Before we go any further, an introduction of what these letters mean; DRSC is an acronym for dedicated short-range communication while CV2X stands for vehicle to everything technologies. They are both vehicle to everything communication technologies, which brings up the concept of vehicle to everything communication.
What Is Vehicle to Everything?
Vehicle to everything is a vehicular communication system that supports or facilitates the transfer of information from a vehicle to components of the traffic system that have an effect or input in the vehicle. V2X technology was mainly invented to improve road safety and enhance traffic efficiency on roads. V2X can be further broken down into three technologies with regard to the type of communication going on;
Vehicle to infrastructure/V2I
In this particular kind, communication involves exchange of data between a vehicle and roadside units. Roadside unit is just a fancy term for equipment installed alongside roads like traffic signs or traffic lights.
Vehicle to network/V2N
It refers to a vehicle accessing the network for cloud-based services. It is also referred to as vehicle to cloud.
Vehicle to pedestrian
Exchange of data between vehicles and pedestrians as road users.
Vehicle to vehicle
It is the transfer of data between vehicles. What it offers is more than basic sensors in the sense that information can be transmitted to and from quite the distance, a couple hundred meters at that regardless of barriers like other cars between the sender and receiver.
Onto our main event; DSRC vs C2VX
Dedicated Short Range Communication (DSRC)
DSRC links two senders that are in close proximity and lets them exchange communication regardless of the devices in use. It originates from Wi-Fi and can be used with any cellular network for non-safety services. DSRC is specially optimized for cost and simplicity. It inherently supports distributed operation. It is suitable for less developed areas because no specific device is needed for communication to proceed. It had been the only V2X communication technology since its deployment in 2017 before lte-v2x came up. Now onto the technical details;
DSRC operates in short range and in particular distances less than a kilometer (typically 300 meters). It runs in the unlicensed 5.9 GHZ band. DSRC is implemented for basic information like accident notices and toll payments.
Advantages
DSRC is completely unaffected by weather conditions whatever they are and however harsh they may be from heavy rain to snow. This makes DSRC suitable for safety notifications compared to lte-v2x. DSRC can also scan the environment and deliver accurate data about the weather and the surrounding area.
C2VX
Not long ago, CV2X was introduced into the market as an alternative to DSRC. It used LTE as the underlying technology hence the name lte-v2x. LTE is an acronym for Long Term Evolution which is a standard broadband communication for mobile devices and data terminals. CV2X utilizes cellular radio in lieu of WLAN which means that it utilizes the same set of cellular radio technology your mobile phone does. The major advantage it has over DSRC is that it allows both direct and indirect communication.
Direct Communication
In direct communication, vehicles communicate directly with other vehicles and roadside units in the same way that DSRC works.
Indirect Communication
In indirect communication, vehicles communicate with other entities indirectly via the cellular network-DSRC can’t do this. The cellular network can collect data from many cars and is thereby more effective at managing traffic on a larger scale.
V2X communication has lots of uses but what are some advanced CV2X applications?
What Are Some Advanced cv2x Applications?
Just reading about this makes you marvel at how much better technology has made our lives. Here are some of its applications;
Enhanced traffic safety
The fact that vehicles can communicate with pretty much all road users means traffic accidents are avoided greatly. A good percentage of accidents happen from miscommunications and pure ignorance which this technology solves, tries to solve at least. A vehicle could relay information that there is a tree blocking the road past a certain bend saving you the rather unpleasant experience of testing your airbags against it.
Convenience for drivers
As a driver, nothing worries you more than not knowing what is ahead especially in times when visibility is horrible like in torrid rain, foggy mornings or snowy conditions. It gets better when V2X allows you to know what is up ahead beforehand and you can now do what is necessary to avoid anything unpleasant like traffic snarl ups.
Time saving
You probably have been late to a meeting or date because of horrible traffic. Anyone who has experienced the traffic situation in busy urban areas knows what I’m talking about. With this technology, vehicles can communicate with roadside units like traffic lights and traffic management systems to predict an optimal route to take.
