automated highways system

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Ian Fraser
Highways
Agency
Co-operative Vehicle - Highway Co-operative Vehicle - Highway
Systems Research Systems Research

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What is AHS?
An Automated Highway System is a vehicle and road based system that can drive
a vehicle automatically.
This is done using sensors that serve as the vehicle’s eyes,
determining lane position and the speed and location of other vehicles.
Actuators on the throttle, brake, and steering wheel give the vehicle the commands
that a driver normally would.
AHS vehicles often also have equipment to communicate with other AHS
vehicles.
The concept of an Automated Highway has been around for a long time.
General Motors displayed a working model of an automated highway at the 1939
World’s Fair in New York City [8]. Automated trains have been in use since the 1960’s.
But it has not been until recently that the technology has become available to build
Automated highways and vehicles

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Why Automated Highways?
Safety
Ninety percent of all vehicle accidents result from driver-related factors –
inattentiveness, inability to respond quickly enough, or bad driving decisions [1].
Over 40,000 people die annually in motor vehicle accidents and property
damage is estimated at over $150 billion .
Electronic systems that never take over some or all of the
driver’s responsibilities are the most promising method of reducing these
accidents.
Analyses of causes show that highway accidents could be reduced between 31
and 85
percent with the use of electronic collision avoidance technologies and fatal
crashes
could be reduced by at least 50 percent .

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AHS was at that time called Intelligent Vehicle-Highway Systems (IVHS).
Falling under the general category of ITS, the stated goals of the system were:
5.Enhancement of surface transportation efficiency
2. Achievement of national transportation safety goals
3. Protection and enhancement of the natural environment and communities affected by
surface transportation
4. Accommodation of the needs of all users of surface transportation systems
5. Improvement of the Nation’s ability to respond to emergencies and natural disasters
Because these goals were so broad, the US Department of Transportation
(USDOT) formed the Joint Program Office (JPO) which brought together the Federal
Highway Administration, Federal Transit Administration, and National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration and several other DOT administrations. From 1992-1994, only
research and analysis on IVHS was done. Engineers mainly worked on human factors
research and traffic safety analysis.

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History of AHS :
AHS from 1992-94:
In 1991, Congress passed the Intermodal Surface Transportation
Efficiency Act (ISTEA) which introduced funding for many Intelligent
Transportation Systems (ITS).
The Secretary shall develop an automated highway and vehicle
prototype from which future fully automated intelligent vehicle
highway systems can be developed.
Such development shall include research in human factors
to ensure the success of the man-machine relationship .
The goal of this program is to have the first fully automated
roadway or an automated test track in operation by 1997.
This system shall accommodate installation of equipment
in new and existing motor vehicles.

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Efficiency:
The National highway system carries eighty-nine percent of passenger
groundmiles traveled and thirty-two percent of the ton-miles of commercial
freight travel .
The number of vehicles on the roads has doubled in the last ten years while
highway capacity has for the most part, remained the same.
Consequently, the average speed on urban highways and crowded corridors
during rush hour is 36 miles per hour.
This loss of time and productivity costs the US $50 billion annually .
One solution that engineers are exploring now is an Automated Highway
System (AHS).
By reducing or eliminating driver error and placing cars more closely together
safely on the highways, highway throughput could be doubled or tripled.

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UK Position on CVHSUK Position on CVHS
The UK is currently considering the role that The UK is currently considering the role that
Cooperative Vehicle-Highway Systems can play Cooperative Vehicle-Highway Systems can play
on its roads.on its roads.
The Department of Transport, Local Government The Department of Transport, Local Government
& Regions (DTLR), and the Highways Agency, & Regions (DTLR), and the Highways Agency,
alongside other UK Agency organisations have set alongside other UK Agency organisations have set
up a discussion forum to develop policy and up a discussion forum to develop policy and
direction in this area.direction in this area.

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Shaping DirectionShaping Direction
Developing the business case and direction for Developing the business case and direction for
longer term CVHS research, leading to system longer term CVHS research, leading to system
development, demonstration and implementationdevelopment, demonstration and implementation
–Guided by Highways Agency 2030 VisionGuided by Highways Agency 2030 Vision
–Building upon the inheritance of earlier researchBuilding upon the inheritance of earlier research
–Road Traffic Advisor Road Traffic Advisor
–User Acceptance StudiesUser Acceptance Studies
–Foresight Vehicle Programme + EU InitiativesForesight Vehicle Programme + EU Initiatives
–Developing CVHS in partnership with stakeholder Developing CVHS in partnership with stakeholder
organisationsorganisations

