Preventing and/or Reducing Road Accidents

SUMMARY

 

A. Basic Benefits Envisaged

• Has potential for reducing the number of accidents; thus reducing the loss of life at an undesirable time.
• Has potential for generation of revenue for the Corporate Houses; thus keeping the business cycle alive and thus contribute to continued economic cycle.
• Reduce human effort thus providing human being more time for leisure.
• Provide more assurance to all human beings in utilisation of Technology(ies) which does not knowledge of all the unknown.
• Reduce a few more uncertainties as compared to what is the present status; thus in no way cut the faith or trust that every Human Beings needs placing on the Almighty.

 

B. Implementation Scope

Can be applied anywhere on Earth where any Motorised vehicles are used.

 

C. Why is it essential?

• Scores of people die unnatural deaths due to road accidents.
• Such deaths lead to total disruptions in the lives of many people associated with the deceased.
• Though such accidents creates jobs for people who are involved in creating more Motorised vehicles, the net gain from such economic models are possible far less than the uneconomical and emotional loss cause from lack of such technologies.
• Through appropriate parallel planning for wealth redistribution, such dis-balance in economic models can be appropriately balanced.
• The need for Motor Vehicles will only increasing as this is proved to be a useful innovation. It is mandatory for certain purposes like transportation of essential goods and equally essential for providing needed comfort for regular lives of human beings.

 

D. The Basic Idea?

• Fit a gadget in every Motorised vehicle. The gadget should be capable of reading radio signals transmitted by Telecom Operators. The gadget should also be able to send back signals to the Telecom Operators.
• By reading signals the Telecom Operator should be able to control the vehicles such that it does not get involved in any potential accidents.

 

E. What is available?

• Telecom Networks are available in most parts of the World today.
• Technology for processing images captured through camera and drawing inferences; that can be converted into decisions that can be transmitted back to a Motorised vehicle for controlling the Motorised vehicle.
• Telecommunication Technology
• Speed Capture Technology
• Transmission Mechanisms
• Vehicle Control Devices

 

F. What are the first steps?

• Determining the Currently Available Technologies.
• Determining the Potential Market for Currently available Technologies.
• Determining the Best Case for Implementation for Currently available Technologies.
• Determining the Mechanisms for making the Available Technologies more affordable so that it could have wider usage.

 

 

DETAILS – Technology Aspect

 

A. Component(s) Selected

• Telecommunication Technology
• Speed Capture Technology
• Transmission Mechanisms
• Vehicle Control Devices

 

B. Initial Research Objective

• Determining the Currently Available Technologies.
• Determining the Mechanisms for making the Available Technologies more affordable so that it could have wider usage.

 

C. Research Method

1. Draw a base algorithm for the solution implementation.
2. Determine the aspects needed for fulfilling parts of the algorithm and can be progressive elaborated.
3. Determine the uncertainties in every aspect of Solution.
4. Prioritise Technology, Market and Implementation components maintaining a consistent link between each of them.

 

