Info-mobility: A Concept for Advanced Automotive Functions Toward the 21st Century

This paper proposes a new concept of the info-mobility in which the information plays a key role in the future automobile with advanced functions. The basic “driver-vehicle-road environment” system could be reorganized by using three information systems, i.e. in-vehicle, roadside and wide area ones. Nine info-mobility functions, including those of judging abnormal conditions of driver and vehicle, supporting driver's manipulation, detecting obstacles and external disturbances, recognizing environment, route guidance, etc., are described. Twenty-seven specified functions selected for respective functions and related technological subjects are also discussed.