Describing I2V Communication in Scenarios for Simulation-Based Safety Assessment of Truck Platooning

V2X communication plays an important role in the transition towards connected, cooperative, automated driving. Wireless communication enables instant information exchange between vehicles (V2V) to support, e.g., platooning, and between the infrastructure and vehicles (I2V) to inform vehicles on, e.g., the local speed limit information or the approach of an accident location. In the Horizon 2020 HEADSTART project, we have shown how to test V2V communication in a scenario-based safety assessment framework. Safety assessment aims to determine the impact on safety in the case of potentially critical scenarios, e.g., due to, or in parallel to deterioration of communication. In this study, we extend this methodology with the incorporation of I2V communication. The developed method allows us to treat V2V and I2V communication independently. We demonstrate the method in the use case of an Intelligent Speed Adaptation I2V-functionality for platooning trucks. The practical implementation of test descriptions that consider the potential deterioration of communication signals in the standardized OpenSCENARIO format is shown. The study illustrates how tests are performed in a hardware-in-the-loop setup specifically developed for testing platooning functions. The availability of a test method that is capable of dealing with V2X communication is an important step towards the implementation of type approval methods for Cooperative, Connected and Automated Mobility (CCAM) systems.

Development of a Novel Intelligent Speed Adaptation System Based on Available Sight Distance

Most existing roads were designed without considering the improved performance of modern vehicles and the new onboard technologies available for assisted driving. In addition, vehicles frequently travel at speeds that exceed the maximum considered in road design. For these reasons, the need for speed- and safety-related countermeasures (e.g., field control, mobile or fixed speed cameras, traffic calming measures) is evident. However, these countermeasures are only partially effective and the proportion of crashes that are speed-related remains significant. This investigation is aimed at the development of a new intelligent speed adaptation (ISA) system based on the available sight distance (ASD). In conditions of poor visibility, the system can (i) inform drivers when they are traveling at inappropriate speeds, or (ii) generate warning sounds to the same effect, or (iii) intervene directly and compel the vehicle to adopt the speed which is most appropriate to the particular ASD. As reported in this methodological paper, the functionality of the new ISA system was tested at the driving simulator of the Politecnico di Torino (Italy) and the resulting estimated ASD value was validated and tested successfully. Future experimental investigations will be devoted to assessing the effectiveness of the system on driver speed behavior and decision making.

Auditory intelligent speed adaptation for long–distance informal public transport in South Africa

Informal transport refers to the collective passengerroad transport industry with little or no regulatory control of its operations, usually characterised by unplanned and ad-hoc service delivery. The notoriously dangerous informal transport industry in South Africa – dominated by minibus taxis – has been shown to disregard the posted speed limit on long-distance trips. Not only do they frequently exceed the differentiated speed limit imposed on minibus taxis, but also the speed limit imposed on normal passenger vehicles. This paper evaluates the impact of an auditory Intelligent Speed Adaptation (ISA) intervention, applied at various intensity levels, on the speeding behaviour of this seemingly intransigent mode of transport. The experiment evaluates the behaviour on the R61 between Beaufort West and Aberdeen. We evaluate the speeding distributions, speeding frequencies, speed percentiles, mean speeds, and the statistical relevance of key metrics. We find that the auditory intervention has a clear impact on speeding behaviour, both when appliedat an audible level that can be drowned out by a radio, andeven greater impact at a loud level. The impact on speedingis significant, with speeding frequency (both time and distance) reducing by over 20 percentage points.

A Study on the Effect of Intelligent Speed Adaptation (ISA) by Using Human Speech and the Acceptance

Intelligent Speed Adaptation (ISA) is an in-vehicle system that support drivers compliance with the speed limit. ISA is in fact a collective term for various different systems. Today, speeding was listed as the major cause of road accidents and traffic fatalities worldwide. By having a reliable and acceptable system that could alert the drivers about the speed limit in any particular areas, it will help in reducing the number of road accidents worldwide. This study was conducted to develop a system of Intelligent Speed Adaptation (ISA) by using GPS that would alert the bus drivers in UiTM Shah Alam about speed limits in any particular areas and it must be reliable and acceptable. This research is to determine the factors of acceptance from the drivers towards the ISA system. The system developed was an advisory system. Hence, the way this system give warning about the speed limit to the driver is an important criterion to be taken care of. The output parameter of for this study is the driver’s acceptance towards this ISA system and they must be happy to have this system inside their vehicles.