Electronics Module Could Bring Tolling to All Roads

Unit combines GPS and GSM communications

Charles J. Murray, Senior Technical Editor -- Design News, August 27, 2008

A new technology being developed by Siemens Mobility and NXP Semiconductors could enable counties and municipalities to charge tolls on virtually every highway, not just on the major arteries that employ toll booths today.

Siemens and NXP are teaming up on the development of an electronics module that would combine global positioning satellite (GPS) technology with the popular GSM (global system for mobile communications) cell phone standard and near-field communications (NFC) security technology. Together, the technologies would enable toll collection from greater distances than the short-range RFID systems used on major highways in the U.S. today, and they would eliminate the need for expensive infrastructure, such as toll booths.

"When you build toll gates, it's a huge investment and it only covers the main roads," says Jeroen Alting von Geusau, business manager at NXP Semiconductors. "Using GPS and GSM in a system like this, you could cover all the small roads and the big roads, too. That's why people find it so interesting."

NXP will provide a chip and basic software that combine all the functions for toll collection, such as GPS, NFC and GPRS (general packet radio service). Interfaces for flexible telematics applications, such as traffic information, will be provided on the automotive-grade, single-chip platform. Siemens will develop the on-board unit (OBU), integrating NXP's single chip and software.

NXP engineers say the system will have capabilities that go beyond road tolling.

"You could provide traffic information and road tolling, and you could combine it with existing (aftermarket) navigation systems," Alting von Geusau says. "With this, you get a total telematics system that could perform all kinds of functions."