A new driving supporting system, integrating an infrared camera and an anti-collision micro-wave radar: the EUCLIDE project

This paper is based on the current activities undertaken within the three-year project EUCLIDE [GRDI-2000-26801] "Enhanced human machine interface for on vehicle integrated driving support system" funded by the European Commission within the 5th Framework Programme "Competitive and sustainable Growth". The project, started in 2001, includes in the consortium(1) different car makers, one automotive supplier, a far infrared sensor supplier, specialists on image processing, radar data processing and sensor data fusion, human machine interface experts for laboratory tests on virtual prototypes and on-vehicle human factor experts: this joint work concerns companies from five different European countries (France, Germany, Greece, Italy and Sweden). The proposed integrated driver assistance system will merge the functionality of two different sensors (far infrared and microwave radar) to support the driver in reduced visibility, due to night and adverse weather conditions, and to warn the driver even in good visibility, when dangerous situations occur, thus addressing also driver distraction. The activity is focused on human factors, as the expected impact and benefit in reducing the number of accidents is the key aspect of the project, by the mean of concepts and strategies arising from human machine interface studies. The definition of the most effective strategy to support, when needed, the driver with information allows the development of a system to increase effectively drivers' comfort and safety.