BCO, Incorporated — Department of Transportation SBIR Phase I: 151FT1

Description

Braking Rate Monitoring and Warning System 3/9/2015 Driver inattention and inaction are a major cause for serious crashes. There is a need for a low cost auxiliary system to sense any rail vehicle approaching unsafely and alert drivers. The auxiliary system will provide some form of Human Machine Interface that may aggressively alert the train operator of potential safety problems and permit a return to safe braking limits. It would be independent and non-intrusive to existing facilities. The key objective of this project is to develop an algorithm which will warn only those drivers who are failing to brake adequately, and to do so far enough in advance of the hazard, for drivers to increase their braking rate and respect the displayed caution or stop signal. The objectives of this project will address the following: 1) Can mass-produced automotive radars be used to sense inadequate braking of transit vehicles approaching a wayside signal which is displaying caution or stop signals. 2) Can a computer-based algorithm be developed which processes the radar data and identifies situations when the transit vehicle is in danger of a potential crash situation. The concept will be tested and evaluated using field data to be acquired during the initial phase of the project.