BMW: Real Time Traffic Information from 2007
BMW will offer real time traffic information for navigation in their 2007 models.
BMW is the first automaker to prepare to use the so-called Dust Network, created by Microsoft spinoff Inrix Traffic Services BMW touts the service as free (it is), but has raised the price of its optional navigation systems by $100 for the 2007 model year.
The Dust Network service differs from others in several ways: It allows dynamic routing (automatic rerouting around traffic jams), it uses a larger network of "traffic flow sensors" (moving vehicles), and it can predict future traffic flow based on past patterns. This represents a step forward for navigation services in recent months, which also includes OnStar Turn-By-Turn and Mercedes-Benz Destination Download, which use an operator to look up and download mapping information, and the transition from DVDs to hard disks for navigation data on cars from Chrysler, Infinti, and Mercedes-Benz.
Competes With XM NavTraffic
Other vehicles already can get real-time traffic reports, most commonly through XM Satellite Radio NavTraffic, which costs $4 a month. The reports are culled from embedded traffic sensors, traffic helicopter reports, highway department reports, and some automated moving-vehicle feedback. BMW has announced a partnership with Clear Channel Communications, which in turn licenses data from the Inrix Dust Network, whose name derives from the idea that communicating sensors may become so cheap and ubiquitous, they could be attached to every speck of dust).
In this case, it's not every speck of dust; it's 625,000 commercial fleet vehicles, delivery trucks, and taxis (as of September): probe vehicles, as Inrix calls them. These provide anonymized data that can't be tracked back to an individual who's perhaps speeding or stepping out on a spouse. Inrix President and CEO Bryan Mistele says competing services that incorporate moving-vehicle reports base their information on thousands rather than hundreds of thousands of vehicles. Still, using mathematical modeling, Mistele says the greater New York area can be accurately covered with about 5,000 or 6,000 vehicles; a city like Phoenix would need 1,500 to 2,000. More vehicles would mean more coverage of secondary roads.
Clear Channel's delivery of Inrix-based data will come in three phases and blend with Clear Channel's existing traffic reporting. The first phase, now available on most 2007 BMWs, uses Inrix technology to clean up data coming in through other sources, such as roadway sensors (which can fail, then start working again), police reports, and traffic helicopters. The second phase will integrate the 625,000-plus Dust Network vehicle reports. BMW and Clear Channel say they want to be sure it works before making the Dust Network part of the real-time traffic feed. Cars that get the Clear Channel traffic feed now, such as BMWs and dashtop portable navigation devices, will be able to receive that information with existing products. The third phase, predicting traffic flow along your route, will likely require new hardware, and is a year or two away.
RTTI Over Radio Data Service Feed
In BMW's case, the service will be on the 3 Series, 5 Series, and 6 Series sedans; the X5 SUV; and the M5 and M6 sports versions that are equipped with navigation systems. Several older models-the Z4, X3, and 7 Series-will not be compatible. The signal will be broadcast as radio data service (RDS) information over Clear Channel's network of more than 1,200 stations. RDS is what lets your radio display the name of the station, artist, and song; it's being used by enterprising third-parties such as Kensington in its RDS iPod charger/transmitter to pass along iPod track and artist information to your car radio.
Future Plans: Predictive Traffic
The traffic flow information Clear Channel passes on to BMW is about current traffic conditions. But Inrix is also able to deliver predictive traffic information. Inrix researchers model traffic flow based on previous experience, such as how long it takes to clear out a football stadium holding 50,000 people and the percentage increase in traffic flow on a road at 5 P.M. on Labor Day, and how that changes if it's rainy or sunny. They also incorporate things such as school vacation schedules. Inrix says it can predict traffic flow up to a year in advance. As a practical matter, on a day-long trip, you could see what traffic would be like in a congested city 200 miles ahead.
Inrix says six of the top seven GPS portable-navigation-device vendors will be offering Inrix services and, eventually, other automakers will too. The competing NavTraffic service is on the Acura RL, RDS, and MDX; the Cadillac CTS; the 2007 Lexus LS; and several portable and in-dash navigation units.
Related news: Foursprung, P4MR, BMW, real time traffic information, RTTI
Source: Techno Ride
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