Peer to Peer Networks Connect Drivers

Researchers from the University of California Los Angeles are working on a wireless communication network that will allow cars to talk to each other, while at the same time downloading information such as road safety warnings, entertainment content and navigational tools.

The wireless network would allow moving vehicles within 100 meters and 300 meters of each other to connect and create a network with a wide range. The network would then allow drivers to download information from internet access points simply by driving by, and then share that information with other cars on the road.

There will be benefits in driving safety and in content distribution. Car-to-car communications can be used to avoid accidents by warning the drivers of danger that is about to come. Vehicles will be equipped with sensing devices, such as radars and video cameras.

The most important feature of this network is that it is not subject to memory, processing, storage and energy limitations like the current sensor networks. Instead, it depends on the resources of the vehicle itself and the vehicles around it.

Cars would be able to use their radios to exchange three types of information: safe navigation (such as icy road conditions, traffic jams and accidents ahead), content distribution (local information, advertisements and videos of approaching attractions) and urban surveillance (collecting information which could be used later by police for investigations).

The research team is already working with car manufacturers such as Toyota and BMW to bring the project to life. However, costs and industry standards are important obstacles that this network is facing.

Laure Bashour