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 For background, VTS continually supports numerous conferences, symposia, workshops and tutorials through its conference portfolio both in terms of financial sponsorship and technical co-sponsorship. The Society’s first conference, the flagship Vehicular Technology Conference (VTC), took place in 1950 in Detroit, Michigan, USA as strictly a vehicular conference.
But as technology advanced, so did VTC and other Society efforts, resulting in a strong focus on the wireless aspect of all things vehicular. In 1999, VTS made a bold move to offer VTC twice a year, once in the spring and again in the fall.
Subsequently in 2013, VTS established a second flagship conference in vehicle power and propulsion by acquiring control of the Vehicle Power and Propulsion Conference (VPPC). Aside from its flagship conference efforts, the Society has also been involved (and in many cases as an ongoing effort) in these events:
- APWCS – Asia Pacific Wireless Communications Symposium
- CAPS - Conference on Context Awareness for Proactive Systems
- CCS – International Workshop on Cognitive Cellular Systems
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HMWC – High Mobility Wireless Communications Workshop
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ICCVE – International Conference on Connected Vehicles & Expo
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IEVC – International Electric Vehicle Conference
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ISWCS – International Symposium on Wireless Communication Systems
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JRC – Joint Rail Conference
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WF-IoT – World Forum on the Internet of Things
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WoW – Wireless Power Workshop
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WPNC – Workshop on Positioning, Navigation and Communications
VTS events are serviced by a combination of VTS members, IEEE members and even significant numbers of non-members, all which feed into the various value networks of the individual events. In reviewing the portfolio of events, it is easy to see how the Society has grown into an international presence.
VTS has always taken an active role in supporting many diverse events across the world, positively influencing development of technology, economies of scale, standards, and security as well as promoting stewardship of information, physical resources and the planet. As such, participation at VTS international events is a productive mechanism for influencing positive change throughout our communities.
International conferences are not just a great way to get a paper published, they develop new networks for future collaborations, help one learn about cutting-edge research, and expose delegates to different cultures. IEEE Vehicular Technology Society conferences deliver all these elements and more.
Over the past five years, VTS has maintained excellent standards in presented work, and the Society has developed programmatic expansion such as increased workshops and tutorials, and the addition of the Connected and Automated Vehicles Symposium. VTS Conference Administration has also incorporated technology to facilitate navigational ease and create an enjoyable experience.
In 2014, VTS introduced an Industry Track to the VTC program, and it has grown considerably. In 2018, it included over 80 top executives who served as keynote speakers and panelists from companies such as AT&T, Peugeot, Nokia, Boeing, Veniam, Toyota, Canadian Pacific Railway, Deutsch Telekom, Microsoft, Huawei, Amazon and Qualcomm.
Government participation ranged from the Secretary of State of Industry for Portugal, the German Aerospace Center, the U.S. Federal Communication Commission, the European Commission, and the National Institute of Standards and Technology. The collective show of expertise and knowledge in areas ranging from autonomous vehicles to 5G network technologies was extraordinary.
2014 was the year that introduced a mobile app to our participants, and usage increases each year. The mobile app is a great tool to help organize and communicate with our attendees. We use push notifications to update delegates on schedule and room changes, and to remind participants of special events. It is also possible to highlight speakers and exhibitors and allow them to communicate with our attendees. Delegates can message each other, form groups for dinners, and coordinate leisure activities.
2018 was the first year the Vehicular Technology Conference and the Vehicle Power and Propulsion Conference (VPPC) were co-located and allowed participants to move between the two freely. It was a huge success and many delegates were happy with the collaborative energy.
VPPC as a VTS flagship event began with 90 delegates in 2013, and has shown steady increases in attendance culminating with over 300 participants in 2017. It has been hosted by colleagues in China, Portugal, Canada, France and the United States. Look for a call for papers for VPPC in 2019, which will be held in Vietnam.
VTS launched its Women in Engineering program at the VTC2018-Fall conference in Chicago with Dr. Aylin Yener, an IEEE Fellow, as its keynote. VTS strives to increase the number of women in electrical engineering by providing professional enrichment and mentoring, as well as social networking opportunities.
Workshops and tutorials also have shown steady growth over the past five years. From 2014 to 2018, the Society provided over 70 workshops and 71 tutorials. Topics ranged from Orthogonal Time Frequency Space Modulation to various elements of Energy Efficiency in Wireless Networks.
These learning environments have helped introduce new tools, explain how new technologies work, or introduce case studies to evaluate processes. Hands-on courses have proven to be very valuable and we continue to see the interest grow.
The diversity in VTC delegates is extraordinary. Since 2014, we have had delegates from 69 countries, with USA and China most represented, while making new friends and colleagues from nations such as Burkin Faso, Cocos Islands, and Togo.
We have travelled to Seoul, Glasgow, Porto, Vancouver, Sydney, Boston, Toronto, Chicago, and Montreal. Each location had interesting landscapes, cultural experiences, and flavors. Local entertainment gave conference-goers a look into the country’s art or music. We could not have asked for better hosts.
On behalf of the VTS Conference Administration, I thank you all who have worked so hard over the years to make these events successful. It takes a great deal of time to organize an international conference and the amount of people who selflessly give is phenomenal. I also hope to see you all at both the VTC2019-Spring in Kuala Lumpur and VTC2019-Fall in Honolulu, Hawaii! | 
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