When Smart Phone Meets Vehicle: A New On-Board Unit Scheme for VANETs

As the most main part of constituting Vehicular Ad Hoc Networks (VANETs), On-Board Unit (OBU) which is installed on vehicle is crucial to the development and popularization of such networks. In this paper, we propose a New OBU (NOBU) scheme of combining smart phone with Customized 802.11p Device. Since smart phone is generally equipped with powerful computing and storing device, GPS and electronic map, in our proposed scheme, it is utilized as a platform to run routing strategy and all kinds of applications of VANETs. By USB cable, the smart phone can readily connect with a customized 802.11p device, and thus access VANETs. As smart phones have been becoming so popular that almost every driver own one, the scheme will provide vehicles, especially for low-and middle-price ones, with a chance to access VANETs in a feasible, low-cost and efficient way. Simulation results based on a real map demonstrated the effectiveness of the proposed scheme.