VII will not be achieved in one or two leaps. With smart, creative, and passionate people who see and believe in the value of VII to the driving public, but also see corresponding value to their business operations, we will get there step by step.
- What is VII Tactical Deployment?
- What technology does is use?
- How did VTD originate?
- Who is developing it?
- How can one participate?
Different than strategic, VII Tactical Deployment (VTD) is tactical in the true sense of the word. VTD is deployment that is purposefully smaller in scope and geography, shorter in time-frame and cost, and deployed in a way that engages a handful of targeted interest groups and applications. VTD is in fact, VII in another form factor, and deployed sooner. It plants wanted VII functionality on the ground in the near-term, leaves key elements of the application distribution channel to incumbent Application Service Providers, keeps the door open for new entrants, and very importantly, establishes the technical and economic floor and bridge to full VII strategic implementation.
VTD is more than 5.9GHz DSRC and leverages the use of several protocols. But VTD is not technology agnostic: its foundation is 5.9GHz DSRC. The reason for this is clear:
DSRC technology was carefully chosen by the transportation community and expressly designed for VII applications because it offers the high Quality of Service attributes required by vehicle and roadside systems meant to improve safety.
Put succinctly: you reduce injury and death with DSRC; you can improve mobility with other approaches; but together you do both better.
As for pundits who claim that 5.9GHz DRSC is years away or will be eclipsed by something else, this may be the case, but only be if one assumes a strategic program approach. Through the tactical approach, DSRC complements other technologies while doing things they cannot. As for those other protocols, they can be a part of, but should not pose as VII because like most shortcuts, they have significant shortcomings. Whether it is cellular, mesh, GNS, Wi-Fi, IR, WiMAX, GPS, etc., none can achieve the complete vision of VII on its own.
VTD originated from the observation that the VII Program was meeting the technical challenges asked of it, but had not a solid blueprint in terms of the business model that would best advance deployment in light of the realities of the existing operating environment. This warranted a 'Plan B.'
The OmniAir Consortium initiated VTD and now plays the role of facilitator. The major input mechanisms must come from the VII community and those near it, whose participation is requisite to ensure a valid and relevant plan for the way forward. OmniAir's objective is to provide the opportunity for those wishing to contribute their expertise to shape and determine the critical business and operational components of VTD-based deployment and to move from plan to reality.
Contact OmniAir and attend the next VII Tactical Deployment Workshop.