Suppliers of Connected Vehicle services across the UK have been told the Department for Transport is committed to supporting the industry to deliver connected services in an open, shareable way.
The comments were made by the DfT’s Head of Road Infrastructure Technology, Darren Capes, during a webinar around the new Connected Vehicle Services Framework (CVS), where he committed to “supporting an ecosystem to allow the data we have to deliver the services that people will want in the future”.
The Transport Technology Forum’s webinar outlined how the new CVS Framework will define the services that are expected to be provided to road users and operators in the future by harnessing vehicle and infrastructure data.
“We are building a national baseline set of connected services the UK should expect, which can guide local authorities, funding decisions, standards and policy direction,” he explained, but reassured suppliers that this “isn’t prescriptive and isn’t about government building apps or forcing manufacturers, but instead about enabling interoperability and market growth.”
Mr Capes explained that the Framework is split into three streams; infrastructure-to-vehicle, and harnessing the data gathered to ensure people can consume data in-vehicle, Vehicle-to-Infrastructure for using vehicle derived data to better understand the state of the network, and – further into the future – two-way connectivity to deliver solutions such as automating management of vehicles and payment for services.
“An analogy I’ve used before is the WhatsApp analogy,” Mr Capes continued. “We all use it, we use it on different devices, on Apple and Android phones, and on different networks, but the interoperability goes on behind the scenes – there are lots of different technologies and different standards in the background that make WhatsApp work, but the service it provides is common at the point of delivery.
“That’s the level that the CVS framework will operate at. It’s about defining services and defining what needs to happen in the background to make services common at the point of delivery.”
This consultation with the private sector follows a series of meetings with local authorities so the industry can work with the Department for Transport to define the services included in the Framework, and discuss how existing or planned products or services can align with it.
Suppliers were given the opportunity to give feedback on their understanding, readiness and optimism around the CVS Framework. Their feedback will be used to refine the framework, develop guidance and service factsheets and inform consultation and future engagement. It was stressed that the DfT is not looking to use this process create a list of preferred suppliers, replace procurement processes or commit funding.
Those involved in Connected Vehicle technology are urged to stay up to date with developments of the Framework through the Transport Technology Forum. The CVS Framework will be discussed further at the TTF Live event at Hinckley Island in Leicestershire from 16-18 March.
(Picture – TTF/LCRIG)
