Welcome to the new ERTICO - ITS Europe
In this issue:
From Development to Deployment:How EU co-funded
research leads to profitable products
ITS interoperability testing events:a new way
to make business Interview with:
Ramiro Quintero, FICOSA
April 2012
contents 2
Welcome!
3
From development to deployment: How EU co-funded research leads to profitable products
6
ITS interoperability testing events: a new way to make business
9
Next interoperability events
10 Interview with: Ramiro Quintero, FICOSA
Welcome to our new eMagazine! ERTICO - ITS Europe is thrilled
production;
to introduce the first issue of its
interoperability testing events and
new eMagazine. This publication
discover what happens during these
represents a significant departure
unique
from the i-Mobility Newsletter of old.
examine the role of EU co-funding in
We have designed it to appeal to our
product research and development,
readership with exclusive content on
tracing the origins of ERTICO Partner
specific ITS topics. The eMagazine
PEEK Traffic’s new cooperative ITS
contains original feature articles,
platform through FREILOT back to
exclusive interviews and the latest
CVIS. Last but not least, you will
event reports. As always, ERTICO
find the interview with new ERTICO
aims to bring you the highest quality
Partner FICOSA a Spanish industrial
news and information from a fresh
group
perspective.
research, development, production
we
events.
and
a
will
In
investigate
addition,
global
leader
we
in
and marketing of systems and parts This first issue features an in depth look
at
interoperability
for the automotive industry.
testing,
an essential part in the process
We are grateful to everyone who was
of
involved in the editorial process,
equipment
development
and
our articles and interviews wouldn’t have been possible without their precious collaboration. We hope that our readers will find the magazine stimulating as we do and as always, we wish you happy reading!
The Editorial Team
3
From development to deployment: How EU co-funded research leads to profitable products by Nicolas White Photograph © European Union, 2012
“There is a first sanity check if the EU is involved. They won’t get involved if they don’t see it as being feasible” says Remi Tops, the new business manager at PEEK. We were talking about PEEK’s recently launched cooperative Intelligent Transport System (ITS) platform, the first commercially available product of its kind. Unveiled in December 2011, PEEK says that it will increase road safety, reduce CO2 emissions and crucially for commercial fleet operators, could cut fuel consumption by 20%.
Indeed,
according
to
Willem
However, while the very core of
The true strength of the CVIS project
of
the idea might be found in CVIS,
lay, not in what it specifically
Peek Netherlands they will allow
the involvement of EU co-funded
developed, but in what it provided
‘intelligent communication between
research was not limited to that one
for
vehicles as well as between vehicles
project. The story of the development
foundation of the CVIS project was
and roadside systems’. The origins
of the first commercially available
the development of a cooperative
of PEEK’s cooperative platform are
cooperative ITS platform is firmly one
system architecture, something that
to be found deep within EU funded
of the successes of EU involvement in
brought
research projects. The concept and
research and development.
vehicles and applications together in
Hartman,
Managing
Director
the core of the technologies being used having been developed through the
CVIS
(Cooperative
Infrastructure
Systems)
Vehicleproject,
started in 2006 and concluded in 2010.
Considered to be the ‘mother’ of all cooperative ITS projects, CVIS set out to explore the possibilities that new technologies in Vehicle-ToInfrastructure (V2I) and Vehicle-ToVehicle (V2V) offered with regard to tackling Europe’s urban transport
Cooperative systems, it is hoped, will revolutionise traffic management and the way we navigate city streets
challenges. In so doing, it hoped to ‘completely re-engineer how drivers, vehicles,
goods
and
transport
interact’. The project defined and
future
developments.
roadside
The
infrastructure,
a unified and open system. Key to this was the development of hardware for
both
vehicles
infrastructure.
and
roadside
CVIS developed a
standard that would allow all parts of the system to communicate with each other seamlessly, whether over an infrared connection, a 3g mobile data connection or 802.11p wireless (akin to the wifi found in most homes and offices).
developed a variety of technologies
The hardware, however, is simply the
that work together to achieve this goal.
foundation of what makes cooperative
systems so valuable in dealing with
must be able to communicate with
the problems of overstretched road
the other parts. Therefore, PEEK’s
networks
new platform is compatible with the
and
gridlocked
traffic.
