Successfully Developed Seven Terminals with Built-in Shock Detection Sensors
| Accident judgment considering complex factors such as impact and tilt
| Quick reporting possible using data communication networks

A domestic research team has developed a terminal for emergency rescue services that can drastically reduce the mortality rate in traffic accidents.
The Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI) announced on the 19th that it has developed seven terminals that support emergency rescue services as a result of the Ministry of Science and ICT's 'Vehicle ICT-based Emergency Rescue System (e-Call) Standard and Vehicle Terminal Development' project.

e-Call is a service that automatically transmits information such as vehicle location to the control center when a traffic accident occurs, using the vehicle's black box, navigation system, or smartphone to recognize the accident.

The research team believes that this terminal will greatly contribute to reducing mortality rates by securing the golden time for patients who are competing for every second faster than before.
With the second-highest traffic fatality rate among OECD countries, South Korea desperately needs e-Call services. Overseas, countries like the US and Europe are already recommending the installation of e-Call service terminals, and last year, mandatory installation was legislated for all vehicles released.

In August 2014, the government established the "ICT-Based Traffic Accident Emergency Rescue System Establishment Plan" at the National Policy Coordination Meeting. The Ministry of Science and ICT will support aftermarket e-Call terminal technology for existing vehicles, while the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport will support the development of embedded terminals and control centers for new vehicles. The government decided to pursue the development of e-Call service technology through multi-agency cooperation.

In 2015, ETRI, along with Thinkware, GIT, Handysoft, the Korea Information and Communications Technology Association, Sungkyunkwan University, and the Korea Intelligent Transport System Association, developed e-Call service technology standards and aftermarket terminals. The black box, navigation system, and smartphone e-Call terminals are the result of their joint research.

The e-Call service currently available in Europe utilizes the text messaging service of mobile phones to report accidents. However, the research team chose to transmit and receive information via data networks, rather than voice networks. This is because it is necessary to be able to transmit large amounts of data in order to enable faster accident reporting and to send photos of the accident from the black box.
When the terminal recognizes an accident and sends rescue information to the control center, emergency rescue procedures begin. Passengers can also press the rescue request button at this time. If the control center contacts emergency rescue for a prolonged period of time without a response, or if the call confirms the accident, it is deemed a real accident, and full-scale emergency rescue response is initiated. If the accident is not real, the service can be declined.

There are also differences in accident recognition methods. Existing products simply determine whether an accident has occurred based on whether the airbag deployed. However, the research team stated that through various devices equipped with sensors that detect the impact of a traffic accident, the control center can easily obtain information such as the location of the accident, the number of passengers, and the type of fuel used in the vehicle involved.

The terminal developed by the research team not only detects shock but also determines accidents through changes in inclination. It is a method of judging an accident through complex variables such as whether the vehicle's speed changes significantly within a certain period of time, whether the vehicle flips over, and the rotation status of each wheel.

Additionally, because the terminal device automatically adjusts its initial settings, the more you drive the vehicle, the smarter your decisions become.

The research team explained that the development of various types of terminals makes it possible to apply the e-Call system to vehicles that do not have a built-in system.

ETRI explained that this technology will shorten the time required for accident detection and automatic reporting in the event of an accident. It also predicted a dramatic reduction in time by enabling accurate identification of the accident location.
ETRI primarily focused on developing standard technologies necessary for system operation. It also developed a decision algorithm for determining whether to report an accident within the terminal.

Thinkware and GIT, which participated in the research, were in charge of the e-Call hardware terminal and uploaded the algorithm. The Korea Information and Communications Technology Association has completed the testing and certification foundation for e-Call terminals.

In fact, ETRI conducted a field test of the terminal developed through the project on 21 delivery vehicles of the Korea Post in Geumsan, South Chungcheong Province, Okcheon, North Chungcheong Province, and Yeongdong.

Through this Korean-style e-Call service, one International Telecommunication Union (ITU) international standard has been established, and two more are in progress, with related standard patents secured. The research team is preparing for commercialization through the transfer of this technology.

Kim Hyung-jun, head of the ETRI Standard Research Division and responsible for overall business operations, said, “The traffic accident fatality rate can be significantly reduced by installing e-Call terminals,” and added, “In the future, efforts should be made to improve the domestic related legal system that mandates terminal installation and to establish a control center that can perform callback functions.”