Satellite-supported eCall Demonstrator for satellite-supported eCall for millions of vehicles

  • Status
    Ongoing
  • Status date
    2021-06-25
  • Activity Code
    3A.097
Objectives

The objective is to develop a system demonstrator, which validates functions of a future satellite-supported eCall system. This system shall support up to 300 million vehicles. The critical key functions to be demonstrated are emergency warning, remote vehicle diagnostics, and transfer of essential passenger information.

The projects requirements are split into two axes:  

     - Analysis of the limits of the terrestrial solution, identification of the space technologies that overcome these limits and definition of the roadmap for full deployment  

     - Prototyping and demonstration of a complementary space-based solution to highlight the improvements that a space-based system could bring to the eCall system

Challenges

The main challenge is to design and produce a prototype eCall device that is able to use Galileo/SAR and Kinéis to transmit emergency information to a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP).

Benefits

The added value of a final product based on the prototype is the ability to transmit alert message from areas where no terrestrial networks can be reached such as some mountainous or very isolated regions.

Features

The prototype is able to use the Galileo/SAR system to transmit emergency information to a Public Safety Answering Point.

The prototype is able to use the ARGOS system to transmit information for some undefined third party service (e.g. assistance).

System Architecture

The system makes use of the Galileo/SAR and the ARGOS system to transmit to a public service access point. The diagram below shows the main components of the system.

The IVS (In Vehicle System) is the prototype eCall system designed and developed during the project.  

The green and blue components are external services.  

The ssecall platform is an intermediary system used to interface the system with the IMA (the public service access point).  

IMA (Inter Mutuelle Assistance) is a French PSAP.

Plan

Project Plan is as follow:  

  1. eCall Roadmap and Use Cases  
  2. Test-bed Finalized Technical and service Requirements  
  3. Test-bed Design and development  
  4. Test-bed Performance testing results  
  5. Preparation and execution of a demonstration  

All the expected project reviews have been completed. Due to an unexpected sanitary crisis, all have been performed remotely. The final demonstration is replaced by a digital event including a professional-made video of the concept. A shift of the planning was observed and managed to be limited to 4 months at the end of the project. Minutes have been provided by Thales Alenia Space for each meeting. The table below summarizes the reviews as performed.

Current status

The project is currently being finished. An event is being planned to report and communicate on the work that has been done. The event will be held on the internet to account for sanitary restrictions.