[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 70 (Wednesday, April 13, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19553-19555]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-7434]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA 2005-20936]


Civilian Use of, and Requirements for, the Next Generation of GPS 
for Automotive Safety

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) is working closely 
with the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) in modernizing the Global 
Positioning System (GPS). In this document, the National Highway 
Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is requesting comments and 
information to help us determine the civilian specifications for the 
next generation of the GPS (GPS III) based on future automotive safety 
needs that could be enhanced by a modernized GPS.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before May 31, 2005.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by the DOT DMS Docket 
Number above by any of the following methods:
     Web site: http://dms.dot.gov. Follow the instructions for 
submitting comments on the DOT electronic docket site.
     Fax: 1-202-493-2251.
     Mail: Docket Management Facility; U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, Room PL-401, 
Washington, DC 20590-001.
     Hand Delivery: Room PL-401 on the plaza level of the 
Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street, S.W., Washington, DC, between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    Note that all comments received will be posted without change to 
http://dms.dot.gov, including any personal information provided.
    Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or 
comments received, go to http://dms.dot.gov at any time or to Room PL-
401 on the plaza level of the Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street, SW., 
Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
except Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Arthur Carter, Office of Vehicle 
Safety Research, NVS-332, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590 
(telephone: (202) 366-5669, fax: (202) 366-7237).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) 
is working closely with the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) in 
modernizing the GPS. This next generation of GPS will be available 
beginning in approximately 2012, and in use for approximately two 
decades. Examples of use include the enhanced vehicle positioning 
information that could be provided by a modernized GPS that would 
improve the performance of various automotive safety systems such as 
intersection collision avoidance and road departure prevention. Many of 
these applications are being developed today based on the existing GPS 
complemented by inertial sensors and other technologies. The potential 
for improved performance over the existing GPS could bring new safety 
applications to save lives and improve efficiency.
    To obtain information that will assist it in this process, NHTSA is 
publishing this document requesting comments and information about 
automotive safety and other initiatives related to the automotive 
safety impact of GPS.
    Researchers and technical experts from automotive original 
equipment manufacturers (OEMs), suppliers, and other interested parties 
are invited to submit technical information that

[[Page 19554]]

