Connected Cars Vocabulary: key terms

The sphere of connected cars lies at the intersection of the car industry and the Internet of Things. That is why it has a specific terminology. What’s the difference between V2V and V2D? What do V2s mean? Let’s have a look at the most frequent topical expressions and abbreviations.

Connected Cars

A car with Internet access and a wireless local network can be called connected. Such an automobile can exchange data with other internal and external devices – from your smartphone to road infrastructure.

Internet of Things (IoT)

Internet of Things is a network of devices, vehicles, and buildings with inbuilt electronics, software, sensors, and the Internet connection that enables data exchange between them.

IoT allows things to collect data, perform certain actions and communicate with other devices. Refrigerators analyze their content and order necessary food. In the streets, cameras shoot people and recognize faces. A car gets data on traffic and finds the best route. All the abovementioned is doable due to the Internet of Things.

Internet of Vehicles (IoV)

Internet of Vehicles is a system of wireless connection and data exchange between a vehicle, a road, a human, and the Internet. IoV is a component of the Internet of Things.

V2V (vehicle-to-vehicle)

This is a system of a wireless connection that allows two vehicles to exchange data on traffic without driver’ help. Due to this system, an auto will be able to get the real-time information about driving speed, location etc of another car.

V2G (vehicle-to-grid)

This system helps a vehicle to connect to a public grid. Due to it, an electric car can refill or get excessive power back.

V2P (vehicle-to-pedestrian)

This system enables the interaction between a connected vehicle and nearby pedestrians. Vehicle electronics recognizes a frequency range of smartphones people use, which helps detect where and with what speed a pedestrian goes. In emergency cases, a vehicle can signal an alarm to both a driver and a pedestrian.

V2I (vehicle-to-infrastructure)

This is a wireless communications system that helps vehicles exchange data with infrastructure objects: traffic lights and signs etc and vice versa – receive information from them.

V2D (vehicle-to-device)

This system enables a vehicle to share data with any electronic device connected to this vehicle. For instance, a smartphone.

ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems)

Advanced driver assistance systems, or ADAS, are improved systems to help the driver. They are designed to boost auto safety and the whole traffic. Its examples are adaptive cruise control, adaptive lighting system, smart parking system, road signs recognition system, etc.

Blind Spot Monitoring

Blind Spot Monitoring is a vehicle-based sensor device that detects other vehicles located to the driver’s side and rear. Warnings can be visual, audible, vibrating, or tactile.

RWIS (Road Weather Information System)

Road Weather Information System, or RWIS, is a complex of software and hardware elements created for the observation of weather conditions on roads. The stations measure meteorological data and transfer this data to the system’s data centers.

Carsharing and carpooling (ride-sharing)

Carsharing is a practice of car rental for a period of time. Carpooling, or ride-sharing, is the sharing of car journeys. It allows distributing gas costs proportionally. Thus, both car owners and passengers may save money on journeys.

Carsharing and carpooling are based on the idea of joint use. This practice emerged as a result of two facts: first, driverless and connected cars are expensive; second, air pollution so the use of a single vehicle is an eco-friendly solution.