* Wi-Fi
Direct connectivity in vehicles could help increase driver awareness
* Efforts
build on GM’s Vehicle-to-Vehicle and Vehicle-to-Infrastructure technology
(July 28, 2016) General Motors researchers are developing a promising driver assistance feature
potentially capable of detecting pedestrians and bicyclists on congested
streets or in poor visibility conditions before the driver notices them.
The automaker also is
looking to develop a complementary app for Wi-Fi Direct-capable smartphones
that can be downloaded by frequent road users such as “bike messenger” or
“construction worker” that will help Wi-Fi Direct-equipped vehicles identify
them.
The feature relies on Wi-Fi
Direct, the peer-to-peer wireless standard that allows devices like some
smartphones to communicate directly with each other rather than through a
shared access point like a cell phone tower.
GM researchers have determined
Wi-Fi Direct can be integrated with other sensor-based object detection and
driver alert systems already available on production vehicles to help detect
pedestrians and bicyclists carrying smartphones equipped with Wi-Fi Direct.