Pedestrian detection system sufficiently warns driver before collision with pedestrian in 69 percent of cases.

Volvo’s pedestrian detection system in Volvo V40 model is capable of stopping the vehicle autonomously in front of a pedestrian at low speeds.

Date Posted
10/31/2016
Identifier
2016-B01074
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Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Volvo’s Pedestrian Detection System Based on Selected Real-Life Fatal Pedestrian Accidents

Summary Information

European university researchers performed test studies on the 2014 Volvo v40’s pedestrian detection system to evaluate its effectiveness. The testing procedures were the first independent testing in the world which was based on real fatal pedestrian-vehicle collisions. Using data from an in-depth accident database, the team reconstructed 18 cases covering an average traffic scenario to obtain detailed model situations for testing.

A dummy placed on an autonomous platform simulated the pedestrians’ movement. An evaluation process ensured that the reflective properties of the dummy for the short-range radar corresponded to the reflective properties of the human body, to avoid confusion of the dummy for a traditional object. The movement of the dummy was driven by the autonomous ultraflat overrunable robot (UFO) for experimental ADAS testing and synchronized with Volvo motion by D-GPS with high accuracy of motion.

Using collision and trajectory simulation program PC Crash 10.0, the following traffic situations were simulated with the dummy: a pedestrian crossing the road in the perpendicular direction, in the oblique direction and in the direction towards the vehicle, a pedestrian standing on the roadside, a pedestrian coming from behind an object, a lying-down person, day and night conditions and situations combining the above.

In the above scenarios, upon detection of the pedestrian, a visual warning accompanied by a flashing six inch-long light strip located near the speedometer alerted the driver. Almost immediately following this alert, the autonomous braking of the vehicle activated.

Conclusions

  • The analysis of the recorded data showed that in 69 percent of cases where the vehicle detected a pedestrian, the driver was warned in time intervals before the collision with the pedestrian. The driver was warned more than 1 second (1-2,0s) before the collision in nine case studies from the total number of measurements.
  • Autonomous braking of the vehicle occurred in 63 percent of case studies after the lapse of the acoustic warning of the driver.
  • The system does not react to a standing pedestrian shorter than 80 cm.
  • The system does not react to a pedestrian in the dark if the pedestrian is only illuminated with the vehicle’s main beam.
  • The time interval from the system’s first acoustic and visual reaction until the initial moment of braking ranged from 0.1 to 0.8 seconds (Standard brakes lag time during a driver braking is 0.2 seconds)
  • The system that has detected a pedestrian can stop the vehicle completely if the vehicle is moving at a speed less than 30 km/h and the pedestrian’s movement is smooth and predictable. At speeds above 30 km/h, there is always a significant reduction in the vehicle’s speed before the actual collision with a pedestrian.

Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Volvo’s Pedestrian Detection System Based on Selected Real-Life Fatal Pedestrian Accidents

Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Volvo’s Pedestrian Detection System Based on Selected Real-Life Fatal Pedestrian Accidents
Source Publication Date
06/25/2015
Author
Peter Vertal (University of Zilina), Robert Kledus (Brno University of Technology), Steffan Hermann (Universitat Graz)
Publisher
24th International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles
Goal Areas
Deployment Locations