Live demonstration

The test included a comprehensive data system developed in the project, and on board equipment (OBE) installed in the vehicles. The test included exchange of driver-initiated messages related to conditions along the route, calculation of arrival time and delays to terminal, using a newly developed Speed model for heavy vehicles, and recommended route to the destination in Trondheim. A video from the demonstration is available on the project web site.

At the start of each trip in the demonstration, the driver would give information about cargo weight, planned destination and route, using the OBE. The equipment communicated with a data system holding detailed information about the vehicle, destinations, road links and road messages. Based on information about total weight and location of destination, the system would estimate time of arrival to the destination. At the start of the journey, the driver would get information about any road closures affecting the planned route, allowing the driver to reschedule the planned route.

En route, the driver received updated information about time of arrival. The system holds information about public road messages, made available through the information platform TRIP. The system also allowed the drivers to send a range of pre-defined "driver messages" which were stored in the data system and made available for the other drivers taking part in the demonstration. The regular road messages and the driver messages were indicated on the OBE with icons on a map, as well as an adapted warning sign as the vehicles approached the location of the "event" (see figure).

As the vehicle approached the destination in Trondheim, the driver received information about recommended route to the destination, and information about reservations of slot time made for the vehicle at the terminal. The recommended route was based on information from the data system about vehicle characteristics, restrictions with regard to weight or height in the road system, and any road closures. The slot time reservations were based on the calculated time of arrival.

A designated web site for the live demonstration gave an overview of active vehicles and driver messages in the demonstration at all times.

For each active vehicle, the web site would give time of start, estimated time of arrival and - after arrival; the actual time of arrival. The information about each vehicle would be displayed for 24 hours after the start of the journey, helping the terminal staff to avoid waking up drivers during their required sleeping time after arrival. The overview of the vehicles was only available for the transport operator and their staff at the terminal in Trondheim

The driver messages had varying "life time", depending of topic, and were displayed on a map on the web site for as long as they lasted. This part of the web site was available to the public.