Commercial Vehicles - Vehicle Functionality
Subsystem Description
This subsystem resides in a vehicle (usually in an automobile, but any vehicle not covered by particular vehicle subsystem) and provides the sensory, processing, storage, and communications functions necessary to support efficient, safe, and convenient travel. These functions reside in general vehicles including personal automobiles, commercial vehicles, emergency vehicles, transit vehicles, maintenance vehicles or other vehicle types. Information services provide the driver with current travel and weather conditions and the availability of services along the route and at the destination. Both one-way and two-way communications options support a spectrum of information services from low-cost broadcast services to advanced, pay for use personalized information services. Route guidance capabilities assist in formulation of an optimal route and step by step guidance along the travel route. Advanced sensors, processors, enhanced driver interfaces, and actuators complement the driver information services so that, in addition to making informed mode and route selections, the driver travels these routes in a safer and more consistent manner. Initial collision avoidance functions provide “vigilant co-pilot” driver warning capabilities. More advanced functions assume limited control of the vehicle to maintain safe headway. Ultimately, this subsystem supports completely automated vehicle operation through advanced communications with other vehicles in the vicinity and in coordination with supporting infrastructure subsystems. Pre-collision safety systems are deployed and emergency notification messages are issued when unavoidable collisions do occur. While the majority of the systems described above apply to automobiles, some of the systems can apply to other forms of vehicles such as motorcycles and even bicycles.