Overview
The task of driving a vehicle involves the operation of the primary vehicle controls (steering, braking, engine and transmission) in combination to achieve safety and comfort. This is a challenging task and most drivers are not able to do this in an optimum way, particularly under difficult driving conditions.
Electronic operation of these controls as part of an integrated system might improve the performance of all drivers, particularly those whose driving skills are impaired by age or disability.
Funding
Results
The key outcome in the project came in proving a global design methodology for vehicle chassis control. This is a generic methodology that is the same in principle across different vehicle platforms. It also works with existing chassis control systems and does not require hardware adaptations to the technology already in the supply chain.
Policy implications
The studies were one of the first to show the benefits of active front steering integrated with brake based stability control for improving stability without incursion onto the driver's demands. This is the approach now taken by BMW on their latest 5 series.
User aspects
Key Findings<?xml:namespace prefix = o />
This project contributes to knowledge in the user aspects main theme, in particular the objective of freedom of mobility for any citizen, whatever their physical ability, income and social status. Choice and rights are included in the objective as is the quality of transport services. In this project, the authors describe the task of driving a vehicle involving the operation of the primary vehicle controls (steering, braking, engine and transmission) in combination to achieve safety and comfort.
This is considered a challenging task that most drivers are not able to do this in an optimum way, particularly under difficult driving conditions. Thus the project aimed to look at electronic operation of these controls as part of an integrated system which might improve the performance of all drivers, particularly those whose driving skills are impaired by age or disability. Therefore this project contributes to the user aspects topic of human performance in the transport systems, in particular operator capabilities and automatic/semi automatic vehicle control.
The topic of working condition is touched upon, especially in terms of ergonomics, visibility, safety and efficiency, and driver behaviour. The project mainly deals with the topic of technical and safety standards, such as operational features. In addition the project touches on the user aspects issue of Quality, (i.e. safety, reliability, accessibility). The key outcome in the project came in proving a global de