focuses on new or improved safety applications and describes how future 
GPS specifications would enable or enhance these applications. 
Overviews of ongoing research programs and descriptions of industry 
practices related to GPS are also welcome.
    In particular, NHTSA requests the specifications for such an 
upgraded and modernized GPS and discussions of advanced driver 
assistance systems, postcrash medical attention and other new safety 
applications that would take advantage of such a system. Some 
possibilities include how the next generation of GPS could be used for 
automotive safety purposes, approaches for evaluating the safety 
impacts of such systems, and what new research and other safety 
initiatives might be envisioned with an upgraded or modernized GPS 
system. NHTSA requests the details of specifications for such an 
upgraded GPS system. Specifications could include coverage, signal 
strength, accuracy, signal integrity, signal availability, continuity, 
additional signals in space, changes to orbital parameters, and 
additional data broadcast from the satellite constellation.
    NHTSA will utilize the information in discussions between DOT and 
DOD to finalize the requirements for the next generation of GPS. The 
goal of this request is to generate recommendations for the performance 
capability of the next generation of GPS.
    Background. The current GPS consists of three major segments. These 
are a Space Segment (SS), a Control Segment (CS), and a User Segment 
(US). GPS is a dual use, military and civil system whose mission is to 
provide Position, Navigation and Time (PNT) services. GPS provides 
ranging signals that enable users equipped with properly designed GPS 
receivers to precisely determine time and their three-dimensional 
position and velocity.
    The increasing utilization of advanced technologies in automobiles 
brings the promise of enhanced safety and security. GPS, plus other 
vehicle technologies, could provide safety benefits, such as automatic 
crash notification directly to emergency medical services, and holds 
out the promise of additional future safety benefits.
    NHTSA has been interested in the potential safety impact of the GPS 
system on advanced, in-vehicle technologies for a number of years. For 
example, one project just completed is the Enhanced Digital Mapping 
(EDMap) project. The goal of the EDMap project was to accelerate the 
development and deployment of a range of digital map databases or 
enhancements to existing databases that have sufficient accuracy and 
reliability to enhance or enable new vehicle safety applications or 
improve the performance of driver assistance systems under development 
or consideration by U.S. automakers. GPS was an integral part of this 
project for both map generation and vehicle positioning within the 
driver assistance systems.
    The potential value of GPS to efficient and effective emergency 
response has been demonstrated through numerous initiatives, such as 
the Federal Communication Commission's (FCC) requirements for wireless 
Enhanced 911 (E911). FCC, requires wireless carriers, upon appropriate 
request by a local Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP), to provide the 
PSAP with the telephone number of a wireless 911 caller and the 
caller's location information, within 50 to 300 meters, using network 
or handset (GPS) solutions.
    Things to Consider: How is GPS used today by the Original Equipment 
Manufacturers (OEMs) and their suppliers for product development and by 
the consumer while operating the vehicle? What limitations does GPS 
have? How are these limitations overcome by the OEMs? How could the 
satellites and the signals transmitted by them, be redesigned, or 
upgraded to overcome these limitations or add additional capabilities? 
How is GPS III envisioned to be used by the OEMs and suppliers in the 
future?
    Written Statements, Presentations, and Comments: The agency has 
established Docket No. NHTSA-2005-20936 as a repository for 
information, statements, and comments on issues related to the 
automotive safety use of GPS. Written or electronic submissions may be 
made to this docket at any time.
    We will consider all comments that Docket Management receives 
before the close of business on the comment closing date indicated 
above under DATES. To the extent possible, we will also consider 
comments that Docket Management receives after that date.
    For written materials, two copies should be submitted to Docket 
Management at the address given at the beginning of this document. The 
materials must not exceed 15 pages in length (49 CFR 553.21). Necessary 
attachments may be appended to the submissions without regard to the 
15-page limit. This limitation is intended to encourage commenter to 
detail their information in a concise fashion.
    If a commenter wishes to submit certain information under a claim 
of confidentiality, three copies of the complete submission, including 
purportedly confidential business information, should be submitted to 
the Chief Counsel, NHTSA, at 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 
20590. Additionally, two copies of the above document from which the 
purportedly confidential information has been deleted should be 
submitted to Docket Management. A request for confidentiality should be 
accompanied by a cover letter setting forth the information specified 
in the agency's confidential business information regulation, 49 CFR 
part 512.

How Can I Read Comments Submitted by Other People?

    You may read the comments received by Docket Management at the 
address given above under ADDRESSES. The hours of the Docket are 
indicated above in the same location.
    You may also review filed public comments on the Internet. To read 
the comments on the Internet, take the following steps:
    (1) Go to the Docket Management System (DMS) Web page of the 
Department of Transportation (http://dms.dot.gov/).
    (2) On that page, click on ``search.''
    (3) On the next page (http://dms.dot.gov/search/), type in the 
four-digit docket number shown at the beginning of this document. 
(Example: If the docket number were ``NHTSA-2002-1234,'' you would type 
``1234.'') After typing the docket number, click on ``search.''
    (4) On the next page, which contains docket summary information for 
the docket you selected, click on the desired comments. You may 
download the comments.
    Please note that even after the comment closing date, we will 
continue to file relevant information in the Docket as it becomes 
available. Furthermore, some people may submit late comments. 
Accordingly, we recommend that you periodically check the Docket for 
new material.
    Privacy Act. Please note that anyone is able to search the 
electronic form of all comments received into any of our dockets by the 
name of the individual submitting the comment (or signing the comment, 
if submitted on behalf of an association, business, labor union, etc.). 
You may review DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal 
Register published on April 11, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 70; Pages 
19477-78), or you may visit http://dms.dot.gov.


[[Page 19555]]


    Issued: April 7, 2005.
Joseph N. Kanianthra,
Associate Administrator for Vehicle Safety Research.
[FR Doc. 05-7434 Filed 4-12-05; 8:45 am]
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