Intelligent Vehicular Communication Interface

Every year the lives of more than 1.25 million people are cut short as a result of a road traffic crash. Between 20 and 50 million more people suffer non-fatal injuries, with many incurring a disability as a result of their injury. Vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication can effectively reduce the vehicle crash injuries and its enormous economic cost. Additionally, by emerging autonomous vehicles, a common interface between different car manufactures is essential for vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication. The SAE connected vehicle standards are the most popular protocols for V2V communication. SAE J2735 is one of these standards that mainly focuses on V2V communication. Current standards for V2X communication same as SAE J2735 have some limitations as following: 1. Integration: How current V2X communication standards can integrate V2V and vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) networks? Is SAE J2735 capable for being used in V2I communication? Some researches have already done to combine V2V and V2I wireless communication, but they are limited to sensing traffic density. These questions will involve a consideration of V2V and V2I communication combination for transportation and autonomous driving applications. 2. Driving Behaviour Parameters: Does any common V2X protocol consist of driver behaviour parameter? Does Basic Safety Message include driver’s cognitive parameters beside vehicle parameters? The research will introduce a protocol that contains the driver’s parameters to enhance vehicle safety. 3. Broadcasting Method: Is direct communication between vehicles an optimum solution for the vehicles interaction? Does V2I communication benefit by direct communication? These questions will require consideration of network broadcasting standard that is feasible to V2V and V2I communication. The main purpose of this idea called Intelligent Vehicular Communication Interface (IVCI) is to overcome these limitations. The IVCI is compatible with both the Dedicated Short Range Communications (DSRC) and the Qualcomm Cellular Vehicle-to-everything (C-V2X) hardware solutions.

The Intelligent Vehicular Communication Interface is a protocol for integrating different kinds of V2V communication and also V2I communication. The IVCI suggests a message contract for inter-vehicle interaction and also a message contract for V2I communication as shown in the figures. The V2I communication message contract is filled by Intelligent Transportation System (ITS). The interface recommends two communication protocols based on Web Services Base Notification 1.3 (WS-BaseNotification) standard, one for V2V communication and the other one for V2I communication. For receiving data from other vehicles on road, a vehicle broadcasts an Acknowledgement. When other vehicles receive the Acknowledgement, they respond to it if their distance from the broadcaster vehicle meets the Maximum Vehicle Distance Filter and they are in the road with the same Road Unique ID. They send message periodically until the Expiration Date is reached, but the responding rate should not exceed the Maximum Message Throughput. Furthermore, the vehicles send message when specific event occurs; like when the vehicle’s driver suddenly slams on brake. After the expiration date, the broadcaster vehicle can broadcast a new Acknowledgment with updated fields. For V2I interaction, the vehicle subscribes to the ITS. Before the expiration date, the vehicle should send a Renew message. The subscription will be end when the vehicle sends a Unsubscribe message to the ITS. Intelligent driver evaluation system in the IVCI has two categories: Long-term Behavior Parameters (e.g. Driving Skill Level and Driver Safety Rating) and Short-term Behavior Parameters (e.g. Driver Alertness Level and Driver Patience Rating). These parameters are calculated by the IVCI and inserted to the V2V message contract. The IVCI employs an algorithm called Hybrid Fuzzy-Reinforcement Learning to determine these parameters. The algorithm was developed in 2015 by the same team and will be published to the SAE International Journal of Commercial Vehicles soon.