Project: #20 Sharing Connected Vehicle Infrastructure for Safety Applications, Smart City and Internet Access Progress Report - Reporting Period Ending: Sept. 30, 2017 Principal Investigator: Jon Peha Status: Active Start Date: Jan. 1, 2017 End Date: Aug. 31, 2018 Research Type: Advanced Grant Type: Research Grant Program: UTC FAST Act Grant Cycle: 2017 TSET UTC Progress Report (Last Updated: Oct. 5, 2017, 10:02 a.m.) % Project Completed to Date: 50 % Grant Award Expended: 50 % Match Expended & Document: 50 USDOT Requirements Anticipated Research Outcomes Our research will enable leaders in government and industry to make informed decisions related to “connected vehicles” on several issues. First, we have already shown that vehicular networks using DSRC technology can provide a more cost-effective way to provide Internet access to mobile users than today’s cellular systems in some cases, e.g. where population (and automobile) density is sufficiently high, while still improving safety on our roads. We anticipate learning more about where this is the case, and how soon. Second, the cost of deploying these systems will be considerable. We anticipate learning more about how governments and commercial ISPs can share infrastructure to reduce the cost to tax-payers of improving safety using this technology, and perhaps also reduce the cost of making Internet available. Third, we anticipate providing valuable information to the Federal Communications Commission and other spectrum regulators on how to devise spectrum rules for intelligent transportation systems that promote safety as well as use this valuable and limited resource to maximum benefit for all. Funding permitting, we would do even more. Anticipated Impacts Based on results presented for the first time at the IEEE Vehicular Technology Conference in June 2017, we find that federal, state and local governments could save on the order of 20% of the estimated $4 billion cost of deploying the roadside infrastructure that is required under the plan proposed by the U.S. Department of Transportation by working with commercial actors in entirely new ways. Should those proposed plans continue to move forward, we hope that our work will lead to consideration of public-private partnerships. Our work to date has also shown that there are benefits to sharing some (but not all) of the spectrum allocation for intelligent transportation systems (ITS) with unlicensed devices, and that those who want better performance for ITS might do better by asking for more ITS spectrum that is shared rather than asking that the ITS spectrum that they have not be shared. However, our results are preliminary, and only apply in a limited range of scenarios. We need further research to determine whether these results are true more generally. If so, then this could be the basis for a different decision on ITS spectrum from the Federal Communications Commission. Did research results confirm or change practice? Our research results to date support a change in current practice in several ways. This includes using DSRC technology for a wider range of applications and traffic types than many in the field anticipate (including Internet access). It includes collaborations between government and commercial ISPs to build infrastructure, where it is current practice for those entities to work entirely separately. It includes new approaches to spectrum allocation for ITS. Web Links https://users.ece.cmu.edu/~peha/papers.html#Vehicular Issues Much of our analysis has presumed that the U.S. Department of Transportation will follow through on its proposed plans to mandate wireless (DSRC) devices in all cars. However, there is a new administration, which might mean a new policy. The general concepts in our research are just as important under a new policy, but we would need to analyze scenarios that we have thus far put aside. Thus, new and somewhat different work might be needed in the coming years. Accomplishments We have published two papers in two peer-reviewed conferences this year, one on infrastructure sharing issues and one on spectrum sharing issues. The PI was also the keynote speaker at a conference in Harrisburg PA for senior municipal officials, where he spoke for an hour about emerging wireless technology, and how this technology can help meet community needs such as transportation. The PI has also met with senior government officials, including the new Chairman of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission and many staff experts, to present our results and discuss the opportunities and challenges in vehicular networks.