Michael Niebisch

Vehicles are evolving to a mobile data platform. Besides mobility as their main purpose, the demand for entertainment, connectivity and current software is increasing. Besides installing updates in the workshop there is already today a mobile communication module built into the car, by which map updates, traffic information and entertainment applications are run. Mobile communication however depends on existing network coverage and can be limited in certain areas. Additionally a fee has to be paid to the mobile network provider, which is usually dependent on the amount of used data traffic. In this project additional technologies are to be evaluated, that may enable effective communication in the future. Publicly available WLAN hotspots have a potential as they are often available in the road area and can mostly be used cost-effective. Additionally vehicles need similar information, for instance a map update, that has to be delivered to multiple cars in the field. Therefor direct communication between vehicles as in 5G offers the possibility to exchange information in the field and reduce the usage of mobile communication. The goal is to test the combination of different technologies to a complex, heterogeneous vehicle network and evaluate the applicability of opportunistic networks. At the same time, proposals for future standardization are to be developed. From a scientific point of view suitable coordination and routing mechanisms are vital as connection times are short, vehicles serve as temporary storage and source of information and effective usage of transmission paths is relevant.