The open architecture developed and tested by the CVIS project allows for third party developers to build software applications and platforms on top of it, enhancing its functionality and adapting it to new and specific situations.
new 802.11p draft standard. The value of the development and testing carried out through the CVIS project, which was co-funded under the
European
Commission’s
6th
Framework Programme was clear, at least from a technical point of
Applications that formed part of the
view. Open standards for application
CVIS project include such things as
development proved so successful
intersection priority management,
that developers from outside the
giving,
project
for
example,
emergency
consortium
got
involved
vehicles or public transport priority
in the CVIS Application Contest,
at intersections; a safety application
developing, submitting and even
that can update road users on crucial
deploying their applications on the
pieces of information related to their
CVIS platform.
journey such as traffic conditions, speed limits and the weather ahead as well as applications that offer strategic routing for vehicles, which draw information from central traffic management centres and draws it to create optimised routes for drivers so that they are able to reach their destination in the most efficient way possible, reducing travel times and easing urban congestion. CVIS’ legacy can clearly be seen in PEEK’s
new
cooperative
ITS platform. Indeed, a
number
of
research projects
City authorities are faced with political and economic challenges related to the increase in road use and congestion Policy goals for cities tend to run in the vein of both managing the problem of increased congestion while also promoting green economic growth, healthy and safe urban living and happy citizens. Indeed, the city of Copenhagen, for example, has a stated goal of being the first carbon neutral capital city in the world. At a recent ERTICO forum on ITS for Urban Mobility, Steffen Rasmussen,
What CVIS did that is so hard to
Head of Traffic Design Department
do outside the realm of publicly
for the City of Copenhagen explained
financed
was
how this goal, alongside others
incentivise the development of open
such as promoting walking, making
and accessible platforms. All too
the city a centre for world climate
often, companies develop innovative
policy, making Copenhagen the best
solutions that, while they look good
city for cycling and promoting more
on paper, and often deliver great
and better use of the city’s public
results,
perfectly
spaces could be tackled thanks to the
interoperable with other services.
deployment of ITS solutions such as
Termed ‘walled gardens’ they often
cooperative systems.
research
are
projects
less
than
represent a significant barrier to future developments as
CVIS led to the development of
not
technologies that could help cities
to
achieve their urban mobility goals.
replace them in
However, there is a large disconnect
customers want
do
to
pay
development
of
development of
functionality or
technologies
the
integrate a new
deployment as successful products.
service.
CVIS’
Enter FREILOT, an EU co-funded
openness
gave
project
which of:
consists a
roadside
router, a roadside
add
the
order
platform,
to
between
have led to the
public authorities,
that
and
was
their
eventual
focussed
on
real world testing of some of the
operators,
technologies developed in the CVIS
public transport companies
project. Crucially, this testing put
software and a management and
and consumers a flexible and largely
the technologies in the hands of
control web application that can
future proofed service.
those that would eventually use such
host, a vehicle router, a vehicle host, android
freight
services on a commercial basis: freight
be configured and managed from a remote location. Each element of
Cooperative systems were developed
operators and public authorities. In
the platform is required for the new
as a response to the needs of public
addition to this testing, the FREILOT
cooperative system and each element
and city authorities.
project was designed in order to find
how exactly the business models for
intersection priority system has led
the commercial deployment of such
to the city of Helmond considering
technologies would work.
closing its second fire station as fire
As Remi Tops of PEEK explained, FREILOT was needed ‘to find out what the value perception of a product was for customers’. In essence, FREILOT served as a trial run for technologies
5
engines from one station now have
Copenhagen achieve another first; to
the ability to travel to all parts of the
be the first CO2 neutral capital city
city much faster. Thanks solely to the
in the world.
intersection priority system having been deployed.
such as road intersection priority,
FREILOT was, according to Remi
freight delivery space booking and
Tops,
driver assistance systems to promote
development of business models for
better fuel economy. Throughout the
cooperative mobility solutions such
project stakeholders did not have to
as PEEK’s cooperative ITS platform.
pay to use the FREILOT services, as
The development of such business
they were financed by the suppliers
models is precisely what led PEEK to
EU funded projects help companies
alongside
the
being the first company to launch a
focus their research and develop
European Union. This allowed further
commercially available cooperative
business models to accompany new
real world testing at no financial cost
mobility solution.
developments as well as provide a
co-funding
from
‘instrumental’
in
the
companies are more willing to invest if they see the EU supporting developments
meeting place for developers and
to those benefiting from the services demonstrating both how successful
The company does not shy away from
potential customers. In the case
the technologies could be in their
explaining just how instrumental
of FREILOT, it showed that the
stated purpose and illustrating the
EU co-funded projects are in the
technology was ready, that customers
value they can add to both cities and
development cycle. Tops explained
wanted it and they were willing to
freight operators. In addition it gave
that such projects ‘help inform the
pay. Something PEEK has certainly
suppliers, as Remi Tops explained, a
world about what we [PEEK] do and
found. After all - they already have
much better idea of the needs of the
they’re a great channel in product
enormous interest from around the
hardware platform. These insights
introduction’.
