Integrated Vehicle-Based Safety Systems Light-Vehicle On-Road Test Report

Abstract

This report presents results from a series of on-road verification tests performed to determine the readiness of a prototype integrated warning system to advance to field testing, as well as to identify areas of system performance that should be improved prior to the start of the field test planned for 2009. Data was collected from tests conducted on public roads using a 2007 Honda Accord equipped with the prototype safety system. The system provides forward crash warning (FCW), lane departure warning (LDW), curve speed warning (CSW), and lane change/merge (LCM) functions, managed by an arbitration function that addresses multiple crash threats. The objectives of the on-road tests were to drive the test vehicle in an uncontrolled driving environment to measure the system’s susceptibility to nuisance alerts, assess alerts in perceived crash situations, and evaluate system availability. The prototype system showed continued improvement in system performance throughout the series of tests conducted between October 2007 and February 2008. Based on positive results from the track-based verification tests conducted in February and these on-road tests, it was recommended that the light-vehicle platform proceed to field testing in Phase II. Additional adjustment of the LCM and LDW warning functions is recommended to further reduce nuisance alerts and improve system robustness.