Now that the fuel consumption and CO2 emissions issue seem to subside, automakers are tuning to the latest fad in car technology: “intelligent” driving.
In plain English, it means state-of-the-art infotainment systems than enable cars to “see” ahead and “talk” to each other, warning the driver of possibly dangerous situations. After General Motors, BMW also jumps on the bandwagon of “connected” vehicles and infrastructure.
BMW is already offering a large number of safety, comfort and fuel efficiency-enhancing systems. Its new “Car-to-x” communication system puts an end to these devices’ inability to “see” ahead into areas hidden from view, and even enables them to “see” around many corners.
The key to Car-to-x communication, which is part of BMW’s ConnectedDrive technology, is the electronic networking of both cars and roadside infrastructure. Thus, information exchange will be possible, creating a communication network.
BMW’s system operates via WLAN or cell phone connections. High-speed WLAN based on the IEEE802.11p/GSA protocol allows for real-time exchange of information between many participants without any interference.
Karl Ernst Steinberg, head of information and communication technologies at BMW’s R&D department, says:
“The more information I have about the rest of my journey –for example, if I know in advance when traffic lights will change or an accident has just happened further along the route, the more promptly I can react and either avoid hazardous situations altogether or at least reduce the risk.”
Of course, none of the automakers ever mentions that while safety is their primary concern, it isn’t necessarily the authorities’ first priority: you may think 1984 is long gone, but Big Brother is now using high-speed data and lurking around the next corner.
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