Abstract
The Institute of Automotive Engineering at Technische Universität Darmstadt and carhs.communication are in the process of researching the fundamentals of a communication-based warning system for motorcycles. This system generates sensor-based or manually entered warning messages and sends these to other motorcyclists using wireless communication devices. In this way, riders can receive early warnings of road hazards. In order to detect hazards like roadway damage, obstacles on the road or friction steps, new methods were developed. Analyses of driving dynamics for several hazards resulted in new criteria, which can be used to generate warning messages based on vehicle dynamics sensor information. For example, to detect hazards caused by individual roadway damage, a new criterion was derived based on the measurement of the vertical wheel acceleration. With this criterion, hazard detection becomes independent of hazard type and shape. Obstacles are detected by identifying evasive maneuvers. These are distinguished from other maneuvers by means of a correlation factor, determined on the basis of a previously defined standard maneuver and the current driving state.
In addition to methods for hazard detection, a methodology was also developed to design an appropriate warning strategy. The implementation of various warning elements (e.g., warning flashes, haptic saddle, auditory warnings) in a test motorcycle provided the basis for an evaluation through a study with 36 test subjects. Inter alia, the study’s results compare the different variants with respect to effectiveness (speed reduction), perceptibility, distraction and degree of irritation (in case of false alarm).
To increase market acceptance, an additional comfort-oriented functionality was implemented und tested. This function is based on the same communication technology as the safety function.
Keywords: Intelligent Transport Systems, Cooperative Driver Assistance Systems, Motorcycle, Hazard Detection, Vehicle Dynamics Sensors, Human Machine Interface