Today's global networking trends have long played a role in automotive systems. The Automotive Connectivity research group is active in the field of vehicle communication, examining solutions that improve safety and increase comfort while contributing to efficient multimodal mobility. This includes networking the vehicle with its environment, as well as the seamless integration of mobile end user devices and services.

Cooperative driver assistance systems

One of the more promising applications in this field involves networking vehicles and their driver assistance systems to one another and to their environments with the goal of reducing the number of traffic accidents. Depending on the application, researchers develop corresponding communication architectures for heterogeneous networks that are made up of vehicles, roadside infrastructure elements and backend systems.

Today's vehicles already contain various sensors capable of recognizing driving situations at short range. However, the creation of a reliable, local dynamic map is only possible through the active exchange of information between vehicles and their environments, also known as Car-to-X Communication (C2X). The map provides an extensive interpretation of the driving situation and also expands the driver's vision, making it possible to develop new applications such as cooperative driver assistance systems and semi-autonomous driving. This has led to research into algorithms for merging sensor information with C2X data. The resulting local dynamic map is made available as a database to all of the applications.

The large amount of traffic and the vast tides of information that it creates requires local filtering of the information. To address this issue researchers are developing algorithms for adaptive aggregation and forwarding of the data, allowing the communication system to optimally adjust to the current conditions.

The concepts are evaluated in a simulation environment, allowing researchers to reliably predict how they can be deployed on a larger scale. The approaches are also implemented within a Fraunhofer ESK C2X software framework, which features a prototyping platform for testing under real conditions.

Ensuring interoperability of the entire system requires standardization of the communication protocols. Fraunhofer ESK is involved in this process through its participation in the CAR 2 CAR Communication Consortium.

End-to-end infotainment networking

The trend toward global networking and unlimited mobility is also reflected in the way communication users behave. Future services will be optimally adapted to the respective environment and the available technology through transparent, around-the-clock access, regardless of location and device. With this in mind, concepts are being developed for synchronizing device, user and dynamic media profiles on an ad hoc or cloud basis. By combining this technology with the self-description of the devices and services, as well as open interface designs, researchers are moving a step closer towards seamless integration of multimedia services and social networks in the vehicle, and thus a seamless end-to-end entertainment experience.

Target groups

The Automotive Connectivity research group conducts research into concepts and algorithms that will one day lead to the safe and convenient implementation of active safety, traffic optimization and seamless infotainment services. By collaborating with the automobile industry, road network operators, information service providers and end-user device manufacturers, researchers are building the foundation for the creation of reliable, cooperative driver assistance systems and seamless infotainment networking.

Services