Now, cars create wireless network

A group of US researchers from the University of California, Los Angeles, (UCLA) are extending the concept of wireless connectivity to cars, turning automobiles into network nodes that can receive and send signals to others nearby.

Washington, June 10 : A group of US researchers from the University of California, Los Angeles, (UCLA) are extending the concept of wireless connectivity to cars, turning automobiles into network nodes that can receive and send signals to others nearby.

As car after car enters the mobile network, drivers can download multimedia - including movies, images and songs - or get real-time information about traffic.

According to Giovanni Pau, research scientist at the UCLA's Network Research Lab, such a network could also give emergency first responders a reliable channel if a natural disaster destroys communication towers or access points.

"Say you are driving and a car that is three miles in front of you spots an icy spot on the road. It can trigger back a signal saying, 'Look, there is an icy road," said Pau.

The system uses a vehicle's onboard computer, GPS, low-cost sensors, custom software written by the UCLA team, and existing wireless channels.

In recent experiments, Pau and his team used the standard protocol that allows laptops, to connect wirelessly to the Internet.

According to him, the typical range is between 330 to 990 feet.

However, in the near future, vehicles will switch to the Dedicated Short Range Communications standard being developed by the US Department of Transportation.

This signal, which has a range of up to 3,300 feet, will allow high-speed communications between vehicles or between vehicles and the roadside.

The software will also allow the system to locate a car it wants to talk to, which (the car) will then select the strongest signals to determine if any of the drivers should have priority (for example emergency workers) and organize the various data being exchanged.

Though, for now, cars within a couple to a few hundred feet of each other can exchange data, but the information can hop from one car to the next across the entire network, which could span miles.

If a car needs information directly from the Internet, it does need to access a fixed communication tower or hotspot - or it must talk with other cars that have accessed the Internet, Pau added.

But if a driver is looking for a movie or map already stored on another vehicle's computer, no access to the Internet is needed, he said.

According to Discovery News, the team is now testing distinct types of mobile network patterns, such as those designed specifically for emergency workers.

ANI