Ian FraserHighways

Agency

Co-operative Vehicle - Highway Co-operative Vehicle - Highway Systems Research Systems Research

What is AHS?

An Automated Highway System is a vehicle and road based system that can drivea vehicle automatically.

This is done using sensors that serve as the vehicle’s eyes,determining lane position and the speed and location of other vehicles.

Actuators on the throttle, brake, and steering wheel give the vehicle the commands that a driver normally would.

AHS vehicles often also have equipment to communicate with other AHSvehicles.

The concept of an Automated Highway has been around for a long time.

General Motors displayed a working model of an automated highway at the 1939World’s Fair in New York City [8]. Automated trains have been in use since the 1960’s.

But it has not been until recently that the technology has become available to buildAutomated highways and vehicles

Why Automated Highways?

Safety

Ninety percent of all vehicle accidents result from driver-related factors –inattentiveness, inability to respond quickly enough, or bad driving decisions [1].

Over 40,000 people die annually in motor vehicle accidents and property damage is estimated at over $150 billion .

Electronic systems that never take over some or all of thedriver’s responsibilities are the most promising method of reducing these accidents.

Analyses of causes show that highway accidents could be reduced between 31 and 85percent with the use of electronic collision avoidance technologies and fatal crashescould be reduced by at least 50 percent .

AHS was at that time called Intelligent Vehicle-Highway Systems (IVHS).

Falling under the general category of ITS, the stated goals of the system were:

1.Enhancement of surface transportation efficiency

2. Achievement of national transportation safety goals

3. Protection and enhancement of the natural environment and communities affected by surface transportation

4. Accommodation of the needs of all users of surface transportation systems

5. Improvement of the Nation’s ability to respond to emergencies and natural disasters

Because these goals were so broad, the US Department of Transportation(USDOT) formed the Joint Program Office (JPO) which brought together the FederalHighway Administration, Federal Transit Administration, and National Highway TrafficSafety Administration and several other DOT administrations. From 1992-1994, onlyresearch and analysis on IVHS was done. Engineers mainly worked on human factorsresearch and traffic safety analysis.

History of AHS :

AHS from 1992-94:

In 1991, Congress passed the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) which introduced funding for many Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS).

The Secretary shall develop an automated highway and vehicle prototype from which future fully automated intelligent vehicle highway systems can be developed.

Such development shall include research in human factorsto ensure the success of the man-machine relationship .

The goal of this program is to have the first fully automatedroadway or an automated test track in operation by 1997.

This system shall accommodate installation of equipmentin new and existing motor vehicles.

Efficiency:

The National highway system carries eighty-nine percent of passenger groundmiles traveled and thirty-two percent of the ton-miles of commercial freight travel .

The number of vehicles on the roads has doubled in the last ten years while highway capacity has for the most part, remained the same.

Consequently, the average speed on urban highways and crowded corridors during rush hour is 36 miles per hour.

This loss of time and productivity costs the US $50 billion annually .

One solution that engineers are exploring now is an Automated Highway System (AHS).

By reducing or eliminating driver error and placing cars more closely together safely on the highways, highway throughput could be doubled or tripled.

UK Position on CVHSUK Position on CVHS

The UK is currently considering the role that The UK is currently considering the role that Cooperative Vehicle-Highway Systems can play Cooperative Vehicle-Highway Systems can play on its roads.on its roads.

The Department of Transport, Local Government The Department of Transport, Local Government & Regions (DTLR), and the Highways Agency, & Regions (DTLR), and the Highways Agency, alongside other UK Agency organisations have set alongside other UK Agency organisations have set up a discussion forum to develop policy and up a discussion forum to develop policy and direction in this area.direction in this area.

Shaping DirectionShaping Direction Developing the business case and direction for Developing the business case and direction for

longer term CVHS research, leading to system longer term CVHS research, leading to system development, demonstration and implementationdevelopment, demonstration and implementation– Guided by Highways Agency 2030 VisionGuided by Highways Agency 2030 Vision

– Building upon the inheritance of earlier researchBuilding upon the inheritance of earlier research

– Road Traffic Advisor Road Traffic Advisor

– User Acceptance StudiesUser Acceptance Studies

– Foresight Vehicle Programme + EU InitiativesForesight Vehicle Programme + EU Initiatives

– Developing CVHS in partnership with stakeholder Developing CVHS in partnership with stakeholder organisationsorganisations

Shaping & Integrating CVHSShaping & Integrating CVHS

INFRASTRUCTUREDEVELOPMENT

AUTOMOTIVEDEVELOPMENT

APPLIC

ATIO

NS

& S

ER

VIC

ESINTEGRATION

CO

MM

UN

ICA

TIO

N

PO

LICY

&

REG

ULA

TIO

N

USE

R N

EED

S

&SA

FETY

COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT& MARKET DEMAND

POLITICAL AGENDA

INNOVATION

IMPLIMENTATION

National

European

ITSWorldwide

Urban

Interurban

Multimodal

Partnerships

LEGAL

LIABILITY

SOCIAL

ENVIRONMENT

ECONOMIC

A Target Capability?A Target Capability?

