一部分成本。”
從另一方面來說，即使聯(lián)邦和州政府愿意掏錢負責完成V2I系統(tǒng)的初始安裝，那后期的軟件升級等維護成本也是公共服務(wù)規(guī)劃者需要考慮的地方。大多數(shù)專家組成員認為，為了保證系統(tǒng)的長期安全并控制運維成本，保證“空中升級”至關(guān)重要。
“系統(tǒng)安裝維護最大的成本在于人工，”紐約市交通運輸部的Mohamad Talas表示，“在這種背景下，空中軟件升級就顯示出了極大的優(yōu)勢。此外，系統(tǒng)的硬件設(shè)計也必須保證易于更換與維護。”
有在場的與會人員提問道，即將出現(xiàn)的5G移動通信是否有機會替代DSRC系統(tǒng)？專家組成員回答說，多年以來，V2I系統(tǒng)的開發(fā)人員一直在努力確保全美各州，甚至還有幾個美國以外的國家能夠采用同類的通信技術(shù)。而目前來看，5G供應(yīng)商甚至還不能提供一個堅實的技術(shù)基礎(chǔ)。
“測試證明，DSRC技術(shù)可以保證車輛的無延遲通信，而且現(xiàn)在立刻就可以投入使用。”猶他州交通運輸部的Blaine Leonard表示，“5G網(wǎng)絡(luò)要想真正嶄露頭角，可能還需要6到7年時間。此外，DSRC是免費的，那5G供應(yīng)商也愿意提供免費的5G網(wǎng)絡(luò)嗎？”
專家組成員還指出，如果聯(lián)邦和州政府能夠真正看到V2I系統(tǒng)的優(yōu)勢所在，他們可能會更愿意為這種系統(tǒng)提供經(jīng)費支持。聯(lián)邦公路管理局的Carl Andersen最后表示，民眾必須決定，是否值得以每人一杯卡布奇諾的錢，獲得每年讓30,000人避免死于交通事故的結(jié)果，并同時改善交通擁堵情況，同時節(jié)省每年用于事故維修的數(shù)百萬美元。如果答案是肯定的，那大家就應(yīng)該定期聯(lián)系議員，為V2I系統(tǒng)爭取資金支持。
The National Traffic & Highway Safety Administration hasn’t yet mandated vehicle to infrastructure communications (V2I), but proponents are pressing forward in a technology that they contend will become a mainstay for autonomous vehicles. As the technology matures, paying for a roadside infrastructure is becoming a key issue.
Tuesday at SAE's WCX17, panelists from federal and state agencies provided their perspectives on V2I Deployment, discussing challenges and describing some of the on-highway tests in Michigan, New York City and Wyoming. Those programs have proven the robustness and viability of the technology, prompting panelists to predict that dedicated short range communications between vehicles and roadside infrastructure stations can bring major safety improvements and reduce congestion.
V2I is expected to be a necessity for autonomous vehicles, since roadside beacons can provide information that augments data supplied by on-vehicle sensors. While expressing optimism that NHTSA will mandate DSRC’s inclusion on vehicles and roadside towers, they are concerned that funding may be an issue. Tapping the private sector may be a solution.
“There’s no magical pile of money to fund V2I,” said Matthew Smith of the Michigan Dept. of Transportation. “Connected vehicles do not reduce the need for bridges or the need to fill potholes. We do have to turn to the private sector to see if we can leverage our data collection to offset some costs.”
While state and federal funds may help with initial installations, public service planners are also considering long term factors like updating software. Most panelists said over the air updating will be critical to provide ongoing security and cap costs.
“The most costly factor for installing and maintaining technology is labor,” said Mohamad Talas, NYC DOT Traffic Operation. “Software over the air updating will be a major benefit. Hardware also needs to be easy to replace and maintain.”
Attendees at the crowded session asked whether pending 5G cellular connections might displace DSRC. Panelists replied that V2I developers have worked for years to ensure that all U.S states and a number of foreign countries use similar technologies that have been tested in field trials. 5G suppliers do not even have a firm technology base at present.
“DSRC is available today, tests have proven that moving cars can communicate without latency issues,” said Blaine Leonard, Utah Department of Transportation. “We’re six to seven years from 5G having any impact. Additionally, DSRC is free. Will 5G providers broadcast roadside data for free?”
Panelists noted that if legislators at the state and federal levels understand the benefits of V2I, they will be more inclined to support funding for it. Carl Andersen of the Federal Highway Administration closed the afternoon by noting that constituents need to determine whether it’s worth the cost of a cappuccino to eliminate some of the 30,000 vehicles fatalities every year, reduce congestion and curtail the millions spent on collision repairs. If so, they should be contacting representatives regularly to encourage support.
Author: Terry Costlow
Source: SAE Automotive Engineering Magazine
路燈上的DSRC系統(tǒng)可提供大量信息，協(xié)助車輛導航。
