TransIntel Introduces Radar-Based Data Packet Communication
IV Quarterly
October 1999

This article describes an innovative and promising approach to vehicle-vehicle communication ... based wholly on reflected radar.

Transintel Corporation, a joint venture of Schafer Corporation and Advanced Power Technologies, Inc., has introduced a new angle to the vehicle-vehicle and vehicle-infrastructure communications arena.  At Demo ’99, TransIntel Vice President for Engineering John Chiochetti described a means of communication using a radio-frequency read-write tag.

What’s special about that?  This particular tag is activated when illuminated by a vehicle radar, such as those coming into the market for Adaptive Cruise Control.  Chiochetti says that enabling this communications path requires no hardware changes to the standard 77 GHz automotive radar.  Instead, the return signal rides in the signal “clutter” and can be extracted via software in the ACC subsystem.  Thus, in the near future, such systems will be capable of interfacing with adaptive cruise control (ACC) and collision warning technologies to provide low cost coherent data communication systems for both improved driver safety and infrastructure protection.

Multiple Infrastructure Applications Envisioned

Transintel believes that their unique radar “reflective” tag has a vast number of applications as collision avoidance and adaptive cruise control systems evolve.  Based on technology developed for defense/intelligence applications, Chiochetti believes that this capability can provide a key added level of reliability to help radar-based vehicle systems accurately interpret their environment.

For example, an RF tag on a bridge abutment in a complex highway environment can provide a short data packet which provides key data as to the placement and size of this potential obstacle, thus enabling the vehicle system to better interpret the overall set of radar returns. Thus, the vehicle radar units receive digital data versus simple reflections.  This process vastly improves the capability of the radar unit, and simplifies the radar’s processing requirements by decreasing the data fusion process required for path determination and clutter rejection. The end result is a very robust and cost-effective radar device whereby stationary and moving targets can be distinctly identified by the data encrypted into the tag.

Transintel believes this technology can improve the “intelligence” of conventional millimeter wave radar systems, and lower the OEM radar costs.  It is envisioned that, as vehicle ACC and collision warning devices develop and begin to enter the market place, these improved “second generation” systems will provide higher overall resolution at a price well within the OEM pricing strategy. 

Meeting the Challenges of Deployment

As with any intelligent vehicle-highway interactive concept, questions arise concerning the feasibility of deployment across the vast highway network in the U.S.   Chiocetti believes that the price range of the tag device is well within the range required for widespread purchase and deployment of these units on major highways.

Per the prevailing view within the ITS community, the actual decision to deploy would most likely come from joint action of the vehicle industry and state highway departments.  While much discussion has occurred in this respect, a champion has not yet emerged.  However, a chorus is rising as major automobile manufacturers  prepare to put ACC and more advanced systems on the market — they want greater reliability for their systems, to increase customer satisfaction and reduce liability exposure.  While deployment could take several years, it may fit the time horizon for forward looking collision warning systems, which is still a few years away from widespread penetration of the passenger car market.

Enabling Vehicle-to-Vehicle Communications

“Deployment of the tags on automobiles and motorcycles also offer important advantages,” says Chiochetti.  “If a vehicle is equipped with one of these read-write tags hooked into the on-board data bus, then real-time information as to vehicle stopping ability, current speed, brake status, and other critical parameters could be flashed backwards to a following vehicle operating with Adaptive Cruise Control.”  The tags could be easily installed within the brake light assembly or integrated into the license plate, to enable retrofits.  If the license plate option is pursued, then deployment could happen fairly quickly, in tune with the license plate replacement period of 3-5 years in the average state in the U.S.

TransIntel is in discussion with major vehicle manufacturers and others to further explore these options.  With a shorter time horizon in mind, they are applying the tag technology to the exploding telematics industry.  According to company literature, Transintel provides “advanced technologies, products, and solutions to the automotive and transportation industries for wireless data communications, including dedicated short range communications (DSRC), internet connectivity and millimeter wave applications for in-vehicle systems.”  This includes a wireless RF data system for on-board information management and data archiving as well as a roadside data information system. This radio frequency technology can be integrated into vehicles whereby in-vehicle data can be stored, received or transmitted. The company is currently in the process of developing a non-proprietary wireless data download system, Yard Net™, for the commercial truck OEM market.  This system will allow drivers to enter and depart from a yard while simultaneously transmitting trip data.  Yard Net™ eliminates the downtime involved with traditional data transfer systems between the truck and the yard along with end user costs associated with uploading data over satellite systems.

In late July, Transintel took part in the Demo ’99 show in East Liberty, Ohio.  At this show, the company demonstrated two ITS RF applications including a wireless on-board data archiving system as well as a Roadside Data Information System (RDIS). They also plan to participate in  the ITS World Congress in Toronto, Canada in November.

According to Bill McDonald of Transintel, the Federal Highway Administration is  interested in further assessing the RF tag approach for vehicle-vehicle and vehicle-highway communications through their ongoing Sensor Friendly Highway research project.  Evaluation of the tags will be conducted during the next several months. The intent is to perform a live field demonstration of a Transintel tag being read by an OEM radar, possibly within six months.   “FHWA leadership could provide the crucial momentum towards beginning deployment,” says McDonald, “particularly with their existing linkages to the automobile industry.”

Transintel is currently engaged in numerous activities within the ITS Data Bus (IDB) Forum, ITS America, and various SAE organizations.

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For More Information ...

... contact John Chiochetti of Transintel at jchiochetti@transintel.com, 888.851.9500, or access www.transintel.com.

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