Clever technology steers cars through road works

By Christoph Walter Jul 6, 2011, 3:06 GMT

Berlin - Many a motorist finds it stressful driving through a narrow single lane of road works on the motorway, fearing that the driver in front could hit the brakes, swerve unexpectedly or do something else that might cause a collision.

With an electronic helper taking over control all that could soon become a thing of the past.

The 'road works' electronic system is one of seven results of the European Union project HAVEit that is working on automatic driving systems.

'The project's main objective was to develop ideas that could be put into reality in the near future without becoming too unrealistic,' according to project coordinator Reiner Hoeger.

At present the HAVEit fleet comprises of four VW Passat cars, two trucks and a bus from Volvo.

During a recent event the fleet demonstrated the potential of future driver assistant systems on a test track near the Swedish city of Boras.

The 'road works' system uses an assortment of cameras, sensors, radar and onboard computers that can already be found in some of today's vehicles. The components are combined in such a way that they can discern between normal road markings and those found at a road works. They at the same time regulate the distance to the car in front and if necessary can trigger an emergency braking procedure.

The German Centre for Aviation and Space (DLR) is working on a FasCarII system where the driver need only give a signal that he wants to overtake the car in front. The system then does the rest by checking the traffic situation and whether it is safe to overtake, changing the lane and returning.

'With these autopilot functions it is important that the driver remains in control,' says Birgit Pattberg from the DLR project.

The driver always has the choice in deciding when to refer tasks to the autopilot functions. Even if the driver allows the car to accelerate, brake and steer by its own, it does not mean he can take a nap. A camera monitors the driver all the time and if need be gives off a command to switch off the automatic mode and to drive the car himself.

In a similar way the 'Active Green Driving' system installed in the Volvo test bus keeps a constant tab on the driver. With the help of sensors, digital maps and GPS data the bus has an exact picture of the route. Apart from teaching the driver to drive economically, the system optimises engine management.

A diesel hybrid alone can cut fuel consumption by 30 per cent compared to a standard vehicle but the Active-Green-Driving system can further reduce consumption by between six and eight per cent, according to Achim Beutner from Volvo.

The two trucks in the fleet are fitted with innovative systems to improve safety and driving comfort. A 'Brake-by-Wire' system transmits the braking impulse to the brake pedal electronically. This electro-mechanical brake can reduce the braking path by up to 15 per cent.

The second truck can switch to an automatic mode in stop-and-go traffic.

'The driver is facing growing traffic density and information overflow. At the same time we have a population growing older which will inevitably lead to highly automatic vehicles,' project coordinator Hoeger argues.

Both man and the environment stand to benefit. 'The driver can relax more and is steered through traffic with less impact on the environment,' he adds.