Networks promise 'accident-free' cars

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The sensors promise to help negotiate dangerous traffic

The risk of having an accident in a car could soon be drastically cut thanks to a new approach to wireless networks.

Embedded sensor networks are designed to replace existing networks that can only share information that has already been captured and stored.

Sensor networks instead take information from several individual nodes - potentially thousands of them in different locations - in real time, and can act on it accordingly.

This means that during a journey, vehicles could monitor each other's speed and position - and therefore dramatically cut the risk of accidents.

"I think that we may, in the future, go beyond just communication to using the network to interact with the environment," Professor PR Kumar of the Convergence Lab at the University of Illinois told BBC World Service's Digital Planet programme.

"For example, cars on a highway may talk to each other and find out each others' speeds. So a sensor in that context could just be the speedometer on a car, which could talk to surrounding cars.

"These cars could then co-operate with each other to avoid accidents and so on."

Changing speed

Most advanced networks currently work on an ad hoc basis - established through links between laptops, for example, which can share information between them.

But embedded sensor networks represent a shift away from computers communicating purely over a network, to sensors which communicate with each other.

And the next stage is an "actuator network" - where computers are able to act on the information they receive from the sensors. This could mean, for example, reducing speed in advance if slower traffic conditions are detected.

Heathrow's forthcoming driverless pods work using sensors

"What we really want to do is interact with the physical world, consisting of the cars," Professor Kumar said.

"Interaction is a two-way process, so I don't just want to know what speed it is; I want to change the speed.

"This gives rise to sensor-actuated networks, which are deployed over a wireless network. That could be the kind of system we are headed towards."

He said that these systems represent "the convergence of communication, computation, sensing and actuation."

However he conceded that a lot of issues remain to be sorted out before such a network could be put into practice on the roads.

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Space truck ready for rehearsals

www.youthsprouts.blogspot.com Photo

Mission Guide: Jules Verne

Total cargo: 4,860kg

1,340kg - 'dry' supplies

20kg - air (oxygen/nitrogen)

280kg - drinking water

860kg - propellant for ISS

2,360kg - re-boost propellant

The ship itself has 3,490kg of propellant for rendezvous, re-boost and de-orbit manoeuvres

In graphics: Space Station

Fly an ATV mission

ATV quick guide

Ariane 5 launch

Europe's "Jules Verne" freighter is about to start practice docking manoeuvres at the space station.

The cargo truck will test its systems with two close approaches and retreats before finally linking up with the orbiting platform next Thursday.

The ship, which is carrying just under five tonnes of supplies for the station's astronauts, flies under the control of autonomous computers.

The vehicle's performance so far has been exemplary, say space officials.

"We've had the usual small anomalies; we're learning how to fly the bird - but nothing that has been really difficult," said John Ellwood from the European Space Agency (Esa).

See where the ATV is right now

Button pressing

Launched earlier this month, Jules Verne, also known as the Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV), was parked up in front of the International Space Station (ISS) during the recent shuttle visit.

But now that the Endeavour orbiter and its crew are on the ground, controllers have commanded the truck to come back over the platform for two demonstration days.

Jules Verne is designed to make its own way to the platform and complete an automated attachment. Humans will only interfere if something is seen to be going wrong.

But as a new ship, the ATV must prove itself; and the demos will allow for the checkout of all the vehicle's close-manoeuvring systems, including its advanced GPS technology and optical sensors.

The first practice session, on Saturday, will see the ATV move to a hold point just 3,500m (2 miles) behind and 100m (330ft) above the station.

The second, on Monday, will see Jules Verne edge to just 12m (40ft) from the back of the ISS; and, hopefully, aligned straight with the docking mechanism.

The second day will also give the station crew an opportunity to practise their safety interventions.

By pressing buttons on a special panel positioned in the ISS's Zvezda module, it is possible for the astronauts to command the ATV to stop in its tracks and even move away from the station.

Once these operations have been completed, ground controllers will assess the results, before giving the green light to Jules Verne to try a docking for real.

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LoneStar, just super truck more than super cars

www.youthsprouts.blogspot.com We give International full credit this daring design that we spied uncovered earlier this year. Still, it appears as though it's taken a giant leap back three decades with the new Class 8 International LoneStar. International said its mission was to create a big rig that married aerodynamic efficiency with a unique look and a wide range of customization. Having asked truckers what they wanted, apparently customization means 'more cowbell lights and chrome.' As upright and retro Lite Brite as the design might be, it still gets gas mileage as good as the best aerodynamic semis on the market, according to International. Inside, the cabin evokes the kind of ergonomic class that could have been meant for the outside -- the sleeper has hardwood flooring for that at-home feeling. The truck comes with 42 factory options, 23 inside, 19 outside, and International itself said it wants to create the same kind of aftermarket following that MINI and Harley currently enjoy. If nothing else, the LoneStar is a rig more than worthy of Lone Starr. __