Ford and Vodafone: new technology to simplify parking
Ford and Vodafone are working together to simplify the search for parking. Parking Space Guidance is the latest technology based on the association between cars that will make it simpler to locate parking spaces in urban centres, showing drivers how many free parking spaces are nearby and how to achieve them.
Parking Space Guidance is based on real-time exchange of data between cars and infrastructures, making the distribution of traffic smarter. It is updated in real time based on parking data and was tested in KoMoD (Kooperative Mobilität I m digitalen Testfeld Düsseldorf) by Ford and Vodafone among the trials ongoing. The latter is a EUR 15 million project dedicated to developing creative and linked alternatives for the mobility of tomorrow.
The vehicles involved in the trial receive route and parking information from a central system based on their location while traveling through the city of Düsseldorf, along with data from neighboring vibrant digital road signs.
Drivers are presently hunting for a parking space for tens of hours a year, an activity that generates extra expenses, expands travel times and helps create unnecessary congestion. Indeed, according to studies, the so-called "cruising" accounts for around 30% of urban traffic. On the other side, not only the real absence of parking spaces can concern the issue. In this respect, information from UK local authorities indicate that parking levels can only reach 50 percent in some instances.
In addition, further use of connected car techniques could enable drivers to understand in advance whether incoming traffic lights will turn red or green and receive real-time instructions and meteorological data.
In reality, other techniques created by Ford and Vodafone within KoMoD use traffic light time data to show the cruising speed to be maintained by the driver in order to satisfy the so-called' green wave' (Traffic Light Assistance System) at all times. Tunnel Information System, on the other side, utilizes roadside unit data to send driver information on speed limits and slowly moving cars, while Vario Display offers real-time updated information to the instrument panel on key activities that can affect local traffic, such as exhibitions, concerts or soccer games.
There are technologies like Traffic Control Systems that enable the overall traffic flow to be enhanced on the motorway by adjusting speed limits. Ford and Vodafone techniques can send warnings straight to car displays about speed limits and data about hazard signals (Smart Traffic Sign Transmission). Although traffic signals are recognized by cameras in many cars, their functionality may be jeopardized in negative weather conditions or in the event of elevated cars encircled. Cellular link transmission of data guarantees that riders have instant access to significant safety data.
Finally, Bad Weather Warning communicates weather conditions to others in the area automatically from one car. For instance, if a vehicle's automatic windscreen wipers detect rain, they will communicate the data through their screens inside the car to neighboring drivers if they wish to modify their velocity or course accordingly.
For now, the data transferred between the cars is meant to enable drivers to create choices based on the data obtained during their journeys. However, communications between cars and between cars and infrastructures such as those of the KoMoD trial will play an significant part in a future in which autonomous vehicles will interact with each other and will make choices in complete autonomy on the basis of this data. The sharing of data between cars in order to lighten traffic, particularly in big towns, is the foundation of a revolution in mobility that is not only desirable for the future, but likely purely essential.