Press Release 7/2/09Press Release 7/2/09

Safer Travel

Cleaner air

Annual U.S. traffic volumes - 1982 & 2007

http://jagadees.files.wordpress.com/2008/08/dotapril2.png

***Per stats pulled from the government DOT

Annual U.S. hours delayed while traveling during peak hours

http://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/aboutus/one_pagers/perf_measurement.htm

Which commute would you prefer?

FROG Technologies

Technical Brief: Past, Present, and Future of Driverless Cars.

Technical Brief Overview

• The current applications of autonomous vehicle technology.

• History of the driverless car.• AGVS (Automated Guided Vehicle Systems)• The FROG system

Current on-the-road Technology

• Anti-locking Brakes• Traction Control• Adaptive Cruise Control• Advance Parking

Guidance system (Lexus)

The Origins

• 1977 Japan a successful closed track test.• 1980’s Mercedes Benz• 1980’s Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency

(DARPA) • 1996 ARGO in Italy• 1950’s AGVS• FROG Tech- today.

Automated Guided Vehicle Systems

• Automated robots used in manufacturing to deliver parts and boxes.

• Uses laser sensors to interpret surroundings and magnetic tracking in floor.

• Traffic control monitored by central system.

• FROG is the leading AGVS producer.

The FROG System: Overview

• Implement AGVS technology into free ranging automobiles.

• Adapt infrastructure environment to maximize system precision.

The Components

• Sensors: lasers (long-range), ultrasonic (short-range)• Wheel revolutions to measure distance.• Odometry to measure angle of vehicle.• Navigation provided through FROG computer

technology and GPS.• Magnetic strips in roads to increase accuracy.

Additional information

• www.frog.nl• www.2getthere.eu• www.howstuffworks.com/driverless-car

What are the cultural implications?

• Future: 20 years from now– http://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=IjRXyWFLkEY&feature=fvst

• Today– Existing technology

Today: Cultural Implications

– Safe– Efficient– Sustainable

How will it be safer?• *Top 6 causes for vehicle crashes:

– Distracted driver– Driver fatigue– Drunk driving– Speeding – Aggressive driving– Weather

• Eliminate driver error• Defensive driving

– With GPS technology, can make predictions

• *Source: http://www.sixwise.com/newsletters/05/07/20/the-6-most-common-causes-of-automobile-crashes.htm

How will this increase efficiency?

• Time savings– Less congestion = less time spent in car– Use your time do other things

• Money savings– Productivity– Less car damage

Is it environmentally friendly?

• Fuel efficiency• Less congestion/time spent on road = less

emissions

When things get sticky…

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IjRXyWFLkEY&feature=fvst

Questions?