Trial shows communication among vehicles can reduce traffic accidents
The Ko-FAS project (Kooperative Fahrzeug-Sicherheit, Cooperative vehicle safety) was divided into three sub-projects – Ko-TAG, Ko-PER and Ko-KOMP. The approach of Ko-Tag was to tap transponder technologies for reliable identification and localization of traffic participants. In the project, pedestrians and cyclists were equipped with miniaturized transponder units. Upon receiving an interrogation signal transmitted from the test vehicle’s onboard locating system, these transponders sent back information indicating the type of traffic participant wearing the transponder and his the position relative to the vehicle.
The transponder system developed within the Ko-TAG project is based on WiFi standard IEEE 802.11p. In contrast to the system used in a predecessor previous project called, AMULETT, it features extensive synergies with Car-to-x communication.
Further miniaturisation – reducing the tag to the size of a chip – would allow future transponders to be fitted in articles such as a school satchel or a walking stick. The distinctive feature of this technology is that it makes it possible to detect people even when they are not visible to the car driver at the time of the hazard.
Effectiveness studies demonstrated that the transponder system investigated in this project offers high potential for mitigating or even preventing accidents, by warning drivers of hazards much earlier and in a more effective way.
In the Ko-PER project, specialists from carmaker BMW Group researched cooperative perception techniques suitable for use in parallel traffic and at intersections to improve the driver’s foresight in traffic.
The aim of the Ko-PER project was to provide the fullest possible traffic detection, based on the cooperative exchange of information between vehicles. At accident hot spots this information can be supplemented with infrastructure- based information. In these various ways it is possible to eliminate the effect of obstructions in both the driver’s and the vehicle sensors’ field of view. Drivers can therefore be alerted to hazards at an early stage, allowing them to take appropriate action.
The Ko-PER project made use of earlier results from the PReVENT project, as well as an intensive dialogue with the recently concluded Car-to-X technology research project simTD (“Safe Intelligent Mobility – Test Field Germany”).
In particular the BMW Group researchers focused on improved vehicle self- localisation, on individual vehicle-based perception, on cooperative perception, on situation interpretation and on risk assessment. In addition, human-machine interaction concepts were developed that allow this improved traffic foresight to be communicated to the driver in an appropriate form inside the vehicle.
The results of the research project show that use of cooperative transponder technologies in combination with cooperative perception could bring important benefits for road safety, BMW said.
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