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Federal Highway Administration
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Federal Highway Administration Research and Technology
Coordinating, Developing, and Delivering Highway Transportation Innovations

Overview

 

Research and Development (R&D) Project Sites

Project Information
Project ID:   FHWA-PROJ-07-0028
Project Name:   Increased Understanding of Driver Visibility Requirements
Project Status:   Completed
Start Date:  October 1, 2007
End Date:  October 31, 2012
Contact Information
Last Name:  Andersen
First Name:  Carl K
Telephone:  202-493-3366
E-mail:  carl.andersen@dot.gov
Office:   Office of Safety Research and Development
Team:   Roadway Team [HRDS-10]
Program:   Exploratory Advanced Research
Project detail
Roadmap/Focus area(s):   Roadway Departure
Project Description:   This research project will develop a hybrid human/computer model of the quantity and quality of visual information needed to navigate certain curves in the roadway safely and effectively at night.
Goals:  
(1) Develop knowledge regarding human visual requirements for nighttime driving.
(2) Initiate development of a model of driver visual requirements and performance that can be used to evaluate the adequacy of a roadway scene.
More Information URL(s):  
  1. http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/advancedresearch/pubs/seedarkear.cfm
Field Test:   Texas Transportation Institute, Riverside Campus, June 2010.
Product Type:   Research report
Techbrief
Test Methodology:   The following test methodologies/approaches will be used: literature review, hypothesis development, and onroad human factors study.
Other Information:   This project includes the following fact sheet: Exploratory Advanced Research Program, (2009). Seeing In The Dark: Improving Understanding of Driver Visibility Requirements at Night, FHWA-HRT-09-024, Federal Highway Administration, Washington, DC.
Expected Benefits:   Develop an understanding of the minimum requirements for visual information required by drivers for guidance. Begin development of a predictive model that may be used to evaluate the available visual information on a given facility (existing or simulated), and determine if that level of information is adequate.
Deliverables: Name: Final report on: (1) Evaluation of driver performance in curves under varying levels of guidance. (2) Algorithms for control of autonomous vehicle based on visual input. (3) Results from comparison between driver performance and autonomous vehicle during "drive-off."
Product Type(s): Research report, Techbrief
Description: The products include a technical report on development, conduct, and results of human factors study, and a description of algorithms used to control autonomous vehicle using visual information.
FHWA Topics:   Research/Technologies--Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center (TFHRC)
TRT Terms:   Visibility
Night Visibility
Human Factors
Highway Safety
Safety
Research
FHWA Disciplines:   Safety
Subject Areas:   Research
Safety and Human Factors

 

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Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center | 6300 Georgetown Pike | McLean, VA | 22101