world.
combined, led to the building of
explaining that companies are more
‘a better idea of the costs and
willing to invest if they see the EU
requirements’ of the services.
supporting developments, not simply
For example, in the city of Helmond, a FREILOT pilot site, emergency vehicles
were
equipped
with
He
continued
by
due to ‘shared risk’ but ‘because they only invest in things which they see have a future’.
intersection priority systems. The outcome of this real world testing
Of course, as Tops highlighted, ‘the
was, as the project demonstrated,
real proof is when customers want
safer intersection crossings as well
to buy without external funding’. In
as a demonstration of just how
this case, it seems the story of EU
efficient such priority systems could
co-funding has a decidedly happy
be. In a recent interview, Gert Blom,
ending. PEEK have launched the first
Strategic Advisor on Mobility to the
commercially available cooperative
City of Helmond, stated that ‘besides
ITS system on the market and it looks
the original predicted benefits of
as though the City of Copenhagen,
the project, we now see many more
which recently concluded a tender for
benefits of the FREILOT services
traffic management in the city, might
such as noise reduction, improved
purchase it as an option (although
traffic flows and increased road
this is still being considered). Such
safety’. Further, the success of the
a development would at once help
ITS interoperability testing events: a new way to make business by Carla Coppola Image: courtesy of SĂŠbastien Mure @ERTICO - ITS Europe
With one interoperability event successfully conducted in 2011, and two already planned for 2012, the ITS sector is picking up on a deployment enabler that has so far been under utilised: interoperability testing. This is happening because suppliers need to ensure that their products communicate correctly with each other, and interoperability testing events represent an essential step towards launching products on the market and towards commercial success.
Over
the
past
interoperability become
a
few
years,
test its own product and technology
events
have
against competitors and find errors
practice
that would have been impossible to
well-known
within several high-tech sectors,
find otherwise.
such as telecommunication, as they provide an exceptional opportunity
and standardisation organisations;
ITS Interoperability testing events are
to test a product and pledge its
they
on
a recent success story. In November
interoperability before placing it on
possible errors in a product and on
last year ERTICO - ITS Europe and
the market. Even if interoperability
ambiguity of a standard (often due to
ETSI (European Telecommunications
events
products
different interpretations of the same
Standards Institute) joined forces to
and services, they allow engineers
standard) allowing early corrections
launch the first ever ITS (Intelligent
to spot problems in the product
which,
without
Transport Systems) interoperability
development process early enough
testing, would cost extra time and
event. The week was very important
to limit financial consequences. Such
money. The advantages of ensuring
for ERTICO and it was closely followed
events ideally take place early on in
interoperability are undeniable and
via a live blog by SĂŠbastien Mure
the progress of the implementation
therefore the collaboration between
(Project Support Manager at ERTICO)
of a standard, and have proven to
participants prevails over the risk
which allowed the ITS community to
create
among
of sharing products and services
participate virtually in the event.
equipment
among competing companies. The
standardisation
added value of the approach is
This first 5-day interoperability event
demonstrated
focused
do
not
great
participant
certify
excitement
operators,
manufacturers,
bodies and interest groups. Indeed, interoperability events have a great deal of benefits for companies
offer
if
instant
feedback
implemented
in
the
increasing
on
cooperative
mobility
numbers of participants at these
services and gathered over 50 people
events; each participant company can
from 14 organisations (technology
According
manufacturers
international
HeERO project coordinator, “the
brought
implementation of the eCall service
their ITS units and tested their
at European level should take into
interoperability. The early results of
account
the event were shared and discussed
interoperability and cross border
Recent research conducted
at a workshop hosted by ERTICO
continuity
by TNS Political & Social at
Partner TNO Mobility in Helmond
Interoperability
(the Netherlands) and supported by
vehicle from any European country
Commission (Directorate-
the European projects DRIVE C2X and
can travel across Europe and use
General Information Society
eCoMove
implementations
the eCall service in case of incidents
and Media - http://ec.europa.
were tested and successfully proved
and count on assistance. In order to
eu/information_society/
to be interoperable.
make this possible, interoperability
activities/112/docs/
needs to be accomplished not only
report_2012.pdf) showed
The high attendance and impressive
from a technical point of view, but it
that only 26% of citizens in
results
the
needs to cover all of the operational
the 27 EU Member States
confirmed
aspects. On the other hand, the eCall
can correctly identify 112 as
interoperability), prove the maturity
service can work only if developed in
the cross-border emergency
of the implementation of cooperative
a harmonised way in all European
number and, just 47% of all EU
ITS devices and highlight the great
countries. The HeERO project will use
citizens said they would call
interest of the ITS community in
the European standards as defined by
112 in case of an emergency
testing, as well as the necessity for
ETSI and CEN - European Committee
in their own country.
