Introduction

Intelligent Co-operative Systems are the next big challenge in automotive electronics and ITS. Intelligent Co-operative Systems that are based on vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle (V2V) and Vehicle to Infrastructure (V2I) communications hold the promise of great improvements both in the efficiency of the transport systems and in the safety of all road users.

Indeed intelligent Co-operative Systems increase the "time horizon", the quality and reliability of information available to the drivers about their immediate environment, the other vehicles and road users, enabling improved driving conditions

leading to enhanced safety and mobility efficiency.

Similarly, Co-operative Systems offer increased information about the vehicles, their location and the road conditions to the road operators and infrastructure, allowing optimized and safer use of the available road network, and better response to incidents and hazards.

Activities have been started in USA, Japan and Europe. Europe is well placed in the research on autonomous and stand-alone systems that have been researched in EU-funded programmes for over a decade, and have benefited from the support of political initiatives such as eSafety. Benefits Intelligent Co-operative Systems will build and expand on the functionality of the autonomous and stand-alone in-vehicle and infrastructure-based systems, such as Intelligent Vehicle Safety Systems (eSafety systems), including Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), traffic control and management systems and motorway management systems. The benefits of the Intelligent Co-operative Systems stem from the increased information that is available of the vehicle and its environment. The same set of information can be used for extending the functionality of the in-vehicle safety systems, and through vehicle-to-infrastructure communications for more efficient traffic control and management. The benefits include: increased road network capacity

reduced congestion and pollution

shorter and more predictable journey times

improved traffic safety for all road users

lower vehicle operating costs

more efficient logistics

improved management and control of the road network (both urban and inter-urban)

increased efficiency of the public transport systems

better and more efficient response to hazards, incidents and accidents

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