Intelligent Speed Adaptation

Longitudinal Vehicle Control

Driver Monitoring

Floating Car DataRoad User Charging

Collision Avoidance

Electronic Number Plate Recognition

Route - GuidanceDriver Information

Integrated Solutions

Fully Automated Highway

Lateral Vehicle Control

User Attitudes to Automated User Attitudes to Automated Highway SystemsHighway Systems

IEE International Conference on IEE International Conference on

Advanced Driver Assistance SystemsAdvanced Driver Assistance Systems

Held on 17 September 2001Held on 17 September 2001

User Attitudes to Automated User Attitudes to Automated Highway Systems:Highway Systems:

ApproachApproach Three stages of AHS development:Three stages of AHS development:

- - Safety and Warning SystemsSafety and Warning Systems

- - Driver Assistance Systems Driver Assistance Systems

- - Fully Automated HighwayFully Automated Highway

User Attitudes to Automated User Attitudes to Automated Highway Systems:Highway Systems:

ApproachApproach

International ReviewInternational Review Focus GroupsFocus Groups Structured SurveyStructured Survey Seminar and Strategy WorkshopSeminar and Strategy Workshop

User Attitudes to Automated User Attitudes to Automated Highway Systems:Highway Systems:

OverviewOverview Broad acceptance of all three stages of Broad acceptance of all three stages of

AHS developmentAHS development Important variations in attitude among Important variations in attitude among

different social groupsdifferent social groups Degree of acceptance varied between the Degree of acceptance varied between the

three stages of AHS developmentthree stages of AHS development

User Attitudes to Automated User Attitudes to Automated Highway SystemsHighway Systems

Safety and Warning SystemsSafety and Warning Systems

Safety and Warning Systems:Safety and Warning Systems:DescriptionDescription

Provide information/warnings visually or Provide information/warnings visually or by voice to:by voice to:

inform drivers of adverse conditionsinform drivers of adverse conditions assist route guidance/navigationassist route guidance/navigation warn of dangerous situations or collisionswarn of dangerous situations or collisions warn of obstacles which a driver cannot warn of obstacles which a driver cannot

seesee

Safety and Warning Systems: Safety and Warning Systems: ExamplesExamples

RDSRDS

TachographsTachographs

TrafficMasterTrafficMaster

Safety and Warning Systems: Safety and Warning Systems: Main Findings (1)Main Findings (1)

50% of drivers already use some form of 50% of drivers already use some form of these systems which they consider to be:these systems which they consider to be:

- - usefuluseful

- - reliablereliable

- - good valuegood value presentation of the information by voice presentation of the information by voice

is preferred to visual meansis preferred to visual means

Safety and Warning Systems: Safety and Warning Systems: Main Findings (2)Main Findings (2)

70% of drivers say they would find the 70% of drivers say they would find the systems useful:systems useful:

-- on unfamiliar journeys on unfamiliar journeys-- at night at night-- on motorways on motorways- - in congested trafficin congested traffic

User Attitudes to Automated User Attitudes to Automated Highway Systems Highway Systems

Driver Assistance SystemsDriver Assistance Systems

Driver Assistance Systems: Driver Assistance Systems: DescriptionDescription

Assist driver’s steering, braking and Assist driver’s steering, braking and acceleration to:acceleration to:

prevent drivers from exceeding the speed prevent drivers from exceeding the speed limitlimit

keep the vehicle at a safe distance from the keep the vehicle at a safe distance from the vehicle in frontvehicle in front

stop and park the vehicle safely if the driver stop and park the vehicle safely if the driver is unfit to driveis unfit to drive

Driver Assistance Systems: Driver Assistance Systems: ExamplesExamples

Cruise ControlCruise Control Advanced Cruise ControlAdvanced Cruise Control Headway ControlHeadway Control Traction ControlTraction Control

Driver Assistance Systems: Driver Assistance Systems: Main Findings (1)Main Findings (1)

40% of drivers already use some form of 40% of drivers already use some form of these systems which they consider to be:these systems which they consider to be:

