Application of a Real-time Intelligent Aid for Driving and Navigation Enhancement

Objective

Main Objectives

The aim of the ARIADNE project is to develop an intelligent driver support system capable of monitoring output from information sources and presenting them to the driver in a suitable manner at the appropriate time.

Technical Approach

The project builds on the work performed on the DRIVE I Project GIDS (V1041) which produced a prototype system to provide the driver of a vehicle with the output from a number of active sensors, a navigation system and a cellular phone link. Two demonstrator systems (one of which is incorporated in a driving simulator) have been constructed to monitor the behaviour of the driver in response to the audio-visual output from the system, in order to determine the effect the information has on driver performance. The system currently operates in selected pre-determined scenarios or a small-world environment with limited situations, e.g. turn right or left or overtaking. This allows users of the system to experience the same situation and behaviour patterns of different user groups to be collated.

To date, the second generation GIDS system has been specified and the detailed design work is underway, prior to coding. Extensions to the small world environment are under development which will eventually enable the system to cope with a far wider range of traffic situations, such as multi-lane highways.

The main functional extension to the system, a scanning collision avoidance radar, is currently being constructed and should undergo testing during the Summer of 1993 in a Rover demonstrator vehicle. A non-scanning version of the radar has been made available for installation in the GIDS demonstrator vehicle and it will be used as part of an extensive evaluation of the GIDS system in the Autumn. In addition, experiments with an initial verison of the module which will provide instructional support to the driver of the vehicle are currently being performed, to identify the most suitable forms of support.

These enhancements will enable the partners to eventually port the system to operate on a single workstation. Each information source can then be interfaced to the core system in order to build a `fully functional' demonstrator. This process of integration will reduce the physical size of the system to enable it to be installed in a standard saloon car, thereby demonstrating the exploitation potential of the technology.

Safety considerations play a major part in the project, and a safety analysis on parts of the system have already been performed in conjunction with the DRIVE PASSPORT project.

Key Issues
intelligent driver support
generic interface to information systems
collision avoidance radar
driver behaviour

Expected Impact

The impact of the system developed during the project will be considerable, as it will provide an efficient and safe link between information sources and the driver, as the latter will not be overloaded with information, but receive it as and when necessary. The need for such a system will become imperative as the number of information sources within vehicles increase.

Contribution to Standardisation

The aim of the project is to provide a system capable of processing information from numerous sources, e.g. navigation, RTI, communications and therefore the project must play an important role in the development of standards for the aforementioned systems in order to provide a generic interface between them and the driver.

Fields of science

• engineering and technology › electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering › information engineering › telecommunications › radio technology › radar
• engineering and technology › electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering › electronic engineering › sensors
• social sciences › social geography › transport › navigation systems

Programme(s)

• FP3-DRIVE 2 - Specific programme of research and technological development (EEC) in the field of telematic systems in areas of general interest - Transport services -, 1990-1994

Topic(s)

Data not available

Call for proposal

Data not available

Funding Scheme

Data not available

Coordinator

Rover Group plc

Address

Fletchamstead Highway Canley
CV4 9DB Coventry
United Kingdom

Participants (7)

British Aerospace plc

United Kingdom

Address

Sowerby Research Centre
BS12 7QW Filton

CARA SOFTWARE & SERVICES INT. LTD

Ireland

Address

Palmerston House, Fenian Street
Dublin 2

MRC Applied Psychology Unit

United Kingdom

Address

15 Chaucer Road
CB2 2EF Cambridge

Links

PHILIPS RESEARCH LABORATORIES LTD

United Kingdom

Address

Cross Oak Lane
RH1 5HA Redhill

SWEDISH ROAD & TRAFFIC RESEARCH INST.

Sweden

Address

58101 Linkoping

TNO INSTITUTE FOR PERCEPTION

Netherlands

Address

5,kampweg
3769 ZG Soesterberg

UNIV. OF GRONINGEN

Netherlands

Address

76,rijksstraatweg
9750 AB Haren