Vehicle-to-VehicleVehicle-to-Vehicle Communications Communications Through TiresThrough Tires

Caitlin Motsinger

SURE Program

Summer 2007

Research Advisor:

Dr. Todd Hubing

Graduate Student Assistant:

Robert ClippardClemson University ● Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

OverviewOverview

Background Information:

• Concepts and Applications of Vehicle Communications

• Case for Communication Systems in Tires

My Summer Work:

• Research Paper in Vehicle Communications for Michelin Americas Research Corporation

• Small Scale Demonstration: Bike-to-Bike Communications

Clemson University ● Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Vehicle-to-Vehicle CommunicationsVehicle-to-Vehicle Communications

Clemson University ● Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

• Basic Idea: Equip automotive vehicles with wireless communication systems, allowing them to exchange real time information

• Each vehicle is like a node in an ad-hoc wireless network

• System is mainly autonomous from the drivers’ perspective – they are only aware of it when a situation arises that needs their attention

• Expands drivers’ horizon, and makes them more conscious of their environment and relative position to each other

Vehicle-to-Infrastructure Vehicle-to-Infrastructure CommunicationsCommunications

• Instead of communicating with each other, vehicles talk to base station nodes placed intermittently along the road

• Utilizes wireless systems from the car to the station, which then communicate wirelessly or through land lines to a data collection center

• Information can be collected from a large number of vehicles and processed by a third party

Clemson University ● Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Clemson University ● Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Applications of V2V and V2I: SafetyApplications of V2V and V2I: Safety

The power of shared information makes drivers more aware of: • State of the roadways

• Weather conditions

• Heavy fog

• Intersection violations

• Potential lane change violations

• Location of “vulnerable road users” such as pedestrians and cyclists

• Slow moving traffic around blind curves

Flooding of I-96 in Livonia on July 12, 2007

Clemson University ● Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Applications: Driving EfficiencyApplications: Driving Efficiency

• Avoid congestion, saving time, fuel, and reducing pollution

• Choose the best time of departure

• Choose an alternate route to avoid accidents, flooding, etc.

• Predict travel time and make more reliable deliveries

Updated information can be sent right to navigation units allowing drivers to easily:

Clemson University ● Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Communication Transmission in the Communication Transmission in the TiresTiresThe benefits of placing the transceivers in tires include:

• Yields four convenient, externally located mounting platforms

• Inflated tube can provide protection in the event of a crash

• Older cars could be updated with communication systems when tires are replaced

• The extra movement (rotational as well as forward) might help avoid bad transmission areas

Clemson University ● Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

The Michelin Paper: ConceptThe Michelin Paper: Concept

The Michelin Americas Research and Development Corporation (MARC) has two main technical opportunities in V2V and V2I:

To better understand these opportunities, MARC requested a research paper outlining:

• Chance to utilize “smart” tire sensors, such as those that can measure air pressure and tire-road cohesion

• Chance to push for placement of communication systems in tires

• A technical review of research initiatives in Europe, North America, and Asia

• A commentary on the business environment and how it might effect MARC’s place in the tire market

Clemson University ● Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

The Michelin Paper: CoverageThe Michelin Paper: Coverage

• A listing and short description of pertinent government research initiatives in Europe, North America, and Asia.

• Bandwidth allocation on all three continents for Wireless Access in the Vehicular Environment (WAVE).

• Standards development in North America in IEEE 802.11p (physical and MAC layers), and IEEE P1609 (upper layers).

• Business considerations focused on both vehicle communications and smart tire sensors.

• Recommendations to MARC on which initiatives yield the best business opportunities.

Building a Demonstration: The Building a Demonstration: The ConceptConcept

User Interface Unit

High-Powered Signals for Bike-to-Bike Comm.

Low-Powered Comm. Between Tire Node and User Interface

Tire Mounted Comm. Nodes

Speed Sensor

Clemson University ● Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Clemson University ● Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Components on TireComponents on Tire

THE TIRE NODESun SPOT by Sun Microsystems LaboratoryFeatures:2.4 GHz 802.15.4 radio

3 axis accelerometerPlastic encasement8 multicolored LEDsProgrammed with Java

THE SPEED SENSORMagnetic Sensor and Target from Schwinn Bike ComputerFeatures:Hall effect sensor

Digital open/close switch

Clemson University ● Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Demonstration End ResultDemonstration End Result

• Two nodes mounted on separate bikes

• Each bike measures its own speed and distance traveled, and receives the current speed and distance of the other bike over its radio

• One of the nodes also relays all information wirelessly to a base station hooked to a computer

• Simple GUI allows user to view and save data

Clemson University ● Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Data Collection SoftwareData Collection Software

Clemson University ● Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Transmission vs. PositionTransmission vs. Position

RSSI at Different Distances Apart and Transceiver Orientations

Clemson University ● Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Future of this Project: Object of StudyFuture of this Project: Object of Study

• Use bikes for in field testing

• Use 3 axis accelerometer to collect data

• Flood communication link to determine performance

• See how system is affected by the addition more transmitting nodes

• Create a user interface

o Test bikes at different speeds and distanceso Examine RSSI values while rotating vs. while stationaryo Experiment to find the max range of the system o See if link quality is improved by tire mounting

Questions?Questions?

Clemson University ● Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

AcknowledgementsAcknowledgements

Clemson University ● Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Dr. Hubing, Advisor

Robert Clippard, Graduate Student Assistant

Dr. Haixin Ke, Post-Doc

Dr. Wang, Communications Assistance

Dr. Noneaker, SURE Program Director

Josh Lawrence, SURE Graduate Assistant

SURE Participants

Clemson University ● Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Lastly…Lastly…

Go Irish!

Go Tigers!

BEAT USC!

Clemson University ● Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Future of this Project: User InterfaceFuture of this Project: User Interface

4x20 Serial LCD by ParallaxFeatures

80mm x 36mm; 0.157 lb5V supply voltage2400, 9600, and 19,200 baudMICAz Wireless Mote by

CrossbowFeatures2.4 GHz 802.15.4 communication

radio51 pin connector with analog input, digital I/OI2C, SPI and UART58 x 32 x 7, 0.7 oz. (without batteries) Sample software for interfacing to LCD

Clemson University ● Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Comparison of V2V and V2IComparison of V2V and V2I

Vehicle-to-Vehicle Vehicle-to-Infrastructure

Pros Cons Pros Cons

1) Lower cost for deployment

1) Requires a high market penetration

1) Provides better benefits even at lower deployment levels

1) Expensive system to build

2) Provides information with little lag time

2) Only can collect information from vehicles in range

2) Information collected from many vehicles in different areas

2) Must settle issue of who will pay for system upkeep

3) Works in rural areas

3) Information can be processed by a third party

3) Not practical in areas with low traffic volume

Sensing Changes in SpeedSensing Changes in Speed

Clemson University ● Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

• Circuit is designed to be active low

• Code is written to be triggered by a transition from 5V to ground, which occurs when the switch first closes

• Internal timer keeps track of time between target hits, and uses this to calculate speed knowing sensor distance from the center of the wheel

• Total distance travel increments with each target hit

2 kΩ