BMW released results of an engineering demo in Philadelphia that it says validates using HD Radio to deliver advanced traffic data.
Testers said the results show gains in the speed and volume of data delivery, using digital alogorithms paired with HD Radio.
Clear Channel — whose Total Traffic Network was part of the proof-of-performance excercise — said the increased performance would help the broadcaster expand its traffic services in the future. Clear Channel says its Total Traffic Network now delivers data to 500,000 users in four countries and more than 125 metros.
A new protocol used in the test supports real-time, high-speed broadcast of traffic information and will enable future vehicles to view current and predicted traffic patterns, speeds and flows almost instantaneously, according to those invovled in the demo.
Testers equipped a BMW 5 Series with custom hardware and software including an HD Radio data tuner and custom visualization and logging software; they drove throughout the Philadelphia metro. They transmitted traffic information during rush hour to the test vehicle in 14 seconds using 52 messages.
Testers said that validates the high-speed data transfer capability of HD Radio and the efficient encoding of the TPEG/TFP protocol.
BMW Group Research and Technology led the test, conducted in November using the Transport Protocol Experts Group protocol. BMW of North America and Clear Channel Total Traffic Network supported the efforts.
