Examples of Projects

Trials on the TRL test track and private road network for advanced driver assistance systems have included:

• six different configurations of automatically operated stop lamps tested in simulated urban and motorway settings to identify the configuration which drivers found most noticeable and intuitive, whilst also showing improved driving response
• prototype integrated safety systems for motorcycles to assess technical performance and user acceptance in the European PISa project
• a prototype for advanced protection of vulnerable road users based on a sensor system capable of detecting a pedestrian, or other vulnerable road user, and of distinguishing vulnerable road users from the road environment, developed in a Foresight Vehicle project
• measurement of the performance of radar-reflective road markings in the Radar-controlled Automatic Lane Following (RALF) Foresight Vehicle project
• tests of advanced active safety systems providing frontal occupant protection, side occupant protection and pedestrian protection
• full-scale crash tests to assess the performance of occupant restraint systems in a project developing test methods for advanced adaptive occupant restraint systems.

Trials in the TRL driving simulator for advanced driver assistance systems have included:

• an evaluation of the safety and comfort benefits of an Advanced Front-lighting System (AFS) which enables headlights to change their operation in relation to the current driving environment; this showed that drivers didn't drive any faster with AFS than with standard headlights, suggesting that the increased awareness provided by AFS should lead to improved road safety
• investigation of driver behaviour with illuminated road studs compared with standard retro-reflective road studs; this showed that drivers demonstrated more consistent braking on the approach to bends and improved control within bends when the actively illuminated studs were present
• assessment of pre-impact car occupant kinematics, for use in determining performance requirements of smart restraint sensor and control systems in a project on reduction of car crash injuries through improved smart restraint development technologies (PRISM).

Benefits

The TRL test track and private road network provide simulated motorway and urban settings in a carefully controlled and safe off-road environment adjacent to TRL's offices. The driving simulator accurately reproduces information about the internal vehicle environment and the external environment. It can provide simulated drives through scenes depicting a variety of road environments including daylight and night time and rural and urban roads under a range of weather conditions.

These facilities enable tests to be carried out under a range of realistic conditions while systems are under development, without any interaction with or impact on road users on the public road network.

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