Video-based Driver Assistance Systems

Video-based Driver Assitance Systems (ADAS) are a promising and chellenging field of work within the Intelligent Transportation System framework. Thwe Grupo Tratamiento de Imágenes is a research group that has an structured view of vision-vased applications, including video-based ADAS. The most important project in which the group is envolved regarding ADAS is the I-Way project. Recently, a first release of a complete ADAS solution of the project has been finished. Its architecture and more importan sub-modules are described in this document, as well as its performance under real solutions. The evolution of the system is being currently carried on as a research line to introduce advanced processing alternatives, such as the networks of Smart Cameras (SC) into the ADAS systems

Introducing Advanced Driver Assistance Systems

The introduction of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) in road traffic induces many complex questions. One of them is whether or not present legislation frameworks are able to accommodate a smooth development and market implementation of ADAS. This is strongly related to the aspect of traffic safety. The various aspects related to this issue are categorised based on an exploration of the functionality and possible failure of ADAS. Next, some problem categories are more in-depth elaborated. In particular attention is paid to the need for establishing safety requirements to the design and marketing of ADAS as well as the issue of liability regulation. It is concluded that decision making on safety requirements mainly takes place at an international level. However, so far hardly any requirements regarding ADAS have been laid down in compulsory rules yet. It is further concluded that current legal frameworks in both the fields of vehicle safety standards and liability provide for (some) flexibility towards technical developments regarding ADAS, i.e. these frameworks do not contain many ‘hard rules’ obstructing the introduction of ADAS. Concerning the safety regulation of ADAS it is argued that the speed of technological developments and the innovative and specific nature of ADAS technology generate various tensions. These tensions should have consequences for the weight that is put on public and private intervention mechanisms and the relation between preventive safety standards and reactive regimes such as product liability and post-market controls

Editorial Advanced Driver Assistance Systems

The application of Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS), in particular Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), is expected to improve the performance of road transportation significantly. Public policy makers, among others, are therefore increasingly interested in the implementation of these systems. Available knowledge on various implementation issues is growing, but still limited. This is due to the complex interactions between technological re- quirements, market introduction, impacts on driver behaviour and traffic performance and policy priorities. This article provides a framework for ADAS implementation, reviews recent developments in this field and introduces the contributions to this special issue

VEHIL - HIL testing of advanced driver assistance systems

A new Hardware-in-the-Loop method for the design of Advanced Driver Assistance (ADA) systems for road vehicles is presented. This method, called VEHIL, aims to support the development and verification of ADA systems, increasing the level of reproducibility, effectiveness and safety of the testing process. To this end, a test vehicle, positioned on a roller bench, is placed in a simulated traffic environment. A selection of simulated traffic participants is represented by wheeled mobile robots in order to provide the test vehicle’s environment sensor input. VEHIL is positioned in the development methodology as commonly used by OEM’s and 1st Tier suppliers and the added value of VEHIL is illustrated by means of three test cases regarding sensor mapping, ACC and collision mitigation