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PUBLISHED ARTICLE








        CONNECTIVITY SOLUTIONS

        FOR COMMERCIAL V2V


        COMMUNICATIONS



        Vehicles Talk to Each Other to Improve Efficiency, Safety


        BY MIKE GARDNER | MOLEX INCORPORATED

                                             based peripheral vision support systems.   of these connectors handle data only, the

                                             Autonomous haulage systems are being   trend is to use hybrid connectors that can

                                             developed for driverless truck operations,   handle both data and power, some of which

                                             such as dump trucks.                 can be specified with two or four lines of

                                                                                  signal and power.
                                             Agricultural vehicles have, perhaps,

                                             the most widely developed portfolio   One major challenge with hybrid connectors

                                             of V2V applications, including vehicle   is the EMI generated when power is

                                             synchronization systems that share data on   transmitted through the connectors. As

                                             guidance lines, crop yield and soil moisture.   a result, connectors and cables in these

                                             These systems coordinate tractor and   systems must be insulated to protect

                                             combine operations to control grain flow   against EMI and crosstalk.
          Sealed HSAutoLink™ Interconnect System from
                                             and maximize loads. Also, GPS mapping   Also, commercial vehicle V2V
          Molex accommodates connections such as Ethernet,
          low-voltage differential signaling (LVDS) and more.  systems enable driverless tractor systems   communications systems must be
                                             monitored remotely or by a lead vehicle.
        It’s now possible for vehicles to                                         ruggedized, particularly in terms of latching
        communicate with each other—and not   Another growing commercial vehicle   and sealing. They must provide the
        by drivers rolling down their windows to   application is driver monitoring systems   benefits of high-speed automotive vehicle
        shout across to each other. Vehicle-to-  (DMS), which keep tabs on driver behavior.   networks as well as additional protection
        vehicle (V2V) communications systems   These systems can ensure that drivers   from vibration, shock and fluid ingress—
        can improve the safety, efficiency and   are alert, not texting, observing speed   while being contained in more complex
        productivity of a wide range of commercial   limits, and other parameters. If they sense   and denser packages. For that reason,
        vehicles.                            the driver is not monitoring the current   interconnect systems for commercial
                                             situation, the systems can take over vehicle   vehicles require fully protected perimeter
        Using wireless networks, commercial   operation.                          seals and wire seals rated to IP67 and IP69K
        trucks and buses, agricultural vehicles,                                  for use in off-road environments.
        and construction and mining vehicles   V2V communications also enables
        can communicate via in-vehicle devices   remote predictive maintenance. Using   NEW REQUIREMENTS
        that continuously share safety, mobility,   these systems, vehicles transmit data on   Interconnect systems must also be
        and environmental information. These   operating hours and maintenance intervals   designed to accommodate differential pair
        connected vehicles can alert drivers   to a central processor, which sends out   electronics. For example, the ruggedized,
        to potential hazards, take over vehicle   operator alerts when specific maintenance   sealed HSAutoLink  Interconnect System
                                                                                                ™
        operations when needed, or even manage   items are required. In the construction and   from Molex accommodates connections
        networks of autonomous vehicles.     mining industries, many vehicles are leased   such as Ethernet, low-voltage differential
                                             and the leasing company must ensure its
        MULTIPLE SYSTEMS                     vehicles are properly maintained. Some   signaling (LVDS) and more.
        A wide range of V2V communications   remote reporting systems can shut down a   Today’s interconnect systems are, of
        systems are in use or in development. For   vehicle if maintenance is not performed.  course, required to handle higher data
        example commercial truck applications   SYSTEM COMPONENTS                 speeds and higher definition video transfer.
        include forward collision warning,                                        They must also be capable of rapidly
        automatic braking, and blind-spot and   With more data flowing through commercial   processing new types of sensor data. For
        lane-change warning. Some construction   vehicles, communications systems require   example, sensor aggregators, or sensor
        and mining vehicles have guidance    high-speed connectors and cables that   fusion, units on commercial vehicles
        systems that monitor the operating area   can transmit 5 to 10 Gbps of data in order   process and interpret data from different
        and avoid hazards, as well as camera-  to transfer images and video. While some   types of sensors. In one application, a video

                                                                             Originally published in connectorsupplier.com (June 2016)
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