companies and institutions to certify
for Standardisation, and with this
Nevertheless, according to
the interoperability of products and
project the European Commission is
the study, the knowledge of
services and their compliance with
aiming to facilitate the deployment
112 as a national emergency
standards.
of a pan-European service by 2015.
number does not necessarily
Additionally, this first experience
The
paved
event planned in May is part of
emergency number. In fact,
this
only 38% of interviewees who
and
organisations)
750
who
whose
obtained executed
the
way
interoperability
(90% tests
to
of
future
testing
ITS
events.
to
two
Andy
7
providers, research institutes, car
major
and
Rooke,
conditions:
harmonisation”. means
that
any
Did you know? the request of the European
correspond to awareness first
eCall
harmonisation
interoperability process.
The
of 112 as the European
The next milestone is the eCall
organisers estimate that between 7
Interoperability event, the first of
stated that they would call
and 10 different companies will be
kind,
112 in case of emergency in
represented with a total of 30 to 40
by
their own country also knew
participants. The focus of this event
E R T I C O
that this number could be used
will be on testing the end-to-end
Partner
in other EU countries.
eCall chain (from In-Vehicle System
its hosted
innovITS ADVANCE in the UK
– IVS - to Public Safety Answering
(21-25 May) and supported by the
Point – PSAP), following a defined
eCall deployment project HeERO, led
series of test scenarios. For each
by ERTICO.
test session, couples composed of one IVS test device and one PSAP
HeERO is the pilot project co-funded
test device will be formed. The duos
by the European Commission under
will then test the transmission of the
the ICT Policy Support Programme
eCall under different scenarios, and
that addresses the pan-European in-
verify that all information is properly
vehicle emergency call service (eCall)
transmitted and that the protocols
based on the common European
are respected. The test descriptions
emergency number 112.
and specifications have been written by a group of selected experts, in
This data shows that the knowledge of 112 as the European emergency number “is not only influenced by the national situation in terms of available emergency numbers, but also by the frequency and amount of public information disseminated about the European emergency number 112”.
from previous page...
First Interoperability event: 5 days;
collaboration with the participants in
open to a wide audience and attendees
the tests. The tests will be performed
will have the opportunity to learn
50 participants;
via a mobile network provided and
more about interoperability testing
14 companies;
controlled by innovITS ADVANCE.
and eCall, and to visit the testing
750 interoperability tests;
area and meet the participants.
the positive results obtained with the first interoperability event on cooperative mobility services convinced us that projects can greatly benefit from such events
In
terms
of
benefits
for
the
standardisation process, the event is expected to provide feedback to ETSI on the maturity of the standard, to spot potential errors as well as
A second
providing some feedback on the
event on cooperative mobility services
testing procedures.
is already planned to take place in
For suppliers and manufacturers, of their technologies against other
a
workshop
titled
“From interoperability testing to
to the final results, they can consider
In the same way, François Fischer,
the testing operations where the
Project Manager at ERTICO, who is
first
leading the organisation of the eCall
workshop
is
will
be
shown. The
interoperability event, acknowledged that these events are also pivotal for projects that have the unique opportunity
of
testing
their
products and technologies before
testing
Thanks to François Fischer, Sébastien Mure and Andy Rooke for their collaboration in preparing this article.
what can be done to improve them.
certification” will be held during results
interoperability
June 2012 in Versailles (France).
a feedback on the interoperability suppliers will be given and, according
Additionally,
90% of the tests confirmed interoperability
Useful links www.etsi.org/WebSite/OurServices/ plugtests/aboutus.aspx
they are actually implemented; http://ecomove-project.eu/newsevents/news/etsi-plugtests-watchthe-video
Click here to view the video of the first Interoperability event on CMS
http://vimeo.com/channels/etsi
9
Next interoperability events
21-25 May 2012
1st eCall Interoperability testing event
Nuneaton (UK) 11-15 June 2012
2nd Interoperability testing event on Cooperative Mobility Services
Versailles (FR) September 2012
TPEG Interoperability testing event
Brussels (BE)
Interview with: Ramiro Quintero, FICOSA
Can you describe FICOSA activities in the ITS field?
