美国国家公路交通安全局（NHTSA）尚未对专用短程通信技术（DSRC）下达强制使用令，但许多公司已经计划在车间通讯及车对基础架构通讯中使用该技术了。作为基础建设方的施乐公司正计划在收费和商用车监控等许多任务中将DSRC定为标准。

一直以来，NHTSA都在努力研究DSRC，因为它可对安全造成巨大影响。尽管DSRC目前还未纳入标准，但NHTSA对其未来潜力十分看好。施乐等公司认为该技术极有可能用于许多其他功能。

“如果NHTSA要求在汽车中应用DSRC，那么我们就要关注它的潜能，”施乐公司技术、政策与战略部门高级主任Joe Averkamp表示。“可以把它当作付费设备使用，这意味着应答机将被淘汰。”

自2010年并购Affiliated Computer Services以来， 施乐公司已实现大规模成长，公司希望将自己的基础设施服务范围扩大至汽车行业。目前，美国数州的收费业务和汽车监控系统都由施乐公司进行管理，此外，施乐还管理着一个政府民间合作项目，项目涵盖32个跨州运营的货运公司，约有50万名司机参与其中。

施乐公司与密歇根大学交通运输转型研究中心一起合作进行了一个研究项目，从一个模拟城市开始，最终将扩大并覆盖2万辆车。这些试验将帮助它们发现在信息安全与隐私保护方面需要解决的问题。

“在安全的世界中，车辆都是匿名的，” Averkamp表示。“但只要到了计费环节，我们就必须应对头绪繁多的身份数据，对司机用户进行管理。”

许多公司都在考察DSRC对其他功能的支持潜力。公司如果希望在提升用户兴趣的同时增加新的技术应用，那么这样做有助于摊销成本。然而这些增加的功能不能妨碍DSRC实现其主要目标。

“首要原则是决不可以干扰通讯安全，” Averkamp表示。“一旦确定要在车里应用这个技术，那么人们就希望充分利用它，给驾驶员带来更好的体验，比如说用于找停车位，同时也可以缓解拥堵。此外也可以设置一个车载提醒功能，比如说，告诉司机免费驾驶至马里兰需要20分钟，但用快车道可以节省10分钟，但需要支付3美元。”
尽管DSRC可能替换某些技术，但它仅是未来汽车无线通讯协议中的一种。蓝牙技术将在驾驶室内使用，而4G等蜂窝网络连接将负责远程通信和大规模数据传输。

Xerox eyes DSRC for vehicle infrastructure support

The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) hasn’t yet issued a mandate for dedicated short range communications (DSRC), but many companies are planning for the eventual adoption of vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure communications. On the infrastructure side, Xerox is eyeing DSRC as a potential standard for many tasks such as tolling and commercial vehicle monitoring.

NHTSA is continuing to research DSRC because it can have a big impact on safety. The agency appears bullish on its potential, though no requirements have been set. Companies like Xerox feel there’s a high likelihood that the technology can be used for many additional functions.

“We’re looking at DSRC’s potential if NHTSA requires it in all cars,” said Joe Averkamp, Senior Director, Technology, Policy & Strategy, at Xerox. “It could be used as a payment device for tolling. If it’s used, it could become a national standard, which means the transponder inventory will go away.”

Xerox hopes to expand its infrastructure services in automotive, which grew substantially when it acquired Affiliated Computer Services in 2010. The company manages tolling operations and vehicle monitoring systems in several states. Xerox also manages a public-private partnership that spans 32 states trucking companies with around 500,000 drivers.

The company has partnered with the University of Michigan Mobility Transformation Center to participate in studies that are beginning with a simulated city before eventually expanding to 20,000 vehicles. Those trials will help companies figure out issues including security and privacy.

“In the safety world, vehicles need to be anonymous,” Averkamp said. “When it comes to tolling, drivers are subscribers we’ll need to manage that bifurcated identity environment.”

Many companies are examining DSRC’s potential for providing additional features and functions. That would help companies amortize the cost of adding the technology while also generating more customer interest. However, these additional features can’t detract from DSRC’s primary goal.

“The first rule is that nothing can interfere with safety communications,” Averkamp said. “Once the technology is put into the car, you might as well leverage it to give the driver a better experience, maybe by finding a parking space, which also helps reduce congestion. You can also provide in-vehicle signage, telling someone that driving time to Maryland is 20 minutes for free but paying to use the high occupancy vehicle lane costs $3 and cuts the time to 10 minutes, for example.”

While DSRC may displace some technologies, it will be just one the wireless communication protocols used in future vehicles. Bluetooth will be used inside the cabin, while cellular links like LTE will handle long-range communications and large amounts of data.