Objective
The overall objective is to examine all facets of the specification, development, provision, use and application of a vehicle data recorder. This device is intended to provide data which can be used to reduce the number of accidents. An accident is often the result of many interacting factors - the DRACO recorder must address all the relevant factors.
The research, given the title project DRACO (driving accident coordinating observer), was involved in defining a system comprising an in-vehicle component, which monitors and records aspects of vehicle status during accidents, and an off-vehicle component which calibrates and stores the data after an accident. DRACO is intended to be a black-box type of recorder specifically tailored for fitting to a road vehicle for the collection of data associated with accidents involving that vehicle. Research covers the benefits to vehicle drivers or owners and road transport informatics (RTI) in general with respect to road safety issues.
Research has focused on:
identification of the end users of DRACO type data and specification of their interests;
specification of the on vehicle DRACO together with the standards against which it must be tested;
development of an algorithm for the detection of a vehicle impact;
proof that acceleration and yaw data as generated from low cost commercially available transducers will permit satisfactory reconstruction of vehicle trajectory;
recommendations to the European Parliament on the possible mandatory implementation of the DRACO system.
The primary objectives of the project are:
- to examine the road / vehicle / driver relationship as a multifaceted system that has failed when an accident has occurred,
- to examine the utility of DRACO in monitoring and analysing accidents in order to influence equipment specifications and define event processing requirements,
- to investigate the acceptability of such a "Draconian" device where the Driver monitoring aspect of the Road-Vehicle-Driver system will undoubtedly introduce problems of both a technical and psychological nature.
The project's secondary objectives relate to involving end users and introduce some market place influences. In detail they are:
- to identify perceivable benefits for the private motorist and to specify and design any processing service that may be necessary to achieve those benefits,
- to research advantages for the fleet operator in particular for operational efficiency,
- to research all areas of cost saving as a result of implementing DRACO and its attendant post event analysis functions.
It is expected that the Industrial partners involved in the DRACO project will contribute some form of equipment prototype to assist in testing the concepts at a later stage.
Main Deliverables:
System design study report and the definition of the DRACO design concept including post-event analysis equipment.
Fields of science
Topic(s)
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E1 4NS London
United Kingdom