Vehicular Ad Hoc Networks

Question 1

What are your thoughts on VANETs?

Answer 1

Vehicular networks come forth as a promising field of wireless technology which can be fruitful in enhancing road safety when deployed in vehicle-to vehicle and vehicle to infrastructure systems. This is because it comes with immense ability to promote communication between two nearby vehicles as well as with Road-Side Unit. Since most road accidents takes place untimely because there is no communication between drivers and knowing their intents becomes difficult (Raya & Hubaux, 2005). VANET emerges a technology that can aid in solving road accidents issue, a problem that has been a snare especially in developing countries where road infrastructures are not well developed. In fact communication with Road Side Unit is quintessential as it keeps drivers informed at all time hence can avoid over speeding and increase concentration on the roads.

Question 2

What are the Implementation Issues?

Answer 2

Due to diversity and complexity of vehicular networks, a number of issues have arisen concerning implementation of the technology. Mobility constraints, high mobility and driver mobility are features that create a dramatic difference with the generic MANETS that become problematic (Yousefi, 2006). Constraining drivers in paved highways is a mountain of an issue owing to the fact that the technology does not do away with traffic jam hence implementation may come with a lot of inconveniencies that drivers may be forced to ignore the use. It also brings to question emergency vehicles such as ambulances and police patrol which can never be constrained on a single way. Therefore, implementation of VANETs still has numerous issues to be solved before a green light can be issued comfortably.

Question 3

What are the security challenges?

Answer 3

VANET technology is faced with series of security challenges in the spheres of confidentiality, integrity, authenticity and non-repudiation. The application still has challenges in developing lightweight scalable authentic framework. As a result, it lacks full capacity to offer adequate protection for vehicular nodes from internal and external attackers who may infiltrate the network using false identities and fabrication. It can also not withstand alteration of legitimate messages, introduction of misinformation to the network and detecting spoofed GPS signals (Sherali & Ray, 2010).

Question 4

What is the current stage of the technology in terms of adoption and applications?

Answer 4

In European Union, United States of America and Japan, the technology is still on trial stage. Since 1998 US have put to trial this technology in projects such as Intelligent Vehicle initiative and many other subsequent trials in the 21^st century. Japan and EU have also pursued a number of projects such as Advanced Safety Vehicle Program (ASV) and Fleet Net respectively and the concepts are still on development (Yousefi, 2006). The trials have not yet revealed promising results to leverage full deployment thereby opening more avenues for research.