India Advances V2V Communication Technology

Context

Vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) technology is being implemented by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) to curb increasing road fatalities, an initiative that is meant to improve safety by providing real-time communication between vehicles. Although it is a component of a broader V2X system with potential enhanced infrastructure communication, its adoption has serious challenges, such as the extensive deployment of hardware, non-standardized communication, and insufficient backend infrastructure. 

What is the V2V Technology?

Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) communication refers to a wireless, real-time data transmission network that enables vehicles to share their speed, position and braking position with other vehicles in the immediate vicinity (within a few hundred meters of the vehicle). It is part of a Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) technology and serves as a 360-degree safety sensor, giving drivers much-needed seconds to respond to any possible danger, even when they cannot see it. 

Need for V2V in India 

• High Death Rates: India has reported about 11 per cent of all the deaths on the road worldwide, with more than 1.68 lakh fatalities in 2022.
• Human Error: The driver negligence causes almost three-quarters of the accidents.
• Low Visibility/Fog: V2V helps to avoid chain jams in a fog (winter) or on highways.
• Accident Prevention: It specifically aims at rear-end accidents and blind-spots accidents. 

Working Mechanism and Technology Standards

• V2V works by having a special short-range communication unit mounted on cars, which resembles a SIM card, relaying signals (360-degree transmission). 
• Spectrum: The Department of Telecom has granted the frequency band of 5.875–5.905 GHz to V2V, so that it can operate without mobile internet.
• Data Shared: It constantly transmits the speed, position, direction, and braking status, and gives instant warnings in case another vehicle is too close or braking unexpectedly. 

Strategic Significance for India

• Road Safety Component: It is also a pillar of Intelligent Transport System (ITS) and is in line with the recommendations of the Justice Radhakrishnan Committee on road safety.
• Integration with ADAS: V2V is a complement to Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS).
• Smart Traffic Control: Creates a safer and more efficient traffic flow, especially with commercial vehicle platooning. 

Challenges and Future Outlook

• Mixed Traffic Scenario: The adoption will have to be high in case the diverse traffic in India that involves vehicles that are not V2V. 
• Cost Implications: V2V hardware will add to the costs of vehicles. 
• Data Security and Privacy: On-going data exchange poses questions of monitoring and intrusion. 
• Implementation: The government will roll out in phases, starting with new automobiles, with retrofitting of old automobiles as a possibility in the future. 

Source: The Hindu

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