FICOSA
is,
nowadays,
of
vehicles. The proper functioning of
proprietary integrated antennas,
the worldwide leaders in the
those services, such as GSM, UMTS,
specialised
development
DCS, GPS, Glonass, etc relied on good
mass production capabilities, in-
antenna reception.
house testing and state-of-the-
of
one
in-vehicle
systems integrated in vehicles. A firm commitment to innovative
art
manufacturing
measurement
and
equipment,
solutions to our clients has led
The antenna is one of the most
and a strong IPR portfolio that
FICOSA’s technology to be chosen
definitive elements of a wireless
ensures a competitive advantage.
already
customers,
device. Without it, wireless systems
Currently, FICOSA’s engineering
awarded
would not be wireless. Some years
group is a team of 20+ years
for worldwide deployments of
ago, FICOSA decided to address the
experience in several areas, such
several million units in 2013.
aforementioned new market trends
as RF, software development,
Our automotive customers are
through a portfolio of innovative
3G/4G
already
antenna solutions in all the different
communications, etc.
and
by
several
several projects
benefiting
from
the
communications,
GNSS
advanced integration capabilities
services
in telematic modules to meet their
started with the search of antenna
Why have you joined ERTICO
demands, as several car platforms
technologies that could provide more
- ITS Europe? What are your
have been integrating FICOSA’s
than conventional solutions. Through
expectations for this Partnership?
telematic modules inside since
research,
several months ago.
advances in the design of two kinds
FICOSA has several expectations in
of traditionally difficult antennas:
joining ERTICO. In a world where
With
today’s
automotive
used
in
FICOSA
automobile.
led
It
notable
the multiband and miniature. FICOSA
increasingly
worldwide market and customer
committed
wireless
vehicles and ITS are hitting the
changing needs, wireless access is
data communications by providing
roads, FICOSA cannot stress highly
expected to lead to dramatically
specialised and unique antennas.
enough getting in contact with the
to
support
multiband applications that take
intelligent
smart
right partners. In that sense, one
advantage of ubiquitous mobility
That commitment to provide with
of the major expectations from
and location. Several years ago,
state-of-the-art antennas benefited
FICOSA is to participate with other
FICOSA was qualified to understand
FICOSA’s customers, since FICOSA’s
European partners in projects
those trends in the ITS field by
IPR portfolio ensures a competitive
where we can provide with the
working in close cooperation with
advantage to our partners and clients.
right experience in the fields of
its customers. In that sense, it was
Needless to say that the benefits of
in-vehicle
clear that the number of available
FICOSA’s expertise do not end there,
units), and proper integration
communication services within a
however. FICOSA electronics know-
of those systems in the vehicle
vehicle was constantly increasing.
how in the communications and
by means of our technology.
As the users appreciate the utility
automotive sectors also led to the
FICOSA is a Tier-1 supplier with
of new services, it was not only
development of innovative telematic
60+ years experience in dealing
the manufacturers of portable
units. Now FICOSA is a full-service
with
devices,
makers
Tier-1 supplier in the telematic
order to be successful, it is key
themselves, who wanted to have
arena that offers full development
to establish strong links with the
these services integrated in the
of hardware / software solutions,
ITS community, and ERTICO is a
but
also
car
systems
automotive
(telematic
makers.
In
11
platform that really encourages that cooperation among the partners.
FICOSA Description FICOSA is an industrial group based in Spain and a global
Are there any projects, activities
leader in research, development, production and marketing of
or sectors that you are particularly
automotive systems and parts. Founded in 1949, the company,
interested in?
with headquarters in Barcelona (Spain), holds a team close to 8,000 employees and manufacturing plants, technological centres and offices located throughout 19 countries in Europe,
FICOSA is well recognised because of its excellence in technology. There are several areas where FICOSA is leading the innovation field and, therefore, where we would like to keep the lead through partnership.
Looking
towards
the future, FICOSA’s aim is to be
North America, South America and Asia. The Group invests 4% of its income in R&D, and operates one of the top technology development centres in Spain addressed to the automotive, electronics, energy and communications industries. FICOSA has positioned itself for the future as a world leader in electronic systems with a global and more diversified business agenda and an expanded added value product line.
a natural partner for companies that are starting to realize that wireless integration is a crucial issue. In that sense, FICOSA wants to strengthen its leading position by participating in projects that
Useful links
require innovative solutions in the telematics area, such as 3G/4G telephony
and
communications,
GNSS
satellite
DSRC,
M2M
solutions for car manufacturers and aftermarket solutions, etc.
Website: www.ficosa.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/ficosaofficialpage Youtube: www.youtube.com/user/ FicosaInternational Flickr: www.flickr.com/photos/ficosaworld LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/ficosainternational
For further information, please contact us: Avenue Louise 326 B-1050 Brussels Belgium t +32 (0)2 400 07 00 f +32 (0)2 400 07 01 pr@mail.ertico.com
www.ertico.com