Wireless technology for detecting pedestrians by GM

The news comes by General Motors reported that its researchers working on the development of a potential functionality to support drivers who would be able to detect pedestrians and cyclists on congested roads or in poor visibility, possibly even before the driver be aware of its presence. The feature in question is based on Wi-Fi Direct, standard wireless peer-to-peer network that allows devices like smartphones communicate directly with each other, rather than resorting to shared access points as the antennas of the base stations.




Studies of General Motors led to the conclusion that the system of Wi-Fi Direct can be integrated with other sensors, which are based on detection Object and systems alerts the driver and which are already today available in cars, to help detect pedestrians and cyclists carrying smartphones equipped with Wi-Fi Direct. The prospect of accident avoidance becomes increasingly real. The builder develops in parallel a complementary application to smartphones compatible with Wi-Fi Direct that may be discharged for frequent users of roads, such as cyclists workers or road works, and that will help vehicles equipped with Wi-Fi Direct to its identification.
The wireless detection of pedestrians is part of GM's program development of communications systems vehicles infraestrututra (V2i) and vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) that may provide alerts previous hazard to drivers, such as warnings about vehicles stopped or moving slow, slippery roads, intersections or stop signals.
“This new feature could alert drivers wireless to the presence of pedestrians who are crossing the road and are covered by a parked car or the presence of cyclists are going through the blind spot of car”Nady Boules explains, GM Global R & D Director of the Electrical and Control Systems Research Lab “The Wi-Fi Direct has the potential to become an integral part of the systems driver support we offer in many of our cars as with Chevrolet”.
The fact that eliminate the need for one access point shared and intermediate step of which is access to it, the Wi-Fi Direct allows Device connect at approximately a second face to Conventional wireless systems that need, usually 7-8 seconds to obtain location information and connecting between itself.

“The fast connections to Wi-Fi Direct offer a distinctive advantage in vehicle applications”

refers Donald Grimm, GM Global R & D senior researcher of perception and vehicle control systems.

“The faster the vehicle detect other users of Wi-Fi Direct greatest potential for avoiding collisions”.

The Wi-Fi Alliance,association global industry and is responsible for certification of wireless standards, states that the Wi-Fi Direct devices can communicate with each other until a maximum distance of 200 meters, equivalent to length of two football fields. Besides helping to detect pedestrians, this operating range will also allow transfer secure file information from MP3's or digital phone books between a computer and infotainment systems and navigation vehicles with Wi-Fi Direct. All connections are Wi-Fi Direct protected by WPA2, the latest technology for Wi-Fi security

“As we move to a society increasingly connected digitally to have a car with these features will be also increasingly important” Thilo Koslowski explains, vice president of automotive industry analysis at Gartner Inc., a leading information technology research and advisory company. “The Wi-Fi Direct can not only help smooth communication between vehicles and consumer devices as well as enhance communications vehicle-infrastructure that will enable better management traffic as a reduction in the number of accidents.”