MIUR PON01_00744 – “DRIVE IN2“
DRIVEr Monitoring: Technologies, Methodologies, and IN-vehicle INnovative systems for a safe and eco-compatible driving
- Scientific Responsible: Della Ragione Livia
- Participants: Meccariello Giovanni, Prati Maria Vittoria, Costagliola Maria Antonietta
SECTOR: ENVIRONMENT AND SAFETY
Periodo: 2010-2015
The DRIVE IN2 Project aims to focus on the definition of methodologies, technologies and advanced and innovative systems on the interaction between the driver and the vehicle in order to prevent road accidents and reduce the emissions of polluting agents. The Research will be aimed at analysing the driver’s characteristics and his driving behaviour. The following issues will be investigated: a) methods and techniques for the direct and indirect monitoring of vehicle and b) analysis of the behavioural driver’s variables that may impact on driving behaviour. In particular, the research aims at identifying anomalies in driving behaviour and at taking actions aimed at reducing them, to bring them within the limits of the environmental sustainability and to prevent the risk of accidents.
The multidisciplinary approach of the project is its strength and key factor; during the project the following issues will be addressed:
- the analysis of the driver from a psychological point of view, in order to properly identify his behavioural/ cognitive aspects;
- the monitoring of psycho-physical conditions of the driver (i.e. vital parameters such as blood pressure, temperature, glucose, drowsiness, etc..) and/or the monitoring of alcohol and drugs abuse, through the use of research paradigms and technologies as applied in the medical field;
- the application of data fusion/data mining techniques for the combined analysis of the variables of the vehicle;
- the monitoring of the driver’s driving style in order to seek the best efficiency of the vehicle (analysis of the trips, instantaneous fuel consumption, CO2 emissions, engine performance, rev, gear, driving cycles).
The approach proposed in the DRIVE IN2 project for the achievement of these objectives is twofold. On the one side, some assumptions, research and studies needed for the analysis of interaction of the on-board systems and /or the driver will be proposed in order to determine the right conditions for the use of the new technologies that have been identified; On the other side, the research plan will be oriented to define new in vehicle control logics, these will be set up by bench tests, using an advanced drive simulator, which will be appositely implemented, and road tests.
All the systems that will be initially provided, at first should acquire the knowledge on the status of the driver (biomedical parameters, use of alcohol and drugs, etc.), the specific behaviour of driving and the choice of the trips. All variables should be managed in a forecast point of view through automatic control methods, and subsequently by encouraging the interaction between the driver and the vehicle, under a warning and prevention point of view.
The interaction of the new systems with the vehicle refers to the full functionality of the other on-board systems, both in terms of comfort and security. In the prototyping phase, particular attention will be paid to the driver, who will be monitored while driving, with specific emphasis at his psyco-pshyisiological status and behaviour/style of driving. The driver could receive alerts/feed-backs (audio/visual) in order to have a safer and more environmentally sustainable way of driving. To this aim, the vehicle will actively inform the driver during the journey through appropriate feed-backs and messaging. The interaction between the vehicle and the driver will encourage and promote a more conscious driving by interacting with the driver’s choices and driving behaviour for the benefit of road safety and environmental protection.