Linux platform set for automotive standard

Platform is chosen for developing vehicle onboard equipment for proof-of-concept activities.

The Vehicle Infrastructure Integration Consortium (VIIC) has selected Wind River General Purpose Platform, Linux Edition as the platform for developing the vehicle onboard equipment (OBE) for proof-of-concept activities.

Comprising a group of leading automobile manufacturers, VIIC's OBE initiative will enable a standards-based communications infrastructure that supports vehicle-to-infrastructure and vehicle-to-vehicle communications in an effort to improve vehicle safety, vehicle mobility and enable consumer and commercial services.

Wind River was chosen by the consortium for the strength and breadth of its Linux solutions, its extensive automotive expertise and its robust global support services.

VIIC selected Wind River's Linux distribution for automotive solutions after a comprehensive review and thoughtful consideration that compared other Linux vendors and the leading proprietary operating systems in the automotive industry today.

The Wind River solution delivers an unmatched platform that combines flexibility with ease of integration, and can firmly support a decentralised project like OBE, to enable a low-risk, open-source solution.

The VIIC was established in 2004 to support the National VII Coalition effort to determine the feasibility of nationwide deployment of a Vehicle Infrastructure Integration (VII) programme, and to establish a strategy for implementation, communications standards and capabilities.

The National VII Coalition consists of the U.S.

Department of Transportation, ten State Departments of Transportation, and light vehicle manufacturers.

The VIIC's members are: BMW of North America, DaimlerChrysler Corporation, Ford Motor Company, General Motors Corporation, Honda R and D Americas, Nissan North America, Toyota Motor Engineering and Manufacturing North America and Volkswagen of America.

The VIIC will use Wind River's expertise in open source and automotive solutions to deliver a board support package (BSP) and configure an emulation platform to accelerate development of OBE.

In addition, Wind River's global support organisation will deliver local support, enabling the decentralised development and field testing for the initiative's disparate members.

"Gaining the support of a highly-regarded group such as the VII-C is important for Wind River and further solidifies our position as a leader in the automotive device space", says Leslie Mulligan, General Manager, Automotive Solutions, Wind River.

Vehicle OBE delivers an OSGi/Java-based application host platform; vehicle interface, human/machine interface (HMI) and global positioning services; and embedded dedicated short range communications (DSRC) radio, Wave stack and Java communications API.

If deployed, VII will require the build-out of networks, digital radios, pods and communications systems on major US roadways.

Such a deployment of roadside infrastructure may incorporate various Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) technologies into the transportation network and integrate ITS communications and sensors in vehicles.

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