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Shaping & Integrating CVHSShaping & Integrating CVHS
INFRASTRUCTURE
DEVELOPMENT
AUTOMOTIVE
DEVELOPMENT
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COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT
& MARKET DEMAND
POLITICAL AGENDA
INNOVATION
IMPLIMENTATION
National
European
ITS
Worldwide
Urban
Interurban
Multimodal
Partnerships
LEGAL
LIABILITY
SOCIAL
ENVIRONMENT
ECONOMIC

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A Target Capability?A Target Capability?
Intelligent Speed Adaptation
Longitudinal Vehicle Control
Driver Monitoring
Floating Car Data
Road User Charging
Collision Avoidance
Electronic Number Plate Recognition
Route - Guidance
Driver Information
Integrated Solutions
Fully Automated Highway
Lateral Vehicle Control

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User Attitudes to Automated User Attitudes to Automated
Highway SystemsHighway Systems
IEE International Conference on IEE International Conference on
Advanced Driver Assistance SystemsAdvanced Driver Assistance Systems
Held on 17 September 2001Held on 17 September 2001

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User Attitudes to Automated User Attitudes to Automated
Highway Systems:Highway Systems:

ApproachApproach

Three stages of AHS development:Three stages of AHS development:
- - Safety and Warning SystemsSafety and Warning Systems
- - Driver Assistance Systems Driver Assistance Systems
- - Fully Automated HighwayFully Automated Highway

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User Attitudes to Automated User Attitudes to Automated
Highway Systems:Highway Systems:
ApproachApproach

International ReviewInternational Review

Focus GroupsFocus Groups

Structured SurveyStructured Survey

Seminar and Strategy WorkshopSeminar and Strategy Workshop

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User Attitudes to Automated User Attitudes to Automated
Highway Systems:Highway Systems:
OverviewOverview

Broad acceptance of all three stages of Broad acceptance of all three stages of
AHS developmentAHS development

Important variations in attitude among Important variations in attitude among
different social groupsdifferent social groups

Degree of acceptance varied between the Degree of acceptance varied between the
three stages of AHS developmentthree stages of AHS development

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User Attitudes to Automated User Attitudes to Automated
Highway SystemsHighway Systems
Safety and Warning SystemsSafety and Warning Systems

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Safety and Warning Systems:Safety and Warning Systems:
DescriptionDescription
Provide information/warnings visually or Provide information/warnings visually or
by voice to:by voice to:

inform drivers of adverse conditionsinform drivers of adverse conditions

assist route guidance/navigationassist route guidance/navigation

warn of dangerous situations or collisionswarn of dangerous situations or collisions

warn of obstacles which a driver cannot warn of obstacles which a driver cannot
seesee

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Safety and Warning Systems: Safety and Warning Systems:
ExamplesExamples

RDSRDS

TachographsTachographs

TrafficMasterTrafficMaster

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Safety and Warning Systems: Safety and Warning Systems:
Main Findings (1)Main Findings (1)

50% of drivers already use some form of 50% of drivers already use some form of
these systems which they consider to be:these systems which they consider to be:
- - usefuluseful
- - reliablereliable
- - good valuegood value

presentation of the information by voice presentation of the information by voice
is preferred to visual meansis preferred to visual means

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Safety and Warning Systems: Safety and Warning Systems:
Main Findings (2)Main Findings (2)

70% of drivers say they would find the 70% of drivers say they would find the
systems useful:systems useful:
-- on unfamiliar journeys on unfamiliar journeys
-- at night at night
-- on motorways on motorways
- - in congested trafficin congested traffic

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User Attitudes to Automated User Attitudes to Automated
Highway Systems Highway Systems
Driver Assistance SystemsDriver Assistance Systems

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Driver Assistance Systems: Driver Assistance Systems:
DescriptionDescription
Assist driver’s steering, braking and Assist driver’s steering, braking and
acceleration to:acceleration to:

prevent drivers from exceeding the speed prevent drivers from exceeding the speed
limitlimit

keep the vehicle at a safe distance from the keep the vehicle at a safe distance from the
vehicle in frontvehicle in front

stop and park the vehicle safely if the driver stop and park the vehicle safely if the driver
is unfit to driveis unfit to drive

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Driver Assistance Systems: Driver Assistance Systems:
ExamplesExamples

Cruise ControlCruise Control

Advanced Cruise ControlAdvanced Cruise Control

Headway ControlHeadway Control

Traction ControlTraction Control

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Driver Assistance Systems: Driver Assistance Systems:
Main Findings (1)Main Findings (1)

