Rapid Rollout of DSRC is Key to Success, According to ABI Research

NEW YORK--As testing of DSRC (Dedicated Short-Range Communications) begins to ramp up, major players must build a rollout plan into their short-term product manufacturing plans. There are numerous requirements for success with this technology after testing is completed and the major bugs are eliminated. The number of vehicles equipped must grow quickly, benefits to the driver must be clear, and the cost must be low, according to a recent study from ABI Research.

While safety is expected to be the prime motivation for governments at all levels to get involved and fund some or all infrastructure, willing adoption by drivers is a necessary requirement for deployment success in the vehicle. If the infrastructure is present but few vehicles are equipped, the anticipated benefits will be slow to appear.

“There needs to be strong demand from both new vehicle purchasers and existing drivers to get a significant number of DSRC-equipped vehicles on the road quickly,” says principal analyst David Alexander. “This will mean keeping the cost low and encouraging an aftermarket for the technology.”

“One possible way to encourage such a market is to work with navigation system suppliers to incorporate real-time feedback into their systems. There is a tangible benefit for many people when it comes to receiving accurate, real-time traffic information via the installation of a DSRC radio in their vehicle, especially if an onboard navigation system is already present,” adds Alexander.

Fortunately, keeping the cost low is linked to increasing sales volumes, so the two requirements are complementary. Having access to the car communication databus remains the biggest issue obstructing a full aftermarket rollout. It is understandable that manufacturers do not want to give up secrets of controlling safety-critical systems such as steering and brakes. But providing information on when ABS or ESC is activated — or at what speed the vehicle is traveling — should not pose any risks. Transmitting this information to the infrastructure and nearby vehicles could be incredibly useful, and clearly a universal standard for this data would be of great value to the DSRC rollout effort.

The ABI Research study, “Dedicated Short-Range Communications”
(http://www.abiresearch.com/products/market_research/Dedicated_
Short_Range_Communications_(DSRC)) (Due to its length, this URL may need to be copied/pasted into your Internet browser's address field. Remove the extra space if one exists) provides an overview of the current status of the technology being rolled out, along with an assessment of when it will be implemented. It forms part of five subscription ABI Research Services:

Automotive Electronics
(http://www.abiresearch.com/products/service/Automotive_
Electronics_Research_Service),
Commercial Telematics
(http://www.abiresearch.com/products/service/Commercial_Telematics_
Research_Service),
Driver Assistance
(http://www.abiresearch.com/products/service/Driver_Assistance_
Research_Service),
Location Aware Services
(http://www.abiresearch.com/products/service/Location_Aware_Services),
and
Short-Range Wireless
(http://www.abiresearch.com/products/service/Short_Range_Wireless_
Research_Service).

(Due to their length, these URLs may need to be copied/pasted into your Internet browser's address field. Remove the extra space if one exists.)

Founded in 1990 and headquartered in New York, ABI Research maintains global operations supporting annual research programs, intelligence services, and market reports in broadband and multimedia, RFID and M2M, wireless connectivity, mobile wireless, transportation, and emerging technologies. For information, visit www.abiresearch.com, or call +1.516.624.2500.