Special Research Initiatives - Grant ID: SR0354488
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$10,000.00
Summary
Intelligent vehicles and road infrastructure (IVRI). The aims of the network are to integrate the activities of researchers and practitioners in the areas of vehicles and road infrastructure and through cross-disciplinary collaboration apply intelligent control systems to deliver mobility, which is safer for all users, reduces driver stress and environmental impact with increased local manufactured content and improved cost effectiveness. It is of great significance to provide a cohesive solutio ....Intelligent vehicles and road infrastructure (IVRI). The aims of the network are to integrate the activities of researchers and practitioners in the areas of vehicles and road infrastructure and through cross-disciplinary collaboration apply intelligent control systems to deliver mobility, which is safer for all users, reduces driver stress and environmental impact with increased local manufactured content and improved cost effectiveness. It is of great significance to provide a cohesive solution to the transport problem considering all modes, environmental impacts, and economical and social considerations. This project should lead to a report identifying Australia's capability in this sector and a roadmap for a future research network integrating university and industry based research.Read moreRead less
Occupant Protection in Far-side Crashes. Regulations and interventions to protect far-side occupants in side impact crashes do not currently exist, even though far-side occupants account for up to 40% of harm in real world side impact crashes. Through a comprehensive test schedule this research will develop an understanding of occupant biomechanics and injury mechanisms during far-side collisions. Current dummy bio-fidelity can then be assessed and improved, appropriate far-side test measures d ....Occupant Protection in Far-side Crashes. Regulations and interventions to protect far-side occupants in side impact crashes do not currently exist, even though far-side occupants account for up to 40% of harm in real world side impact crashes. Through a comprehensive test schedule this research will develop an understanding of occupant biomechanics and injury mechanisms during far-side collisions. Current dummy bio-fidelity can then be assessed and improved, appropriate far-side test measures developed, and recommendation for regulations made. It is anticipated that application of these test procedures will allow the development of innovative and world-leading far-side countermeasures that will ultimately improve vehicle occupant safety.Read moreRead less
Vision Impairment and Fitness to Drive. Vision is fundamental to driving. Intuitively vision impairments will significantly affect fitness to drive. However the relationship between vision and crash risk is not well understood and current tests are unreliable. This study will describe the way in which specific vision conditions affect driving performance. The study will examine the effects of visual field loss on drivers' ability to monitor information, allocate attention and minimise the effect ....Vision Impairment and Fitness to Drive. Vision is fundamental to driving. Intuitively vision impairments will significantly affect fitness to drive. However the relationship between vision and crash risk is not well understood and current tests are unreliable. This study will describe the way in which specific vision conditions affect driving performance. The study will examine the effects of visual field loss on drivers' ability to monitor information, allocate attention and minimise the effect of distractions. Outcomes of the study will enable the development of evidence-based guidelines for assessment of vision for driving and effective countermeasures to enhance mobility and reduce crash risk.Read moreRead less
Protecting Occupants in Vehicle Rollover Crashes. This project addresses a public health issue involving rollover crashes. It will help prevent 340 deaths, 6000 injuries and save $3.6 billion annually in Australia and many fold this number internationally. A dynamic rollover crashworthiness test protocol, that ensures efficient and economical vehicle rollover protection systems are designed and manufactured, will be provided to consumer and regulatory bodies to consider and implement. In additio ....Protecting Occupants in Vehicle Rollover Crashes. This project addresses a public health issue involving rollover crashes. It will help prevent 340 deaths, 6000 injuries and save $3.6 billion annually in Australia and many fold this number internationally. A dynamic rollover crashworthiness test protocol, that ensures efficient and economical vehicle rollover protection systems are designed and manufactured, will be provided to consumer and regulatory bodies to consider and implement. In addition, much needed Occupational Health & Safety information regarding vehicle rollover crashworthiness, which provide a safe work place environment for professional drivers and employees using vehicles, will be supplied to industry fleet managers, defence and emergency services.Read moreRead less
