BATTELLE DEVELOPING INTERSECTION COLLISION AVOIDANCE SYSTEM

Battelle is supporting a federal project to develop specifications for a system that would help drivers avoid intersection collisions.

The goal of the project is to develop a system that will alert drivers to a potential crash situation as they approach an intersection. Or, if necessary, the system can assume control of a vehicle if the driver is unable to respond in time.

The project, known as the intersection collision avoidance counter-measures system, is being funded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The prime contractor to develop the prototype system is the Calspan Corporation in Buffalo, N.Y.

Project Manager Jeff Everson, of Battelle's Cambridge, Mass., office, said the prototypes will be evaluated under realistic intersection conditions to test the effectiveness of countermeasure concepts. Electronic equipment will be placed in both the vehicle and the intersection infrastructure.

The equipment in the vehicle could include sensors of several varieties - microwave, laser radar, or video imaging systems - as well as computers and communications equipment.

Potential infrastructure equipment might include intersection surveillance sensors and road-to-vehicle transponders.

Established as a five-year program, the project is divided into three phases. The first phase was recently completed. NHTSA awarded the second phase to the Calspan team.

During Phase I, Battelle conducted a review of research papers that pertained to a driver's behavior when approaching an intersection. Battelle researchers then created several ideal, driver behavioral models to account for intersection collision scenarios.

Battelle also helped develop intersection countermeasure concepts - electronic systems that would warn of potentially dangerous situations at intersections.

These systems should consider such parameters as velocity, heading, acceleration of the subject vehicle, presence/configuration of the traffic light, signal light phasing, and the dynamic state of other vehicles in the vicinity of the intersection.

Assisting Everson with the project from Battelle are Alvah Bittner and Rhonda Kinghorn. The program manager at Calspan is John Pierowicz.

For more information, contact Jeff Everson at Battelle Cambridge, telephone 617.577.7250; telefax 617.577.7257; or at Internet address: everson@battelle.org.

Battelle serves industry and government by developing, commercializing, and managing technology. With a wide range of scientific and technical capabilities, Battelle puts technology to work for clients in 30 countries.