The Computing Community Consortium (CCC) is proud to announce the publishing of Weisong Shi’s book on Vehicle Computing. We spoke with him to discuss the process and key takeaways for researchers and practitioners.  

What was the process of writing this book?

This book originated from a vision paper we published at IEEE ICDCS 2018. In that paper, we envisioned future connected and autonomous vehicles (CAVs) as advanced computers on wheels, equipped with extensive onboard sensors serving as data sources and a range of services supporting autonomous driving and other functions. We proposed the development of an Open Vehicular Data Analytics Platform (OpenVDAP) for CAVs. Seven years later, the students in the CAR Lab have made substantial progress through our research efforts and collaborations with industry partners. Additionally, we have observed a growing number of researchers focusing on Vehicle Computing in recent years. This has made me realize the importance of having a textbook tailored for graduate students and professionals in this field. 

Writing this book was a highly iterative process that blended our research expertise in edge computing with real-world applications in connected and autonomous vehicles. The book includes the representative work of the CAR Lab over the past seven years and presents our vision for the future of this research field. The process also involved an extensive literature review, case studies from the automotive industry, and collaborative input from industry practitioners. We drew from practical experience, integrating insights from implementing and testing vehicle computing to bridge the gap between theoretical concepts and their practical deployment in the rapidly evolving automotive sector.

What are three main takeaways that the audience should have reading the book?

1. Transformation of Traditional Vehicles into Versatile Mobile Computing Platforms: Readers will understand how vehicles are evolving from traditional transportation tools into dynamic, AI-driven mobile computing platforms with advanced capabilities in computation, communication, energy management, sensing, and data storage.
2. Comprehensive Overview of Core Vehicle Computing Functionalities and Testing: The book thoroughly examines the five core functionalities of vehicle computing—computation, communication, energy management, sensing, and data storage—while highlighting the cutting-edge technologies and real-world case studies that support these functionalities. It also introduces testing methods and key metrics for evaluating vehicle computing systems.
3. Challenges and Opportunities in Vehicle Computing: The book provides a forward-looking perspective on the technical challenges facing vehicle computing and introduces new opportunities for innovation in both academia and industry, encouraging further research and development in this emerging field.

How do you think this book will be helpful for researchers and practitioners in the field of edge computing?

This book will be highly valuable to researchers and practitioners in the field of edge computing as it provides a comprehensive exploration of how edge computing technologies are transforming the automotive industry. For researchers, the book presents detailed insights into the evolution of vehicle computing architectures, the integration of AI and sensing technologies, and the novel business models emerging in this space. It highlights key technical challenges, such as real-time data processing, energy management, and communication in dynamic environments, offering a roadmap for future research opportunities.

For practitioners, the book serves as a practical guide to implementing edge computing solutions in real-world vehicle applications. It includes case studies that demonstrate how computation, communication, and data storage functionalities are applied to create intelligent, connected vehicles. Additionally, the discussion on testing methods and key metrics will aid practitioners in designing and optimizing vehicle computing systems for autonomous and connected vehicles.

What’s next for you?

I envision the Vehicle Computing book becoming a widely adopted textbook for academic courses and a valuable resource for workforce training in the automotive and edge computing industries. By offering a solid foundation in the emerging field of vehicle computing, the book aims to prepare the next generation of engineers and practitioners. Looking ahead, I plan to continue researching and developing open-source solutions to address the critical technical challenges in this domain, particularly in areas like autonomous driving, software-defined vehicles and edge computing. 

Shi intends to establish an autonomous driving academy at the University of Delaware for pre-college students, helping to build a pipeline of talent for the future of vehicle computing.