Traffic Information System to Deliver In-Vehicle Messages on Predefined Routes: Use of Dedicated, Short-Range Vehicle-to-Vehicle Communication

Abstract

This paper describes the architecture and functionality of a work zone traffic information system that uses vehicle-to-vehicle communication, based on dedicated short-range communications (DSRC), and a newly designed hopping algorithm. (“Hopping” involves transmitting traffic messages via intermediate hosts to a target designation. The term is commonly used in the radio and wireless communication industry.) The proposed hopping algorithm can deliver in-vehicle messages transmitted by a roadside unit installed at a work zone site to faraway vehicles traveling toward the work zone on predefined routes. This newly designed hopping algorithm uses rectangular regions to define a hopping route and can hop messages to vehicles on multiple routes at the same time without the risk of creating a broadcast storm. Although the messages hopped by the proposed hopping algorithm will generally be applicable to vehicles on only one side of the road (traveling toward the work zone), the DSRC-equipped vehicles present on both sides of the road will participate in hopping to maximize the number of available hopping nodes in situations with lighter traffic flow or low DSRC market penetration. Furthermore, the hopping algorithm increases message security by not requiring the hopping nodes (i.e., the DSRC-equipped vehicles) to modify the contents of the hopped message. Numerical simulations have been performed to evaluate the performance of the hopping algorithm. The simulation results show that the proposed hopping algorithm works as expected and successfully disseminates DSRC messages along a predefined route.

Are work zones and connected automated vehicles ready for a harmonious coexistence? A scoping review and research agenda

“…The cellular internet communication allowed for a network-wide coverage but with limited latency [77]; however, as stated previously the recent 5G cellular technology promises for low latency and deserves further testing at WZ sites. The one well researched technology at WZs that provided a trade-off between coverage and latency is the DSRC as explored by Maitipe et al [62,63], Zaman et al [75], and Ibrahim et al [76]. In these studies, approaching drivers were provided with information regarding the expected travel time and congestion location (queue length upstream the WZ).…”

“…To resolve for low MPR, vehicles on the opposite direction may also be incorporated in the rebroadcast channel [75].…”

“…A "Selective Relay" protocol was used to ensure that only one vehicle, selected in the farthest band distance from the last-originating vehicle, will relay the message [62]. The route can also be divided into concatenated rectangles and subrectangles, and only the farthest vehicle from the beginning of each subrectangular relays the message [75].…”

“…Maitipe et al [62], established protocols to define an angular region around the WZ roadway and to check the road horizontal curvature, vehicles travelling outside the region were instructed to drop any received message immediately. Zaman et al [75] used geographicallydefined concatenated rectangles to predefine the hopping routes, the length of these rectangles decreases when the highway curvature becomes sharp and increases on tangent stretches. If an equipped-vehicle received a message outside the rectangles, i.e., on parallel or intersecting roads, then it will ignore the message.…”