China conducts intelligent transport system test

Renesas Technology Corp. and the city of Changchun, China, have successfully verified the world's first commercial Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS). The system implements the Wireless Access in Vehicular Environments (WAVE) terminal platform from Renesas in the public buses in Changchun City.

There are many efforts underway globally to implement ITS that connect vehicles and the roads they drive on with a network to resolve road and transportation problems such as traffic jams and road accidents. High-capacity data communication between vehicles (car to car) and between traffic signal equipment, road information management systems, and other roads/vehicles (road to car) are required to implement ITS services. These include Electronic Toll Collection, GPS for car navigation systems, safe driving support systems, and public transportation management services. Since last year there have been efforts to promote ITS verification testing aimed at practical implementation of ITS using the WAVE technology. The WAVE platform can implement real time high-speed/high-capacity communication required for image transmission, and it is regarded as the next-generation wireless technology capable of supporting car to car and road to car connections.

The WAVE verification test in Changchun City used WAVE terminals located in three public buses, eight bus stops and an intersection on the main street that connects Changchun station with the Changchun municipal government. This was the first time that such a test has been carried out using public buses that were operated commercially, with bus stops on an ordinary street used for the bus route. Renesas' WAVE terminals were installed in the buses, bus stops, and at intersections, where information, including image information acquired with cameras at the various sites, was exchanged between the WAVE terminals. The scenes at the intersections were projected on the monitor within the bus next to the driver's seat, and the bus driver was able to determine the state of traffic congestion. Similarly, by showing the scene inside the bus to the Changchun Transit Authority (CTA), they could see the degree of crowding. The information is also useful for crime prevention. And by collecting this data and acquiring bus position information in real time, it will be possible for the CTA to estimate the bus arrival times and display the information at bus stops, thus achieving stable bus operations control by optimising the bus arrival intervals.

partners in developmentBR>Renesas developed a WAVE evaluation system in 2008, and has participated in ITS verification testing at many locations. The China government has been promoting the construction of ITS infrastructure in the major cities and Changchun City has been developing its ITS infrastructure since 2007. Changchun City is the home of the First Automobile Works Group, which is one of the three major car manufacturers in China, where automotive-related industries are concentrated. Renesas, partnering with FAW Qiming Information Technology Co. Ltd, which is part of the First Automobile Works Group in Changchun, has been participating in ITS infrastructure construction planning since June 2007. Renesas and Changchun National Optoelectronics Industry Base Development Co. Ltd co-hosted this current test with the support of Changchun Bureau of Industry and Information along with Changchun Public Transport Group Co. Ltd and Changchun Information Centre for building the verification test infrastructure system. Renesas provided the WAVE platform integrating WAVE technology and related software, including software for the bus control system.

Renesas confirmed from the results of the verification test that the WAVE technology will be able to apply to safety monitoring of roads and public transportation systems. The results can also be applied to traffic control systems, traffic information service systems and safety driving assist at intersections and of public transportation systems. Renesas will provide an ITS terminal platform system with key devices and technological support to Changchun City, which is aiming at full deployment of a WAVE system. By providing ITS solutions, including the latest WAVE technology, not only in Changchun City but to other sites as well, Renesas contributes to safety, security, and comfort in the automotive society. In addition, Renesas will contribute to the standardisation of WAVE, which IEEE 801.11p and the European Telecommunication Standard Institute have now studied to standardise WAVE as a unified specification, by providing feedback obtained from ITS verification tests using Renesas' advanced WAVE evaluation system and developing an SoC incorporating WAVE technology.