Satellite enabled ITS services for cars

The SafeTRIP project targets the demonstration of a new satellite communication capable ITS system in real-life situations. The integration into a vehicle and testing of all related technologies in the field is a challenging task. In this paper, we present the journey that was undertaken by the SafeTRIP consortium from conceptual designs to deployment for the purposes of field trials and proof-of-concept. The paper begins by describing the steps taken to facilitate early software development and reproducible integration results. Next, as many components of the system were developed separately, a carefully orchestrated integration had to be performed in a lab setting. The last leg of the journey consisted of moving the integrated system into multiple vehicles at two test sites, accompanied by system tests and pilots. This transition has proven to be one of the most interesting and challenging aspects of the journey. We believe that our approach, findings and recommendati ons would be useful for the design of commercial platforms and services that exploit satellite communication and targets the mass market.