Consumer electronics for 'smart' transport

Electronic News, March 25, 1996 by David Hack

ITS America, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Transportation, has adopted a national goal for specific deployments of intelligent transportation systems in the U.S. by 2006.

An intermediate goal is to complete deployment, by 2001, of basic ITS services for users of interstate passenger and freight transportation.

ITS America says that widespread deployment of basic ITS services will be accompanied by the marketing of associated new products and value-added private services that will mean improved safety, personal security, and increased travel efficiency and convenience.

There are three elements of basic ITS services that are ready now for widespread deployment.

The first element is services related to travel information and transportation management. The second is services related to intermodal freight, including commercial vehicle operations. The third element is in-vehicle and personal-information products in the consumer and commercial markets.

Of the three, the in-vehicle and personal-information products are of particular interest to consumer-electronics and vehicle-electronics manufacturing firms. These new electronic-equipment products have potentially large markets, especially if the standards adopted in the U.S. are similar to those adopted abroad.

Examples of such in-vehicle and personal-information products include:

* Navigation and route guidance systems that suggest the optimal route to a destination while accounting for current roadway conditions;

* Devices that communicate traveler information services, such as electronic yellow pages, intermodal connections and tourist information;

* Electronic toll and fee payment and clearance devices to eliminate delays;

* "Mayday" systems to quickly summon breakdown and emergency services;

* Adaptive cruise control to reduce driver stress;

* Collision warning systems which inform the driver that action is necessary to avoid a collision;

* Fleet and container identification, location and management systems to improve productivity, service quality, and security.

Contacts for the five participating standards developing organizations are: SAE, Arlan Stehney, 412-772-7157; ITE, Mark Norman, 202-554-8050, ext. 126; IEEE, Andrew Salem, 908-562-3803; AASHTO, David Hensing, 202-624-5812; ASTM, Dennis Foderburg, 612-626-8285. For ITS America: Rick Schuman, 202-484-4543 or Richard Weiland, 708-699-6940.

David Hack is a technology consultant in Silver Spring, Md.