Spain-based Ficosa has introduced an intelligent communications module that improves traffic

Ficosa, together with GMV, has introduced an intelligent communications module for vehicles that improves traffic movement and safety. Sources at Ficosa claim that in the next few years communications between vehicles and also those from vehicle to infrastructure will become increasingly important and this along with electronics and the protection of the environment are the three main sectors, which will grow and develop in the automobile industry

With the aim of finding solutions and meeting these increasing needs in vehicle communications, Ficosa and GMV have developed a miniature communications module, based on multi-architectural technology, which is flexible - capable of evolving and adapting to new communication standards, which arise in the vehicle's life-cycle - as well as being sufficiently powerful to integrate different telematic and safety services and applications in one device.

The system can support many services and applications including the European emergency call system (eCall), safety and mobility applications based on both vehicle-vehicle communication and vehicle-infrastructure communication, services provided by the vehicle manufacturer (call centre, remote vehicle diagnosis, on-road assistance, etc.), fleet management systems, automated toll payments, car insurance single payment systems, vehicle information gathering systems to determine real traffic situations, stolen vehicle tracking devices, automatic payment systems (parking, petrol stations, etc.), navigation and on-board entertainment.

As a hugely valuable element for automobile constructors, the module developed by the Spanish multi-national is easily incorporated into the vehicle (becoming invisible to the user) thanks to its tiny size. The intelligent communications module also received the Jury's Special Mention at the recent Barcelona International Motor Show.

Ficosa's Advanced Communications Unit, which was created five years ago and researches in the field of antenna systems for automobiles, is developing miniaturised antenna systems, which allow for the reception of AM/FM radio, telephone, satellite communications (GPS, XM, Sirius, Galileo), Radio and Digital Terrestrial Television as well as carrying telematic applications such as Bluetooth or Wifi systems, tyre pressure control or the opening and closing of doors by remote control. Currently Ficosa is mass-producing various antenna systems for certain models of Fiat, Peugeot and Citroën and is finalising the negotiation of contracts to incorporate these systems in future models of German and North American car manufacturers.

As a result of this intense research and development work in the field of antenna systems, Ficosa has recently diversified its range of products, penetrating into the navigator market by mass-producing antennas for TMC systems (Traffic Message Channel), which receive news of traffic incidents by the navigator in real time.