Safety

In order to realize  vehicular following control without longitudinal acceleration information, the paper presents a  TSM control algorithm with non-singular, time continuous and fast convergent characteristics. Aiming at TSM control theory itself,  a  non-singular fast terminal sliding function is proposed to improve convergent speed in larger range.  And control law is synthesized with a terminal attractor with state’s exponential factor to obtain time continuous control input. By analyzing the feature of minimum sensor car-following system, a two-state integrating model including vehicular and inter-vehicular longitudinal dynamics is built and subsequently  its  TSM controller is designed. Theoretical analysis and simulation experiments
indicate that this controller outputs a time-continuous throttle angle and  tracks the preceding vehicle smoothly. A driver desirable tracking precision can still be guaranteed when such uncertainties as parametric error of vehicle mass and preceding vehicle’s acceleration exist.

State Key Laboratory of Automotive Safety and Energy, Tsinghua University

Presented at the ITS America Annual Conference and Exposition,November 16-20, 2008, New York, New York

With rapid advancement of wireless communication technologies, it has become
possible to develop cooperative systems/services where individual drivers, traffic operators
and service providers can communicate with each other.  Road-vehicle communication based
cooperative systems can be used to improve transport performances in many aspects including
safety, efficiency and environment.  This paper explores functionality and technology
feasibilities of cooperative systems/services which are focused on improving road safety.  In
addition, technical issues related to large scale implementation for such systems, as well as
related policy issues are discussed.

University of Southampton

Presented at the ITS America Annual Conference and Exposition, November 16-20, 2008, New York, New York

A  plethora  of  rear  collision  avoidance  or  warning  systems  have  recently  been
developed  in  order  to  assist  drivers  in  demanding  driving  situations  and  weather
conditions. However vehicle’s controllability through human decision-making is often
sacrificed  due  to  unambiguous  interface  designs.  Our  effort  focuses  on  the
development  of  a  system  that  could  complement  human  senses  instead  of  replacing
them,  and  improve  user’s  response  times  under  adverse  weather  and  traffic
conditions. To this end we developed a prototype Head-Up Display (HUD) interface
that could effectively convey the crucial information in a timely manner. The system
was evaluated through trials with 40 users in a driving simulation environment. In this
paper  we  will  present  a  succinct  brief  overview  of  the  HUD  system  and  we  will
elaborate  on  the  relation  of  the  users’  age  with  collision  occurrence  results  derived
from  the  comparative  study  of  the  HUD  against  the  contemporary  instrumentation
panel.

University of Glasgow

Presented at the ITS America Annual Conference and Exposition, November 16-20, 2008, New York, New York

The Advanced Crash Avoidance Technologies (ACAT) program will develop a Safety Impact Methodology (SIM) tool with the capability to assess benefits of vehicle crash avoidance technologies.  Four project teams were selected to develop a SIM to assess safety benefits of the following technologies: Advanced Collision Mitigation Braking System; Lane Departure Warning Technologies; Backing Crash Countermeasures; and Forward Pre-Collision Safety Systems.  Safety impact assessment for these vehicle crash avoidance systems will utilize a combination of national crash databases; data gathered from previous projects, data that will be collected from test track and driving simulator experiments, and data that will be generated from computer simulation.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation

Presented at the ITS America Annual Conference and Exposition, November 16-20, 2008, New York, New York

The  novel  concept for multi-party management of child protection  confronts the diversities and complexities  characterizing the discipline of  motor  vehicle child  protection. The  intelligent motor vehicle child protection system is configured to provide children with an integrative protection suit, or protection envelope,  in response to  the complete cycle of operation of a vehicle. The  new concept  promotes efficient  coordination  between the involved parties,  and  the vehicle systems. It  offers to  unravel the identified child-safety paradigm and to provide a driver with real-time assistance. This is a first ever introduction of intelligence to motor vehicle child protection and discipline to the ITS world.

Safe To Ride, Inc.

Presented at the ITS America Annual Conference and Exposition, November 16-20, 2008, New York, New York