Using in-vehicle systems and 5.8 GHz DSRC for incident detection and traffic management.

Since 1994, COFIROUTE and RENAULT have been developing and testing in partnership a real time on-board information system called ADAMS for motorway commuters. The system is based on automatic debiting system type short-range communication at 5.8 GigaHertz. ADAMS is an additional means for broadcasting road information to the vehicle. It fits perfectly into the COFIROUTE road information gathering, processing and broadcasting system. It is implemented on a section of the A10 Paris-Poitiers motorway, demonstrating some courtesy, emergency and safety services, and the equipment of some vehicles. The purpose of this demonstration was to introduce new information services in the vehicles, for the comfort and safety of the drivers. The proposed services intended both to improve safety (emergency information on weather and traffic conditions) and to enhance drivers convenience (information on travel time and available services on highways). The major features of the system are the automatic locating of the vehicle as soon as it enters the motorway, and the use of the vehicle as a data collection source. The 2-way road/vehicle link indeed allows vehicles fitted with the system to transmit current road conditions to the operator, such as weather, traffic, road events, etc. Numerous demonstrations have proven the validity of the ADAMS concept. The joint venture has grown since the end of 1995 with the participation of PSA Peugeot Citroen and CS-Route within the scope of the AIDA project sponsored by the Ministry of Industry. The purpose of the AIDA project is to redefine and improve the services tested in the ADAMS system, to develop an affordable after market terminal, and to perform a large-scale test over a large section of the COFIROUTE motorway system. This paper describes the work being carried out by the partners of the AIDA project, i.e. technical architecture and services to be provided for commuters and road system operators. The main priority of the new ADAMS version is to put the spotlight on safety and warning features, and the fast detection of road incidents. (A)