40% of drivers already use some form of 40% of drivers already use some form of
these systems which they consider to be:these systems which they consider to be:
- - usefuluseful
- - reliablereliable
- - good valuegood value

stop and park was the most popularstop and park was the most popular

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Driver Assistance Systems: Driver Assistance Systems:
Main Findings (2)Main Findings (2)
Perceived benefits include:Perceived benefits include:

increased driver confidenceincreased driver confidence

increased feeling of safetyincreased feeling of safety

increased driver comfortincreased driver comfort

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Driver Assistance Systems: Driver Assistance Systems:
Main Findings (3)Main Findings (3)

headway control was also popular but there headway control was also popular but there
was concern (especially from younger was concern (especially from younger
drivers) about:drivers) about:
-- surrendering control surrendering control
-- over-reliance over-reliance
- - system reliabilitysystem reliability

speed control was the least popularspeed control was the least popular

many drivers prefer voluntary systems to many drivers prefer voluntary systems to
compulsory systemscompulsory systems

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User Attitudes to Automated User Attitudes to Automated
Highway SystemsHighway Systems
Fully Automated Highway

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Fully Automated Highway:Fully Automated Highway:
DescriptionDescription
Systems in which:Systems in which:

vehicles are fully automated such that the vehicles are fully automated such that the
driver operates neither steering nor brake driver operates neither steering nor brake
nor acceleratornor accelerator

all vehicles travel at the same speedall vehicles travel at the same speed

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Fully Automated Highway: Fully Automated Highway:
ExamplesExamples

Smart Cruise Smart Cruise
System 7 System 7
(Japan)(Japan)

PlatooningPlatooning
(Korea)(Korea)

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Fully Automated Highway: Fully Automated Highway:
Main Findings (1)Main Findings (1)

60% of drivers said they would use AHS but 60% of drivers said they would use AHS but
the least willing were the younger driversthe least willing were the younger drivers

perceived benefits were:perceived benefits were:
-- no delays no delays
-- ability to schedule journeys better ability to schedule journeys better
- - speed uniformityspeed uniformity

there was little interest in:there was little interest in:
- - operation at higher speedoperation at higher speed
- - use of the vehicle as an officeuse of the vehicle as an office

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Fully Automated Highway: Fully Automated Highway:
Main Findings (2)Main Findings (2)
Would continue
with no effect
71%
Would use other
transport which
is not automated
4%
Would not use
the motorway
4%
Would make
more motorway
journeys
21%
Likely responses

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Fully Automated Highway: Fully Automated Highway:
Main Findings (3)Main Findings (3)

there were concerns about:there were concerns about:
- - system reliability (especially from younger system reliability (especially from younger
drivers and those familiar with technology)drivers and those familiar with technology)
- - surrendering controlsurrendering control
- - cost to the vehicle owner and taxpayercost to the vehicle owner and taxpayer

likely to increase demand for motorway use, likely to increase demand for motorway use,
butbut

likely to reduce demand for motorway use if likely to reduce demand for motorway use if
used with tollsused with tolls

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User Attitudes to Automated Highway User Attitudes to Automated Highway
Systems : Systems :
Summary of Key FindingsSummary of Key Findings

broad acceptance of all three stages of AHS broad acceptance of all three stages of AHS
developmentdevelopment

important variations in attitude among important variations in attitude among
different social groupsdifferent social groups

identified issues likely to affect levels of identified issues likely to affect levels of
social acceptance which should be social acceptance which should be
considered in the design and marketing of considered in the design and marketing of
AHSAHS

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Seminar and Strategy Seminar and Strategy
Workshop:Workshop:
5-6 February 2001, ICE, London5-6 February 2001, ICE, London

50 delegates attended50 delegates attended

papers presented by prominent experts in papers presented by prominent experts in
the field (from Europe, Japan and the US)the field (from Europe, Japan and the US)

established contactsestablished contacts

established authority of HA on world-stage established authority of HA on world-stage

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User Attitudes to Automated Highway User Attitudes to Automated Highway
Systems :Systems :
AcknowledgementsAcknowledgements

Highways Agency Highways Agency

Transport and Travel Research LtdTransport and Travel Research Ltd

ITS Leeds UniversityITS Leeds University

TRL LimitedTRL Limited

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Conclusion :
Without the advantage of increased efficiency through platooning, the only
advantage of using automation in mixed traffic is improved safety.

Although safety is an important improvement, it may not be enough to justify
investment.
The cost/benefit ratio may be too low for government and consumers to
make an investment, especially since the value of added safety is difficult to
measure.
However, mixed traffic intelligent vehicles may be an important first step in
the use of AHS that will lead to the building of more and more dedicated
lanes.
Vehicles should be able to run in either scenario, but perhaps would have
some functions limited while driving in mixed traffic.