The need for reduction in
highway traffic congestion and crashes has become serious challenges throughout
the world. In order to overcome these challenges radars, cameras, sensors and
other state-of-art technologies are integrated into vehicle to improve vehicle
safety and driver comfort during travel. In addition to safety and traffic
efficiency, wireless communication can also be shared by commercial and
vehicular infotainment applications to, for instance, improve the occupants
driving experience.
Intervehicle communication
(IVC) is attracting considerable attention from the research community and the
automotive industry, where it is beneficial in providing intelligent
transportation system (ITS) as well as
drivers and passengers’ assistant services. ITS that aim to streamline the
operation of vehicles, manage vehicle traffic, assist drivers with safety and
other information, along with provisioning of convenience applications for
passengers such as automated toll collection systems, driver assist systems and
other information provisioning systems.
In this context, Vehicular Ad hoc NETworks
(VANETs) are emerging as a new class of wireless network, spontaneously formed
between moving vehicles equipped with wireless interfaces that could have
similar or different radio interface technologies, employing short-range to
medium-range communication systems. A VANET is a form of mobile ad hoc network,
providing communications among nearby vehicles and between vehicles and nearby
fixed equipment on the roadside.
Vehicular networks are a
novel class of wireless networks that have emerged thanks to advances in
wireless technologies and the automotive industry. Vehicular networks are
spontaneously formed between moving vehicles equipped with wireless interfaces
that could be of homogeneous or heterogeneous technologies. These networks,
also known as VANETs, are considered as one of the ad hoc network real-life
application enabling communications among nearby vehicles as well as between
vehicles and nearby fixed equipment, usually described as roadside equipment.
Vehicles can be either
private, belonging to individuals or private companies, or public
transportation means (e.g., buses and public service vehicles such as police
cars). Fixed equipment can belong to the government or private network
operators or service providers.
Vehicular networking
serves as one of the most important enabling technologies required to implement
a myriad of applications related to vehicles, vehicle traffic, drivers, passengers
and pedestrians. Vehicular networks are promising in allowing diverse communication
services to drivers and passengers. These networks are attracting considerable
attention from the research community as well as the automotive industry.
High interest for these networks is also shown
from governmental authorities and standardization organizations and a dedicated
short-range communications (DSRC) system has emerged in North America, where 75
MHz of spectrum was approved by the U.S. FCC (Federal Communication Commission)
in 2003 for such type of communication that mainly targets vehicular networks.
On the other hand, the Car-to-Car Communication Consortium (C2C-CC) has been
initiated in Europe by car manufacturers and automotive OEMs (original equipment
manufacturers), with the main objective of increasing road traffic safety and
efficiency by means of intervehicle communication.