D. Research Result

Objective	Method	Result
Determine the Currently Available Technologies.	Establish existing implementation.	Similar technology already implemented in Railways (Reference: Cab signalling, Train Protection & Warning System, Pan-European Signalling Systems), Airways (Reference: Air Traffic Control). Technologies being developed in Telecom Operators (Reference: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-drive/wifi-enabled-vehicles-coming-to-canada/article14536108/).
	Establish Base Algorithm for implementation on Roadways.	Refer “Base Algorithm” section below.
	Determine Technological requirements for capture of essential data from a Motorised Vehicle.	Technology for capture of Data Attributes from a motorised vehicle using Electronic Devices exists. (Reference: Automotive Electronics) This technology is sparsely implemented mainly in the luxury car segment (Though this fact is not fully established as details are not found by me in the Internet, it is safe considering this as a decent Inference based on the finding that if attributes from various components inside a motorised vehicle can be captured using Electronic Devices, then speed of the vehicle can be determined through such devices as well. As a result, Speed Detection from inside a Motorised Vehicle exists.)
	Determine Technological requirements for transmission of captured data in a Motorised Vehicles to a Telecom Operator.	Technology for transmission of Data Captured from motorised vehicles to a Telecom Network exists. This technology can be implemented provided a mobile device with a SIM card is installed inside a Motorised Vehicle and the mobile device is capable of supporting technologies like GPRS and UMTS. Using the information in the SIM, it is possible to find every individual Motorised Vehicle. (Reference: Base Station Subsystem)
	Determine Technological requirements for processing of data made available from Motorised Vehicles through Telecom Networks into IT Systems.	Technology for processing captured data within an IT Set up for converting to decisions exists. This technology needs further improvement to be able to process at a more rapid speed to be able to generate more number of decisions in near-real time. (Reference: Real-Time Computing)
	Determine Technological Requirements for transmitting processed decisions to the specific Motorised Vehicle.	Technology for transmission of Decisions computed in an IT Set up and converted into Radio Signals to be transmitted to specific motorised vehicles exists. Each Motorised Vehicle fitted with a Mobile Device can be tracked for its current location and can be associated with the nearest Base Station of the Telecom Service Provider of the Mobile Device. (Reference: “Principles and Applications of GSM” by Vijay K Garg and Joseph E Wilkes) The Radio Signals are dispersed into the atmosphere from appropriate Base Stations. Only the intended Vehicle receives Signals meant for the Vehicle through Public Key/Private Key challenge, which can be implemented through algorithms like RSA. (Reference: Public Key Cryptography, RSA Algorithm, Data Encryption in GSM (Section 7.6, “Principles and Applications of GSM” by Vijay K Garg and Joseph E Wilkes) So, many number of specific decisions converted to Radio Signals are transmitted in the atmosphere, every person Motorised Vehicle can capture the Signals just meant for the specific Motorised Vehicle. This is done with SIM, which stores the Private Key for every individual Motorised Vehicle. (Reference: Section 11.4, “Principles and Applications of GSM” by Vijay K Garg and Joseph E Wilkes)
	Determine Technological Requirements for Provisioning the received decisions using Electronic Devices inside a Motorised Vehicle to the other Mechanical Components of the Motorised Vehicle.	An inference drawn is that if decisions can be received using Radio Signals and if the Speed of a Motorised Vehicle can be detected using an Electronic Device, it is also possible that the decision received from the Telecom Network can be passed on to the Electronic Device for being able to set the Speed of the Motorised Vehicle.(This is not established as a fact from any reading).
Determine the Mechanisms for making the Available Technologies more affordable so that it can have wider usage.	Determine potential methods for further optimisation of Online Data Capture mechanisms of Motorised Vehicles using Electronic Devices.	The devices and technologies exists for Data Capture of essential attributes of Motorised Vehicles. While it could be considered as a Black Box about how the data would be captured by the Electronic Devices of Individual Vehicle Makers; it would be useful establishing what is the least set of Data Elements needed capturing so that a Telecom Operator can process the data coming from different makes and models of Motorised Vehicles.There would be need for standardisation across the industry for the mechanism of Data Capture as well so that it could drive the cost of the Technology down; which will lead to spread the use of the Technology.
	Determine the mechanisms for Optimum required Telecom Network so that the spread of the Telecom Network could be achieved at the least cost.	It needs analysis for how the spread of this coverage can be increased to be able to cover more regions and for improved coverage in different terrains.Variables like Area of a Given Implementation Base, Complexity of the Terrain, etc. needs factoring for determining the nature of the equipment needed for setting up the Telecom Network.
	Determine optimum Computation Capacity required in the IT Set up.	Depending on the number of the Motorised Vehicles covered under this implementation, it would need determining what needs being the optimum IT infrastructure. IT infrastructure would include sizing the hardware so that enough processing capacity is available for performing the needed computation. The needed computations would depend on the complexity of the involved software logics and the definition of the “Speed of Computation” requirement. What needs determining is what would be considered as “Near-Real Time”? The definition of “near-real time” would need setting to optimum value so that the “Cost of the Solution” would be just right for the given location of Implementation. The Processing Power of the required hardware would increase with increase in Volume and with increased need for Speed of decision-making.The Complexity of the required Software Algorithm would increase with increase in Volume and with increased need for Speed of decision-making.

 

E. Research Status

Sl.	Action Item	Status
	Establish Base Algorithm.	Done.
	Establish Initial set of Technology aspects needed fulfilling some parts of the algorithm.	In Progress.
	Establish Initial set of Uncertainties in the set determined in Research Method #2 (Determine the aspects needed for fulfilling parts of the algorithm and can be progressive elaborated.)	In Progress.
	Establish Prioritisation Mechanism.	Not Started.
	Establish Initial Set of Relevant Questions.	In Progress.
	Establish Initial Research Method.	Done.

 

F. Base Algorithm

 

F.1. Considerations And Assumptions

Generally it is understood that signals carrying decisions can be transmitted using Radio Signals. These signals can be transmitted from a Telecom Network and/or from a Satellite installed in space. Restricting the scope of the research to transmission of these signals from a Telecom Network.

What is needed is that precise signals need transmitting to a specific motorised vehicle. It is also known that every vehicle if fitted with a device capable of accepting signals, the precise signals can be pushed to that vehicle. However, what is the degree of uncertainty that the signal in whole will actually reach the vehicle? What part of the signal can get disrupted or corrupted from the point of delivery to the point of receipt? How to control the unknowns, which can cause disruptions? Moreover, with the motorised vehicle being in motion, its speed can fluctuate and/or be altered by the driver of the vehicle. So, how to calculate the point where the sent signal needs meeting the vehicle and thus the action can be performed?

