Integrated Vehicle-Based Safety System

Integrated Vehicle-Based Safety System (IVBSS)

What It Is

The goal of the IVBSS Initiative to develop a prototype integrated crash warning system that will provide comprehensive, coordinated safety information to drivers to help prevent forward collision, lane-change/merge, and road departure crashes for light vehicles and heavy commercial trucks. Such an integrated crash avoidance countermeasure system could prevent 48 percent of rear-end, road-departure and lane-change crashes – more than 1.8 million target crashes. The system will use advanced sensors and other high technology methods to determine the existence of a threat and provide the appropriate warning to drivers. Integration of the individual crash warning systems is expected to improve overall system performance, increase safety, reduce system cost, and improve consumer and fleet operator acceptance.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) are conducting the IVBSS initiative as part of the Research and Innovative Technology Administration’s ( RITA) ITS program. Program partners include the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute, Visteon Corporation, Eaton Corporation, Honda R&D Americas, Cognex Corporation, Battelle Memorial Institute and the Michigan Department of Transportation. The project is expected to be completed by the end of 2009.

Current Status

The IVBSS Initiative is being conducted in two phases: Phase I of the program, which has primarily involved the development of the integrated collision avoidance system, is nearly completed, as of January 1, 2008. In addition to system design and development, light and heavy vehicle prototypes have been completed and tested, all verification testing has been performed, and the driver-vehicle interface designs for both platforms are now complete.

Phase II will include a field operational test (FOT) of the integrated system in both light vehicles and commercial heavy trucks. During Phase II, a fleet comprised of 16 light vehicles and 108 participants will be tested over a six-week period. Ten heavy trucks that incorporate the integrated warning system will be involved in the field test, and will include 20-26 professional drivers over a ten-month period. Throughout the entire initiative, the Volpe National Transportation Systems Center, acting as the independent evaluator, will objectively evaluate program costs, safety benefits and driver acceptance.

FHWA-JPO-08-014 ITS EDL 14084

Updated August 20, 2008 10:23 AM