Element Technologies

Report of the Second AHSRA Research Seminar

Element Technologies

Yoshio Kasuga (Element Technologies Development Dept. AHSRA)

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We have conducted a broad research on the necessary element technologies (sensors, controls, communication and other algorithms, etc.) in order to realize AHS principal user services and have conducted R&D with the goal of actual use.

In fiscal 1997, the elemental technologies needed for the AHS-i and AHS-c systems were mostly completed. In fiscal 1998, we will improve and upgrade the functions and performances of each system with an eye toward the actual tests planned for two years hence and the actual use of the system planned for 2003. Design specifications and inter-system specifications will be set up.

The five field research teams:
•	Road condition detection system	To develop sensors that will detect moving vehicles and obstacles on the road.
•	Road surface condition detection system	To develop sensors that will measure friction coefficients and road surface conditions (dryness, humidity, snow, frozen surfaces, etc.).
•	Vehicle guidance control support road system	To judge road and road surface conditions surrounding the vehicle and to research vehicle guidance and traffic control systems that will realize comfortable and safe driving.
•	Position detection support road systems	To accurately detect vehicle positions and to research Global Positioning System (GPS), while line recognition lane markers, and detection devices prevent lane violations.
•	Road systems that use advanced communications methods	To research communications methods that will transmit sensor, vehicle position, and guidance control information in real time between the infrastructure systems and vehicles.

The flow of research is described below.

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The Element Technologies Development Department has researched this in conjunction with the relevant sections from the discussion of needs to demanded specifications. And through surveys of the required performance of the systems, trends of external organizations, the image of the sub-system for each team was constructed.

Road condition detection system

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	Set specifications of sensor systems corresponding to basic user services.
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	Obstacle detection sensor Basic data gathering Visual sensor Infrared sensor Laser sensor Milli-wave sensor
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Road surface condition detection system

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From this survey, it can be seen that detection of road conditions is a very important technical task for realizing ASH-i, c, and a.

Results of study

Image of system measuring and predicting road conditions over whole length

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Basic data supporting system construction

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Vehicle guidance control support road system

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	Development of algorithm common to AHS-i, c, and a.
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	Development of basic algorithms and their significance
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Position detection support road systems

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Research results

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	Evaluation results Evaluation of dynamic performance of each system
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	GPS evaluation (outline) from the above evaluation results
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Road systems that use advanced communications methods

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AHS communication system
There is a need to perform R&D taking into account the Intelligent Transport System (ITS) range and even the needs after that.

Constructing the platform based on various communication services

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Research scope and tasks of AHS information communication system


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Conclusion

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AHS-i services will soon be implemented through the integration of road (K1), road surface (K2), vehicle control (K3), positional detection (K4), and communication (K5).
Research will also continue for AHS-c, and a.