Further restricting the scope to just being able to capture needed attributes from the motorised vehicles and just sending needed signals to the motorised vehicles, we could consider the following algorithm.

 

F.2. Algorithm


1. When a vehicle is detected to be over-speeding, the following can be done immediately.
1.1. Lock the accelerator of the vehicle so that the Driver can no longer alter the speed of the vehicle.
1.2. Lock the steering of the vehicle so that the Driver can no longer alter the direction in which the vehicle will move.
2. Next determine the location of the vehicle and the terrain it is moving on.
2.1. Whether it is a prepared road.
2.1.1. If it is on a prepared road, then as the steering is locked, it needs calculating the direction in which the vehicle needs moving for keeping the vehicle moving on the road.
2.1.1.1.If the vehicle has to be kept on the road, then it needs determining whether there are any vehicles in front of the vehicle and/or behind the vehicle and/or to the sides of the vehicle. (Here it will need that every vehicle in the vicinity has the feature for the capture of essential details).
2.1.1.2.If there are any vehicles in any of the sides of the vehicles, then these vehicle controls also need being locked so that the drivers can no longer alter the driving factors of the vehicles.
2.2. Whether it is on an open area (i.e. not on a prepared road).
2.2.1. If the vehicle is in an open area, it needs finding out it there are any obstacles in the vicinity, which can cause damage to the vehicle and/or its passengers.
2.2.2. The obstacles could be moving obstacles and immobile obstacles.
2.2.2.1.The immobile obstacles could be easily handled; as the vehicle needs keeping away from these obstacles.
2.2.2.2.For the mobile obstacles, it needs determining whether the obstacle can be controlled and/or is/are not controllable.
2.2.2.2.1.If the obstacle(s) is/are controllable, then the obstacle needs jamming for being controlled remotely.
2.2.2.2.2.If the obstacle(s) is/are not controllable, then the vehicle needs keeping away from the obstacle(s) by continuous evaluation of its/their position(s) as against the position of the vehicle.


 

G. Initial Solution Design

 

H. Solution Development Strategy

If one vehicle can be controlled effectively, the same design could be extrapolated for application in number of vehicles. It needs establishing the parameters that need consideration for gradual increase in volume of coverage.

I. Initial Research Method

Refer Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org).

Read available books.

 

J. Initial Set Of Technology Component (s) Identified

Step Number in Algorithm	Technology Component Identified	Required Considerations
1.	Vehicle Control Devices	Motorised Vehicles exists which can be controlled using Electronic Gadgets fitted into the vehicles. The Electronic Gadgets inside a Motorised Vehicles can capture essential data from the various components of the Motorised Vehicles. Also, Electronic Gadgets can set the necessary attributes of components of a Motorised Vehicles. Not all Motorised Vehicles are fitted with capabilities for the capture of essential data from the Motorised Vehicles. Also, not all Motorised Vehicles have capability for its components to be controlled by Electronic Gadgets.Quite possibly, no fixed standard exists for capture of essential data from components of a Motorised Vehicles. Also, possibly, no fixed standard exists for control of components of a Motorised Vehicle using Electronic Devices.
	Transmission Mechanisms	Technology exists for transmitting data captured through Electronic Devices in a Motorised Vehicle to a Telecom Operator.Technology like GPRS / UMTS can be used for the same.
SECTION INCOMPLETE

 

K. Initial Set Of Questions

What are the components required for effectively controlling a motorised vehicle using Electronic Devices?

What are the components required fitting in a vehicle for transmitting captured data from the vehicle to the Telecom Network?

What needs doing for fitting the needed gadgets at the least cost in Vehicles which current do not have the capability for transmitting data from the vehicle to the Telecom Network?

What are the components required fitting in a vehicle for receiving transmitted data from a Telecom Network to a Vehicle?

What needs doing for fitting the needed gadgets at the least cost in Vehicles which current do not have the capability for receiving data from the Telecom Network?

What percentage of the vehicles has the capability for transmitting data captured through Electronic Controls to a Telecom Network?

What percentage of vehicles has capabilities for transmitting data to a Telecom Network?

What percentage of vehicles have the capabilities for being controlled Electronically?

What needs doing for converting vehicles which do not presently have capability for being Electronically Controlled to be converted to Vehicles which could be Electronically Controlled?

What needs being the scope of Technology creation for conversion of just the right set of such vehicles?

Which Manufacturers have already developed such vehicles that can control the Mechanical Components using Electronic Components?

What is the present level of diversity in the different designs?

Which should be the parameters for selection of the optimum Telecom Technologies for a given implementation?