Variable Geometry Cooling Intakes for Passenger Vehicles. Cars reject engine heat via air forced through the grille, radiator and engine bay. The associated "cooling drag" increases total aerodynamic drag by 10-15% hence increasing fuel consumption. The highest heat load that needs to be rejected by the engine determines the quantity of cooling air, resulting in systems that are over designed for typical driving. This research provides a strategy of adjusting the cooling airflow to match the ....Variable Geometry Cooling Intakes for Passenger Vehicles. Cars reject engine heat via air forced through the grille, radiator and engine bay. The associated "cooling drag" increases total aerodynamic drag by 10-15% hence increasing fuel consumption. The highest heat load that needs to be rejected by the engine determines the quantity of cooling air, resulting in systems that are over designed for typical driving. This research provides a strategy of adjusting the cooling airflow to match the engine requirements (via variable geometry intakes that can be under the control of the engine management computer) offering substantial reductions in fuel consumption and emissions.Read moreRead less
Development of an Intelligent Perception System for Electric Brakes. Electric braking is a vital component of the drive by-wire systems whose development is currently being supported worldwide by many automobile manufacturers. The aim of this project is to contribute to the development of an efficient fully functional electrically operated braking system. The main focus is on development of the intelligent perceptual sensors required for optimum performance of a by-wire braking system (to be com ....Development of an Intelligent Perception System for Electric Brakes. Electric braking is a vital component of the drive by-wire systems whose development is currently being supported worldwide by many automobile manufacturers. The aim of this project is to contribute to the development of an efficient fully functional electrically operated braking system. The main focus is on development of the intelligent perceptual sensors required for optimum performance of a by-wire braking system (to be commercialised by 2007). This project will also facilitate the development of professional courses for by-wire technology. Such courses will play a crucial role in maintaining the competitiveness of the Australian car component industry as by-wire technology emerges.Read moreRead less
Advanced control and estimation strategies for electromechanical brake-by-wire systems. The project aims to investigate the application of advanced control and estimation techniques (robust nonlinear and soft-computing approaches) to the problem of maximising the effectiveness of electromechanical brake-by-wire systems in emergency braking manoeuvres. The work will be conducted using state-of-the-art control design and hardware-in-the loop simulation facilities in the Research Centre for Advance ....Advanced control and estimation strategies for electromechanical brake-by-wire systems. The project aims to investigate the application of advanced control and estimation techniques (robust nonlinear and soft-computing approaches) to the problem of maximising the effectiveness of electromechanical brake-by-wire systems in emergency braking manoeuvres. The work will be conducted using state-of-the-art control design and hardware-in-the loop simulation facilities in the Research Centre for Advanced By-Wire Technologies (RABiT), which has been established to accelerate the development and commercialisation of by-wire technology in Australia. Expected outcomes are actuator and road friction control algorithms which have been demonstrated to be robust in the context of real-world actuator and vehicle dynamics.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0989476
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$300,000.00
Summary
Rollover Crash Research Infrastructure Capacity Building. Around 1 in every 3 vehicle occupants die in a crash where the vehicle rolls over. This crash mode also accounts for around 25% of spinal injuries and cost the community around $2.5 billion annually. There are no rollover crash standards or consumer crash tests. The equipment purchased will be used to develop a rollover crashworthiness test protocol that can be adopted by consumer testing groups, to understand the role of fatigue in preci ....Rollover Crash Research Infrastructure Capacity Building. Around 1 in every 3 vehicle occupants die in a crash where the vehicle rolls over. This crash mode also accounts for around 25% of spinal injuries and cost the community around $2.5 billion annually. There are no rollover crash standards or consumer crash tests. The equipment purchased will be used to develop a rollover crashworthiness test protocol that can be adopted by consumer testing groups, to understand the role of fatigue in precipitating rollover crashes, and to develop a driver fatigue metric. It is estimated this research will result in saving around 150 lives, reducing serious spinal and head injuries and save the Australian community around $800 million per annum.Read moreRead less