- - usefuluseful

- - reliablereliable

- - good valuegood value stop and park was the most popularstop and park was the most popular

Driver Assistance Systems: Driver Assistance Systems: Main Findings (2)Main Findings (2)

Perceived benefits include:Perceived benefits include:

increased driver confidenceincreased driver confidence increased feeling of safetyincreased feeling of safety increased driver comfortincreased driver comfort

Driver Assistance Systems: Driver Assistance Systems: Main Findings (3)Main Findings (3)

headway control was also popular but there headway control was also popular but there was concern (especially from younger was concern (especially from younger drivers) about:drivers) about:

-- surrendering control surrendering control-- over-reliance over-reliance- - system reliabilitysystem reliability

speed control was the least popularspeed control was the least popular many drivers prefer voluntary systems to many drivers prefer voluntary systems to

compulsory systemscompulsory systems

User Attitudes to Automated User Attitudes to Automated Highway SystemsHighway Systems

Fully Automated Highway

Fully Automated Highway:Fully Automated Highway:DescriptionDescription

Systems in which:Systems in which:

vehicles are fully automated such that the vehicles are fully automated such that the driver operates neither steering nor brake driver operates neither steering nor brake nor acceleratornor accelerator

all vehicles travel at the same speedall vehicles travel at the same speed

Fully Automated Highway: Fully Automated Highway: ExamplesExamples

Smart Cruise Smart Cruise System 7 System 7

(Japan)(Japan)

PlatooningPlatooning (Korea)(Korea)

Fully Automated Highway: Fully Automated Highway: Main Findings (1)Main Findings (1)

60% of drivers said they would use AHS but 60% of drivers said they would use AHS but the least willing were the younger driversthe least willing were the younger drivers

perceived benefits were:perceived benefits were:-- no delays no delays-- ability to schedule journeys better ability to schedule journeys better- - speed uniformityspeed uniformity

there was little interest in:there was little interest in:- - operation at higher speedoperation at higher speed- - use of the vehicle as an officeuse of the vehicle as an office

Fully Automated Highway: Fully Automated Highway: Main Findings (2)Main Findings (2)

Would continue with no effect

71%

Would use other transport which

is not automated4%

Would not use the motorway

4%

Would make more motorway

journeys21%

Likely responses

Fully Automated Highway: Fully Automated Highway: Main Findings (3)Main Findings (3)

there were concerns about:there were concerns about:- - system reliability (especially from younger system reliability (especially from younger

drivers and those familiar with technology)drivers and those familiar with technology)- - surrendering controlsurrendering control- - cost to the vehicle owner and taxpayercost to the vehicle owner and taxpayer

likely to increase demand for motorway use, likely to increase demand for motorway use, butbut

likely to reduce demand for motorway use if likely to reduce demand for motorway use if used with tollsused with tolls

User Attitudes to Automated Highway User Attitudes to Automated Highway Systems : Systems :

Summary of Key FindingsSummary of Key Findings broad acceptance of all three stages of AHS broad acceptance of all three stages of AHS

developmentdevelopment important variations in attitude among important variations in attitude among

different social groupsdifferent social groups identified issues likely to affect levels of identified issues likely to affect levels of

social acceptance which should be social acceptance which should be considered in the design and marketing of considered in the design and marketing of AHSAHS

Seminar and Strategy Seminar and Strategy Workshop:Workshop:

5-6 February 2001, ICE, London5-6 February 2001, ICE, London

50 delegates attended50 delegates attended papers presented by prominent experts in papers presented by prominent experts in

the field (from Europe, Japan and the US)the field (from Europe, Japan and the US) established contactsestablished contacts established authority of HA on world-stage established authority of HA on world-stage

User Attitudes to Automated Highway User Attitudes to Automated Highway Systems :Systems :

AcknowledgementsAcknowledgements Highways Agency Highways Agency

Transport and Travel Research LtdTransport and Travel Research Ltd

ITS Leeds UniversityITS Leeds University

TRL LimitedTRL Limited

Conclusion :

Without the advantage of increased efficiency through platooning, the onlyadvantage of using automation in mixed traffic is improved safety. Although safety is an important improvement, it may not be enough to justify investment.

The cost/benefit ratio may be too low for government and consumers to make an investment, especially since the value of added safety is difficult to measure.

However, mixed traffic intelligent vehicles may be an important first step in the use of AHS that will lead to the building of more and more dedicated lanes.

Vehicles should be able to run in either scenario, but perhaps would have some functions limited while driving in mixed traffic.