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SOCRATES 2 kernel project

Objective

SOCRATES (System Of Cellular RAdio for Traffic Efficiency and Safety) was a successful DRIVE 1 project (V1007) which culminated in a small test site in Gothenburg. During the project significant progress was made towards the goal of a pan-European traffic information and communication system, but there remained a need for further development.

SOCRATES-based pilot projects are taking place in Hessen (RHAPIT, V2055), Gothenburg (TANGO - part of CITIES, V2054) and London (TIGER and APPLE, part of LLAMD, V2033). Several other possibilites for SOCRATES implementation throughout Europe are under review.

The overall objective of the SOCRATES projects including the Kernel is to maintain the progress towards a pan-European system.

The ultimate goal is to achieve the pan-European commercially successful implementation of ATT services based on SOCRATES. The Kernel is providing the bridge between existing R & D, the pilot projects and that goal. The specific objectives of the Kernel are:

to coordinate the developments in each of the SOCRATES pilot projects, in order to ensure that developments are convergent rather than divergent;
to provide a centralised structure for contact with standardisation bodies, etc, in keeping with the objective of a pan-European system; and
to act as a centre of competence for SOCRATES coordination and as a "think tank" for the generation of new ideas and solutions.
Progress is being maintained towards the development of a pan European traffic information and communication system. The system of cellular radio for traffic efficiency and safety (SOCRATES) project was further developed to include the kernel. The kernel provides the bridge between existing research and development, the pilot projects and the final goal.

The kernel responds to specific requests from SOCRATES pilots, and will issue recommendations to pilots in order to achieve convergence. It is organized into 5 main work areas: liaison and coordination; implementation and operational aspects; standardization; development aspects; and DRIVE normalized transmission (DNT) coordination.

The concept of the kernel as a centre of excellence has been successfully demonstrated in a number of technical developments.
These include the following:
the development of a common approach to system design in the pilot projects;
the implementation of common communication protocols;
SOCRATES application centre development;
floating cardata handling techniques;
communications modelling;
development of application protocols;
innovative work on dynamic route planning;
man machine interface activities;
progress on the coordination of DNT implementation.

The role of the kernel in providing a level of coordination between the 3 SOCRATES pilot projects has been demonstrated to be essential and provides the path to full commercial implementation.
Technical approach

The common areas of activity in the kernel are:

continuing, but low-level, development of traffic management strategies and software for general use in SOCRATES control centres;
establishment of general SOCRATES system architecture;
establishment of SOCRATES communications protocols;
establishment of in-vehicle standards for SOCRATES equipment;
coordination of data collection techniques;
development of a coordinated approach to a common man-machine interface (MMI) for SOCRATES (when sufficient resources are available);
coordination of the further development and implementation of the DNT (DRIVE Normalised Transmission) concept for ATT communications;
liaison with pilot projects;
overall coordination of SOCRATES developments;
liaison with PTTs and network operators over the commercial establishment of SOCRATES services; and
representation of SOCRATES in Brussels and elsewhere.

The Kernel responds to specific requests from SOCRATES pilots, and will issue recommendations to pilots in order to achieve convergence.

The Kernel is organised into five main work areas:

liaison and coordination;
implementation and operational aspects;
standardisation;
development aspects; and
DNT coordination.

Development aspects in turn is divided into the following areas:

system design;
SOCRATES application centre development;
data collection;
communications;
in-vehicle equipment;
Man-Machine Interface; and
evaluation.

Key Issues

the communications technology for the Integrated Road Transport Environment (IRTE);
development and implementation of a pan-European traffic information and communication system;
development and implementation of compatible interactive route guidance systems;
development and implementation of SOCRATES-based traffic control and information centres;
standardisation of communication requirements for the IRTE.

Expected achievements

It is expected that the achievements of the SOCRATES Kernel will fall into two groups: the first group concerns the implementation of the SOCRATES pilot projects, for which the Kernel will provide overall coordination, so that compatibiilty between the three pilot projects is maintained as far as is practical; the second concerns the future implementation of commercial SOCRATES systems, for which the Kernel will provide a technical, operational and commercial framework on which to base viable commercial SOCRATES services.

Expected Impact

The basis of all the coordinated SOCRATES developments is that SOCRATES will provide the structure for a genuinely integrated road transport environment, in which all the main ATT applications can share the same communications infrastructure.

SOCRATES is particularly concerned with the pan-European digital cellular radio system, GSM, which could offer the fastest path to genuinely compatible ATT implementations throughout Europe. Other potential communication bearer services are however under consideration and investigation in pilot projects, using a coordinated approach in order to maintain as much compatibility as possible.

Coordinated development of SOCRATES concepts will have a significant impact on progress towards the implementation of the IRTE.

Contribution to Standardisation

During DRIVE 1 SOCRATES played an important part in liaison with the various GSM committees; this role will continue during DRIVE 2 in order to ensure that ATT requirements are fully taken into account during the next phases of GSM.

The Kernel specifically includes the further development and implementation of the DNT concept; this was developed during DRIVE 1 and should form the basis of a coordinated approach to integrated communications protocols for all applications within the IRTE.

The kernel is intended, when resources allow, to make a significant contribution to the development of standards for MMI.

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Coordinator

Ian Catling Consultancy
EU contribution
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Address
Ash Meadow Bridge Way Chipstead
CR5 3PX Croydon
United Kingdom

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Participants (15)

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Last update: 20 October 1994

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Permalink: https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/V2013

European Union, 2024