BLACK BOX - R&D project of Czech MoT
Overview
Background & policy context:
The name of project is derived from the "black box" data recorders used in aeroplane cockpits. Black boxes (Event Data Recorders) allow collection, recording, storage and exporting of data related to motor vehicle pre-defined events. In the frame of the project, two functional specimens of such a device were designed. The design of a related Czech legislative and feasibility study is also part of the project solution.
The history of automotive black box units goes back to 1990 when the General Motors company integrated this unit (SDM - Sensing and Diagnostic Module) without publicity into selected product series. A modified model, recording data from the last five seconds, was installed into the Cadillac in 1998. Subsequently there were many other attempts to design alternative black boxes, unfortunately not experiencing wider application.
Objectives:
The recording unit is to be optionally built into the following vehicle categories equipped with a Car Area Network (CAN) bus: passenger vehicles, heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) and buses .
It is also possible to mount the unit on other vehicles but it requires proper sensors of selected parameters to be installed (increased purchase price and installation costs). The system periodically reads data from on-board buses (fast and slow CAN, eventually other units, e.g. radar, GPS etc.), evaluates them and writes them to a ring buffer. It is rewritten with new records after being filled. Rewriting of recorded data stops at a certain interval after the detected moment of the accident - it is recognised by exceeding specific limit values of selected variables (linear and lateral acceleration).
Methodology:
- Verify contribution of the unit to determine causes and development of an accident.
- Compare evaluation of simulated accident based on data from BlackBox unit and without it.
- Verify technical aspect of BlackBox unit (functionality, reliability, credibility of data).
- Identify possible difficulties for putting system into operation.
- On the recording accelerometer unit, verify basic range of the operational values for braking retardation / acceleration as an important parameter for the activation of BlackBox recording unit.
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