ACM TechNews
Public Transportation in Evolution - Using Advanced Technology for Safer Roads
Innovations Report (05/08/08)
The integration of people, roads, and automobiles with a wireless
network to improve safety is the goal of the national Intelligent
Transport Systems (ITS) project, and currently available ITS
services include the Vehicle Information and Communication System
and Electronic Toll Collection System. Human-machine-interface
technology, wireless communication technology, and GPS technology
are just some of the technologies employed in these services, while
the human engineering research group also employs cognitive
engineering and applied psychology to analyze fundamental
engineering and assessment techniques in adopting ITS. Numerous
experiments are executed to collect and study behavior and
biological responses of motorists to further investigate the
provision of various kinds of information via on-board equipment of
car navigation systems, development of on-road equipment, and
general planning of next-generation traffic information systems.
Experimentation involves the use of a driving simulator that can
help determine, for instance, how car navigation systems can be
modified to enable understanding among all kinds of drivers,
including senior citizens, women, and the hearing-impaired. One
researcher says that in the future a "car-to-car communication"
system that uses a wireless network rather than flashing lights may
be accessible, while a "probe car" may show up on the streets to
employ each vehicle as a mobile sensor to gather traffic information
or road surface data on a snowy day. Another researcher has
conceived of mounting a camera above an intersection to provide
visual information of the blind spot to the driver's car navigation
system, and thus reduce the likelihood of accidents caused when
drivers make right turns.
http://www.innovations-report.com/html/reports/logistics/report-109617.html
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