INTELLIGENT TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS:

Real-Time Vehicle Performance Monitoring

Using Wireless Networking

Will Jenkins, Ron Lewis, Georgios Lazarou

Joseph Picone, Zach Rowland
Human and Systems Engineering
Abstract

Cornerstone of next generation intelligent transportation systems (ITS):

• seamless integration of in-vehicle networking with existing wireless
telephony infrastructure;
• remote access to on-board diagnostics and performance data.

Though many systems integrate position tracking and wireless networking to

allow for remote position tracking, few systems provide the capability to
monitor vehicle performance over the web. Our design is based on:
• a popular new standard for wireless communications — GSM/GPRS;
• an in-vehicle standard for diagnostic information, OBD-II, is used to gather
performance data;
• GPS technology to provide vehicle location;
• Apache’s Tomcat extensions to provide Internet access via a vehicle tracking
web site.

The system is being used to track the campus bus system at

Mississippi State University in Starkville, Mississippi, U.S.A.

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Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS)

• Relies heavily on vehicle

communication systems
NETWOR
NETWOR including peer-to-peer and
KK
peer-to-base station
communications
• Incorporates seamless
integration of in-vehicle
networking with existing
wireless telephony

• Uses networks of collaborative vehicles to optimize

traffic flow and provide dynamic routing capability
(“intelligent network”)

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System Overview

Wireless
Wireless Web /
Network
Network Database
Server

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Extensible Vehicle Performance Monitoring System

• Provides vehicle performance

and position tracking system
to users via the Internet

• Incorporates Global
Positioning System (GPS)
technology for vehicle location

• Exploits capabilities of Global System for Mobile

Communications (GSM) and General Packet Radio
Service (GPRS)
• Based on existing in-vehicle automotive standards
(e.g., OBD-II, SAE J1850, and SAE J1979)

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Global Positioning System

• Global Positioning System (GPS):

provides highly accurate position
information anywhere in the world
• 24 geostationary satellites
orbiting at an elevation of 11,000
miles
• Originally developed for military
use only

• Requires receiver capable of the

civilian L1 frequency (1575.42 MHz)
• Triangulates position to an
accuracy within 15 meters using at
least four satellites
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GSM/GPRS Wireless Network

• Global System for Mobile

Internet
Internet
Communication (GSM) is
the fastest growing mobile
communication standard GSM/GPR
GSM/GPR
SSNetwork
Network
• Digitally encodes voice signals using the
GSM 06.10 compressor models at 13kbps
• Uses time division multiple access (TDMA)
• General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) – data
communication layer over a GSM wireless transmission
link with a theoretical data transfer speed of 171.2 Kbps
• Packet format allows for full compatibility with existing
Internet services
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In-Vehicle Networking (OBD-II)

• Monitors most electrical

systems
• Provides error codes

• SAE J1962 connector provides

access to the diagnostic network
Protocol Signal Type(s) Manufacturer
SAE J1850 Variable Pulse Width General Motors
VPW Modulation
SAE J1850 Pulse Width Ford
PWM Modulation
ISO 9141-2 Two Serial Lines: European, Asian, and
Half-duplex (L) Chrysler
Full-duplex (K)
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Generation 1: COTS Prototype

• Garmin GPS 35-PC • Sony Ericsson GC-82 EDGE

PC card

• BR-3 OBD-II Interface

• Operates on all OBD-II
protocols specified in
SAE J1850
• Laptop with two COM
ports (RS232) and a 16-bit
compatible PCMCIA port

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Data Collection Software

• Combines OBD-II data

and GPS coordinates
into a single data
stream
• OBD-II data is retrieved
by continuously polling
the system

• OBD-II data is identified by generic parameter

identifications or PIDs specified in SAE J1979 standard
• Speed, Engine RPM, Calculated Throttle Position
Sensor (TPS), Engine Load, Engine Coolant
Temperature, and Air Intake Pressure

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Data Collection Software
• The BR-3 must be initialized.
• The communication protocol is
set based on vehicle protocol.
• Specified PIDs are polled
continuously
• The GPS data is gathered
simultaneously.
• NMEA GPRMC sentence
contains UTC data, longitude,
and latitude.
• The data is then sent to the server via GSM/GPRS.
• The GPS signal is used as the trigger for data
transmission.
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Web and Database Server
• Apache web server
• Tomcat extensions
• Five http servlets to maintain
data flow from the vehicle to the
database to the user interface.
• Separate database for real-time and stored data are
maintained

Table Contents
Stops Label and GPS coordinates
Routes Label and list of topology in-order of traversal
Buses Current location

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Map\EOP Interface

• Displays tracking
and performance
information to the
public via Internet

• Shows vehicle
location on a
digital map
• Route information
is available

• Engine operating parameters can be viewed in real-

time on dashboard-like gauges

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Generation 2: Campus Bus Network Pilot

• A PC104 embedded solution has

been developed.
• Geographical Information System
(GIS) providing faster map
rendering based on GPS
coordinates.
• The shuttles operate on a
SAE J1708 protocol (heavy-
duty vehicle).
• Deployment for campus
shuttles scheduled for
Spring 2005.

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Summary and Future Work

• Prototyped a real-time vehicle performance monitoring

system which exploits existing wireless networking
technology
• The final design incorporates a
single board including chipsets for
various wireless technologies and
in-vehicle networking protocols.

• A modular architecture
supports a variety of
sensors and high speed
data communications

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References
• L. Figueiredo, I. Jesus, J.A.T. Machado, J.R. Ferreira, J.L. Martins de Carvalho, Towards the
Development of Intelligent Transportation Systems. IEEE Intelligent Transportation Systems
Proceedings, Oakland, CA, 2001, 25-29.
• Garmin. “What is GPS.” [online]. Available: http://www.garmin.com/aboutGPS/index.html
• T. Yunck, G. Lindal, C. Liu, The role of GPS in precise Earth observation, Position Location and
Navigation Symposium, Dec. 1988, 251-258
• GSMWorld. [online]. Available: http://www.gsmworld.com/technology/faq.shtml
• J. Cai, D. Goodman, General Packet Radio in GSM, IEEE Communications Magazine, 35(10),
1997, pp 122-131.
• S. Godavarty, S. Broyles and M. Parten, Interfacing to the On-board Diagnostic System,
Proceedings Vehicular Technology Conference Vol. 4, pp. 2000-2004, 24-28 Sept. 2000.
• SAE J 1850 May 2001, Class B Data Communication Network Interface, 2004 SAE Handbook,
SAE International, 2004.
• SAE J 1979 April 2002, E/E Diagnostic Test Modes Equivalent to ISO/DIS 15031: April 30, 2002,
2004 SAE Handbook, SAE International, 2004.
• NMEA 0183 Standard for Interfacing Marine Electronic Devices, Version 2.0, National Marine
Electronics Association, Mobile, AL, January 1992.
• J. Brittain, I.F. Darwin, Tomcat: the definitive guide (O'Reilly, 2003).
• K. English, L. Feaster, Community geography: GIS in action (ESRI Press, 2003).
• MARIS. [online]. Available: http://www.maris.state.ms.us/index.html

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Questions

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In-Vehicle Networking (OBD-II)

• The 1990 Clean Air Act and the Environmental Protection

Agency established strict emission standards and
inspection/maintenance (I/M) programs.
• The Society for Automotive Engineers (SAE) produced a
set of automotive standards and practices that regulated
the development of diagnostic systems that would check
for emission violations.
• These standards were expanded to create the on-board
diagnostic system – OBD-II
• In 1996, the EPA adopted these standards and practices
and mandated their installation in all light-duty vehicles.

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Demo

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