Wi-Fi Based Vehicle to Vehicle Communication

Abstract

Roadway crashes remain a significant contributor to fatalities and serious injuries globally. A primary factor in these incidents is the time lag in driver reaction, coupled with issues like poor visibility, impaired driving, and the absence of immediate information sharing between vehicles. Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) communication is a cutting-edge Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) technology designed to allow vehicles to autonomously exchange critical safety data to prevent collisions. This research details the development and practical implementation of a V2V communication platform utilizing Wi-Fi and ESP8266 microcontrollers, augmented by multiple sensors, to bolster road safety.

Introduction

Traffic accidents are a major concern, especially in developing regions where high vehicle density and poor safety compliance contribute to crashes. Most accidents are caused by human factors such as speeding, impaired driving, inattention, or slow response to hazards. Traditional safety features like seat belts and airbags reduce severity but do not prevent collisions. Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) communication offers a proactive safety solution by enabling real-time data exchange—such as speed, location, braking status, and hazard alerts—between vehicles.

Project Objective:
The project aims to develop a low-cost Wi-Fi-based V2V communication system using ESP8266 modules that can detect road hazards (via ultrasonic, vibration, and alcohol sensors), transmit alerts instantly without internet, and provide clear visual and audible warnings. The system also seeks to evaluate communication reliability, delay, and range, and create a scalable architecture for multi-vehicle and Vehicle-to-Infrastructure (V2I) integration.

Methodology:

• Sensors continuously monitor the vehicle environment.

• ESP8266 modules process sensor data, compare it with thresholds, and generate alerts for hazards like obstacles, collisions, or alcohol detection.

• Alerts are transmitted via direct Wi-Fi (Access Point or Wi-Fi Direct), avoiding the need for internet.

• Receiving vehicles display messages on an LCD and trigger a buzzer for immediate driver notification.

• System performance is tested for transmission range, delay, sensor accuracy, and reliability.

System Development Workflow:

1. Sensor integration and calibration.

2. Continuous data acquisition.

3. Decision-making using threshold comparisons.

4. Wi-Fi peer-to-peer setup and alert transmission.

5. Reception, display, and audible warning generation.

6. Performance testing for range, delay, accuracy, and reliability.

Results and Discussion:

• Reliable short-range communication achieved (25–40 meters).

• Low-latency alert delivery ensures timely driver response.

• Sensors provide accurate readings with minimal false triggers.

• Clear LCD messages and buzzer warnings enhance awareness.

• Low-cost components demonstrate an affordable, efficient prototype suitable for academic ITS applications.

• System architecture allows potential scalability to multi-vehicle and V2I scenarios.

Advantages:

• Affordable and uses widely available hardware.

• Operates without internet connectivity.

• Provides real-time alerts to improve reaction times.

• Suitable for academic projects and ITS research.

Applications:

• Accident prevention in urban and low-speed traffic.

• Detection of driver impairment (alcohol levels).

• Alerting nearby vehicles to collisions or strong vibrations.

• Supporting ITS research and smart traffic systems.

• Enhancing safety in low-visibility conditions (fog, rain, darkness).

This project demonstrates that a low-cost, sensor-driven Wi-Fi V2V system can provide effective real-time hazard alerts, improving road safety in short-range urban and academic settings.

Conclusion

The developed Wi-Fi-based Vehicle-to-Vehicle communication system successfully demonstrates a low-cost and effective method for improving road safety. By integrating ultrasonic, vibration, and alcohol sensors with the ESP8266 module, the system is able to detect obstacles, unsafe driving conditions, and potential accident scenarios in real time. The wireless communication established between two vehicles ensures that critical alerts are transmitted instantly, helping drivers respond quickly to nearby hazards. The results show that the proposed solution offers reliable data transmission, low latency, and consistent performance within short-range vehicular environments. Overall, this project proves that Wi-Fi-enabled V2V communication can be a practical and scalable approach for enhancing driver awareness and reducing the likelihood of accidents, especially in areas where advanced ITS infrastructure is not available. Furthermore, the modular design of the system allows for easy integration with additional sensors, cloud connectivity, and future IoT-based extensions. Its affordability makes it suitable for widespread adoption, especially in developing regions with limited access to costly vehicular communication technologies such as DSRC or 5G-V2X. Overall, the findings of this project highlight that Wi-Fi-enabled V2V communication offers a promising, impactful, and easily deployable solution for improving driver awareness, reducing accident rates, and supporting the transition toward smarter and safer transportation systems. Future enhancements may include vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) capabilities, improved encryption for secure data exchange, and large-scale field testing to validate performance under diverse road conditions.

References

[1] Rjab et al. (2024) :-Presented a comparative performance model for mmWave and WiFi-based V2V communication, demonstrating how WiFi signals perform in 3D road environments including LOS and NLOS conditions. [2] Patil, A., & Deshmukh, S. (2023).:-Wi-Fi Based V2V Accident Prevention System Using ESP8266. International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology, 8(3), 155–160. [3] Kaur, G., & Singh, J. (2022) :-IoT-Enabled Vehicle Safety System Using ESP8266 and Wireless Communication.International Journal of Engineering Research & Technology (IJERT), 11(5), 425–430. [4] Mehra & Singh (2022):-Demonstrated that WiFi Direct can be used for short-range V2V message exchange, making it useful for alerts such as collision detection or obstacle warnings. [5] Abdelhafeez, S., & Mahmoud, Q. (2021).:-Vehicle-to-Vehicle Communication for Road Safety Improvement Using. Wireless Communication Technologies.IEEE Access, 9, 12555–12567. [6] Ramesh and Suresh (2021):- Investigated the viability of WiFi modules like ESP8266 for low-cost V2V prototypes, showing that peer-to-peer WiFi communication is suitable for academic ITS models. [7] Arena, Pau and Severino (2020) :-Provided a detailed review of IEEE 802.11p (WiFi-derivative) for Intelligent Transportation Systems, explaining PHY/MAC enhancements that enable low-latency V2V communication. [8] Saini, R., & Kumar, N. (2020).:-A Study on Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) Communication and Intelligent Transport Systems. International Journal of Computer Applications, 178(41), 17–22. [9] Al-Saadi, A., & Rahman, M. (2019).:-Real-Time Safety Messaging Using Wi-Fi Based Vehicle Networks. Journal of Transportation Technologies, 9(2), 87–95. [10] Anwer and Guy (2017):- Published a comprehensive survey on VANET technologies, concluding that WiFi-based V2V systems are cost-effective but face channel congestion at large scale.

Copyright

Copyright © 2025 Dr. Nagaraj Bhat, Aditya M Hiregoudra, Ashwath R Kulkarni, Chandan S Muragod, Chini Ullas Balappa. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.