In the field of cooperative systems, the research agenda is particularly related to the i2010 Intelligent Car, the iMobility Forum (formerly eSafety initiative), and the Intelligent Transport System (ITS) Action Plan. The ITS Action Plan complements the work of the Intelligent Car initiative and of the eSafety forum by addressing the priority areas where actions are necessary to lift the barriers hampering a wider and more coordinated deployment and use of ITS.

The following actions are especially relevant for COMeSafety2:

• Action 2.3: Continuity of Traffic and Freight Management with the multimodal ITS framework architecture including urban mobility
  
  
• Action 4.2/4.3 Integration of Vehicle & Transportation with the specification for V2X and I2X communication and evaluation strategies. 
  

COMeSafety provided the ITS communications architecture as major output for standardisation in ETSI. COMeSafety 2 as the successor provides support and input to the above mentioned actions and will herewith maintain and enhance the ITS communications architecture documentation.

COMeSafety 2 continues and builds liaisons to the relevant working groups of the iMobility Forum, in particular eSecurity, Service Oriented Architecture, Intelligent Infrastructure, Implementation Road Maps, Legal Framework, Business Models and Standardisation. The liaisons target towards the objectives. COMeSafety2 channels information to these WGs and supports their work by active contributions.

The three integrated projects CVIS, COOPERS and SAFESPOT, launched in FP6, proofed successfully the concept, various building blocks and functionalities of cooperative systems. Small scale field tests highlighted that there is still a need for research projects in FP7 and FP8, e.g. to consolidate the open platform and the specifications for V2X and I2X communications.

A specific plan for the liaison with research projects that are running or are expected to start is developed. This plan envisages establishing a stable link with the coordinating teams of the different projects plus the settlement of a common collaboration tool on line for continuous update of the essential information. Specific attention is paid on the forthcoming initiatives of cooperative systems, namely FOT projects and large-scale trials that are expected to be launched. The core aim of the liaison activities is the needed harmonisation of the ITS architecture and a basic set of core functionalities that includes Car-to-Car and Car-to-Infrastructure communication for road safety and traffic efficiency.

COMeSafety2 organises and moderates at least one workshop per year to build up a platform for exchanging technical results and updating the system architecture between research projects, the CAR 2 CAR Communication Consortium, the iMobility Forum and the iCar initiative. As a major outcome, COMeSafety2 makes a first analysis based on results of the above mentioned projects and FOTS and will give advice to the EC on not covered research areas.

A main focus is set on the architectural component of ITS standardisation. Therefore major progress in the definition of a general architecture and identification of organisational aspects is proposed – as well as the maintenance of the existing ITS Communication Architecture.

The FP7 work programme 2011-2012 focuses the development of ICT to achieve substantial efficiency gains in the application of ICT to decarbonise transport and make it safer. This incorporates the ICT contributions to Public-Private Partnerships on ICT for the fully electric vehicle. COMeSafety2 includes those projects to define a common research agenda on cooperative systems. A link to the Green Cars initiative will be established to exchange experience on cooperative systems for fully electric vehicles.

The longer term research agendas of FP8 and the European Large Scale Action (ELSA) in Transport are under discussion. Cooperative Systems will be an important part. COMeSafety2 provides advice about all questions related to cooperative systems and can act as an interface to the European car manufacturers.