This presents TOYOTA’s concept, experiments and future scope of AVHS (Automated Vehicle/Highway System) which could contribute to a possible solution to automobile traffic/transportation issues in the 21st century.
Concept: This system enables smooth, automated cruising on highways by keeping the distance to the leading vehicle and avoiding obstacles. Compact, lightweight actuators are designed from a practical viewpoint. The system is intended to have broad benefits for vehicles with add-0n devices as well as for automated vehicles.
Findings: The prototype runs smoothly over 100 km/h satisfying the above requirements with simple control algorithm. CCD lane sensor with compensation to disturbances can detect the lane except under severe weather conditions. The improvement of road structure and lane would make the sensor more robust. To make the system more reliable, misperception of vague lane is corrected by the onboard memory of 3-D road curvature as a backup. Onboard laser radar is feasible for obstacle or distance sensing and obstacle avoidance control with assist of road side TV camera with computer image analyzer, which can detect smaller obstacles and is a key solution. This forms a cooperative intelligent vehicle/ infrastructure. With some compensation laser radar can detect the leading vehicle except under severe conditions such as small road curvature, bad weather, etc.
Scope: AVHS is expected to penetrate effectively because intelligent infrastructure can widely provide beneficial information for vehicles with telecommunication receivers as well as sure backup for automated vehicles. Further studies and discussions are necessary to obtain system reliability and social consensus.