As part of the SCOOP project, Renault is to supply 1,000 Renault Mégane's to fleet managers that can communicate with each other and roadside equipment. The vehicles are equipped with sensors that collect data that can help make traffic safer and optimise traffic flows.
SCOOP is a European project aimed at developing intelligent transport systems that enable the exchange of information between both vehicles themselves and vehicles and roadside equipment. Vehicles are hereby equipped with sensors that help detect conditions and incidents so that this information can be passed on to other vehicles and road operators. To do this, the technology collects a variety of data, such as vehicle speed, steering wheel position, potential grip problems due to weather conditions, windshield wiper position and airbag deployment.
Timely warning of incidents
Using this data, it is possible to notice incidents on the road in time to warn other road users. Road users are informed of an incident via pictograms, enabling them to, for example, adjust their driving behaviour or choose a different route in time. This is also known as on-board signalling.
In addition, the data collected by the sensors will be shared with road operators. In this, the data is sent by SCOOP-enabled vehicles to roadside equipment. This equipment forwards the data to the road authority, which, among other things, gains more insight into traffic trends and the impact of specific events on traffic flows. The information can be used to optimise traffic flows and both develop and evaluate measures to improve traffic flows.
In addition, road operators can react faster to both incidents on the road and changing traffic conditions. This allows, for example, using data transmitted by SCOOP-enabled vehicles to adjust speed limits or suggest alternative routes on signs above the road. Road authorities can also use SCOOP to warn motorists about road works. This includes planned works, but also the presence of slow-moving construction traffic or road workers.
Forwarding data
The 1,000 Mégane's Renault has fitted with SCOOP equipment are part of a test project. As part of this project, equipment is being installed along 2,000 kilometres of roads around Paris, the A4 in France, roads in the Isère department in eastern France, the Bordeau bypass and in Brittany. Renault's cars are equipped with an on-board computer, which can wirelessly transmit data to other vehicles and roadside equipment using ITS-G5 (Intelligent Transportation Systems) technology. The latter equipment then transmits the information to the road authority.
ITS-G5 is a standard for communication between vehicles. The technology communicates on the 5.9GHz frequency band, which is specifically reserved for this purpose. The technology allows moving objects to communicate with each other over a distance of up to 1,000 metres. Renault reports that the protocol automatically checks the authentication of each message and also operates in real-time, which is necessary to make the use of the system secure. All data collected is anonymised for the sake of user privacy.
Ecosystem for Europe's autonomous and connected cars
"Groupe Renault is in talks with several French companies to include SCOOP-enabled Mégane's in their fleets. At this early stage, we are looking for fleet managers who want to use the latest connected technology to test new ways to increase employee safety on the road. Testing these vehicles within the SCOOP project also means they are part of building a new ecosystem for Europe's autonomous and connected cars of the future," said Nadine Leclair, Senior Vice President & Expert Fellow at Groupe Renault.
Author: Wouter Hoeffnagel
Source: Groupe Renault (pictured)
Source: SCOOP
