Switching on


Wireless road trains a step closer T


he EU-fi nanced SARTRE (Safe Road Trains for the Environment) project has presented


the results of three years of research and trials. Representatives from the EU Commission and experts in transport technology from Europe, the US and Japan got to see a fully functioning wireless road train in operation at Volvo’s proving ground in Sweden. In the lead was a Volvo FH truck, closely followed by another truck and three cars. The entire road train is interconnected


through wireless technology, which ensures that the trailing cars follow exactly in the track of the lead vehicle – as though the train consisted of a single vehicle. The result is that the driver in a trailing car can relax while the car drives itself. Andreas Ekfjorden, project manager for


Volvo Trucks’ portion of the project, explained: “The gaps between the vehicles are much smaller than in normal traffi c, but it is as safe, or even safer to be part of the road train, since it is lightning-quick computers and not human beings who respond to even the slightest change in any of the cars in the train. “All the vehicles in the road train have a


roof-mounted antenna so they can receive information from the lead vehicle’s computer system. For instance, if the lead truck starts braking, all the other vehicles in the train brake at exactly the same time.” However, although the SARTRE project


has developed well-functioning road train prototypes there are still challenges that have


Sit back and relax: the entire road train is interconnected through roof-mounted antennas, meaning the driver in a trailing car can relax while the car drives itself


to be overcome before the system can become an everyday reality. For instance, it is necessary to continue working to boost reliability, which must be on a par with that of an aircraft’s autopilot before road trains can emerge as a truly viable transport solution on public roads. Another challenge is the transition from


driving in a convoy to manual driving and vice-versa. It has to be absolutely clear who is responsible for driving a trailing vehicle and exactly when that responsibility is


transferred. This is not merely a technical issue, a lot depends on driver acceptance and the necessary feeling of safety and security. Legislation is another vital issue that requires


further attention. According to the Vienna Convention it is illegal not to have control over one’s own vehicle. This means that automated driving is not allowed. Adapting both the Vienna Convention and the national legislation of the various EU member states is estimated to take about 10 years.


Bringing content to base stations Wi-Fi at 30,000 feet A


ltobridge, a specialist in cutting the cost of communicating across wireless networks, has announced the fi rst commercial deployment


of its Data-at-the-Edge (DatE) solution, an intelligent, content delivery architecture that brings content to the base station level. The solution is live on a Tier 1 wireless network in Asia and results


show savings of over 40 per cent in mobile broadband backhaul costs, plus a dramatic improvement in quality of experience (QoE) and seamless integration into the live network. Data-at-the-Edge enables data passing between an operator’s core


network and the radio base station to be identifi ed, managed and optimized at the most granular level. This is achieved through content ‘on-loading’ at the base station, data stream de-duplication, data compression and network interface protocol optimization. Mike Fitzgerald, chief executive at Altobridge, said: “There is an urgent


need for a technology that reduces backhaul costs and improves QoE. Data-at-the-Edge is the solution to these challenges. In addition, it opens up new revenue generating opportunities for network operators and content providers, through new and innovative business models, such as revenue sharing from pre-positioned rich media content.”


8


Airbus A330-200, took fl ight in December for Brussels, off ering high-speed broadband Internet connectivity as well as data and mobile phone services. James Hogan, Etihad Airways


Every Etihad Airways aircraft will be equipped for infl ight connectivity by the end of 2014


E


tihad Airways has launched its new ‘Etihad Wi-Fly’ infl ight Internet and mo-


bile connectivity service, powered by the Panasonic Avionics Global Communications Suite. T e airline’s fi rst aircraft


equipped with the technology, an


president and chief executive offi cer, said: “Etihad Wi-Fly is a result of the 10 year, $1 billion agreement we signed with Panasonic Avionics in November 2011. We continue to invest in our product and consider ways to off er our guests the most engaging and dynamic infl ight entertainment options. T e broad- band Internet is high-speed, in line with what our guests would experi- ence at home or at work, so we believe this will be hugely popular.”


LAND mobile January 2013


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