GNSSmeter
GNSS-based metering for vehicle applications and value added road services

There have been substantial increases in the amount of traffic that affects most European citizens as the mobility needs of citizens continue to rise. However, the addition of more land-vehicle traffic channels raises a series of problems. In short, the roads that we have need to be made more intelligent. An excellent solution is a fair pay-per-use principle, but individual road pricing has to be determined.

GNSSmeter offers an enhancement of the existing road tolling system. The metering calculation technology presently used is based on GPS. This solution uses a patented innovative and unique calculation approach but today’s GPS-based road-pricing systems will reach their limits if only conventional positioning algorithms or metering algorithms are used. Limiting factors are the non-existent integrity check, a single satellite navigation system and moderate positioning accuracy.

The scope of GNSSmeter addresses the topics of vehicle applications with high public utility and vehicle value-added services.

Description

The PVT solution used will incorporate augmentation data from EGNOS signals in space as well as EDAS. The metering calculation software will use the GNSS raw data forwarded by the PVT software for the already patent-protected metering calculation which is further used for road-pricing calculations. The calculated position, velocity and time from the PVT software will be used to validate the extended metering calculation. Thus the project proposes some significant advantages over the status quo. 

There are several intersections between the work packages in order to form the GNSSmeter project phases. The project is planned to start with the set-up of functional, technical and user requirements, followed by the architecture and design tasks. The next tasks will cover development and integration followed by an extensive test and validation period. All project work is accompanied by the project management task.

Beside technological developments and research tasks, a strong emphasis on commercialisation will enable a fast market introduction of the GNSSmeter system.

Objectives

The project aims to develop a road-pricing and pay-per-use insurance application system based on a vehicle onboard technology that can be integrated rapidly to an existing market product. The first Galileo signals will be processed and will soon significantly increase the ability for metering calculations, especially in urban canyons. Thus the existing GPS-only receiver chipset will be replaced by an innovative miniaturised GPS/EGNOS/Galileo chipset supporting a tailored acquisition-aiding functionality. 

GNSSmeter can also create accident avoidance applications using more accurate positions and car-to-car communications. GNSSmeter will develop a novel GNSS receiver with sophisticated PVT (position, velocity, time) and metering calculation software. Beside GPS, the receiver integrates EGNOS/EDAS data integrity for reliable metering data determination and augmented position accuracy.