International Journal of Emerging Technologies in Computational and Applied Sciences (IJETCAS)

Protection of the photovoltaic (PV) systems by a dysfunction detection circuit of the PV system (DDCS

The main results of a european research project : improvement of transport safety by control of fog production in a chamber ("FOG")

The issue of transport safety is identified as a major goal in the European Union. The mid term objective declared in the European White Paper for Transport aims at halving the number of deaths on the roads by 2010. Low visibility conditions, especially due to fog, increase the risk of major accidents (chain collision) and a number of innovative products are developed by the automotive industry, including equipment manufacturers, in order to increase the level of safety of the cars passengers and drivers. Testing of these products require the simulation or artificial reproduction of adequate low visibility (fog) conditions with good stability and reproductibility characteristics. The main objective of the “FOG” project was to develop a prototype of innovative fog chamber in which the mechanistic production of fog (by high pressure spraying of water) in a chamber was assisted by an efficient control of the indoor climate. This prototype was installed in a new building constructed on the campus of the University of Liège in Arlon (Belgium). The developments of the project also include a number of additional products enhancing the capabilities of the prototype: - an improved fog production spraying device, including an optimized management - a laser-based visibility measurement device - a reduced scale transmissiometer - a combined indoor climate - fog production simulation software All these products were successfully tested in the conclusive part of the project making the prototype fully operational and ready for use by researchers in the field of transport safety as well as industrial products manufacturers. The capability of the testing facility to test the interaction with the driver was also investigated. The paper will present the major developments of the project and the potential future perspectives of the work