See-Through System (STS)

The See-Through system (STS) is a co-ADAS for the overtaking maneuver of long and vision obstructing vehicles that uses VANET technology to provide a video-streaming between the vehicle in front and the vehicle behind.

The STS allows the overtaking vehicle to have the visual perspective of the road of the preceding vehicle, enhancing the driver′s visual perception of vehicles traveling in the opposite direction lane.
The functioning of the system is relatively simple. In suitable roads (one lane per direction) the traffic sign recognition software installed in equipped vehicles is able to detect if the overtaking maneuver is permitted by law. If a traffic sign does not allow overtaking, the activation of the STS will be automatically disabled. Upon the activation of the system, the overtaking vehicle sends a Geocast message to a zone of relevance (ZOR) determined through its current GPS position, direction vector and speed, asking for STS cooperation. The vehicle in front receives this message and validates its participation in the STS request based on its own current GPS position, direction vector and speed. Upon validation of its participation in the STS protocol, the vehicle in front starts a geo-unicast video streaming to the ZOR of the overtaking vehicle of the signal collected by its windshield-installed camera. The overtaking vehicle receives this video streaming and displays it to the driver through the dashboard screen. The overtaking vehicle sends a message to end the protocol when the overtaking is completed, which is automatically detected by its GPS position and the zone of relevance of the video-streaming.

An important aspect of the STS as an overtaking assistance system is that it just provides additional visibility, leaving the decision to engage in the maneuver to the driver of the vehicle.
Drivers enable STS by pressing a context aware button on the steering wheel.