This chapter reviews some of the network topologies and technologies within current vehicular systems. This is then followed by a proposal from the authors with initial viability results, into the possibility of implementing optical wireless links to either replace or complement these existing ideas. The initial motivation for this work (Green, 2010) is that there exist multiple pathways within a vehicle such as the engine compartment, within the frame of the chassis, or the internal cockpit that all lend themselves nicely to free space optical propagation. The first specialised study on the viability of optical wireless communications within the vehicles cabin was then published in (Higgins et al, 2012) which provided a further impetus to the concept. It is hoped that through the original results presented here, the reader can gain a basic understanding of the concepts compared to the current technologies, and are then able instigate their own research ideas.
Photonic extreme learning machine by free-space optical propagation