Advanced Vehicle Technologies

Vehicles are evolving to an unprecedented automation level. The driver role will soon disappear, while control of vehicles will be handed to machines embedded with Artificial Intelligence that will be responsible for all driving tasks. 

Fully Connected and Automated Vehicles are expected to appear within the 2020’s decade. However, many transportation aspects will need to be solved prior to the implementation of such vehicles. AETHON is ready to assist partners in various aspects of Automated Vehicles’ Technologies that will assist in better integration with the city and better adoption by passengers.

Advanced Driver Assistance Systems

Connected and Automated Vehicles are equipped with multiple technologies falling into the category of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems or ADAS. ADAS are technologies such as Adaptive Cruise Control (maintaining of speed without user intervention) and Lane Assistance (return of vehicle to a lane if collision is imminent). ADAS technologies aim to increase car and road safety by monitoring and controlling driving functions when an unsafe condition is detected or when the driver requests. They are the preceding technology to full automation and as such will be existing within vehicles for many years to come.

AETHON has experience in designing the operation of ADAS systems in order to increase car and road safety and in order to improve network conditions. To achieve this, we employ state-of-the-art mathematical models for car control based on our extensive knowledge on transport and traffic modelling.

AETHON has experience in designing the operation of ADAS systems. To achieve this, we employ state-of-the-art mathematical models for car control based on our extensive knowledge on transport and traffic modelling.

Simulating the future era

Placing a Connected and Automated vehicle on the road is by no means a trivial task, especially when their impact is yet not fully known. Different ADAS systems and different control versions of vehicles (i.e., each manufacturer may have different automation algorithms) can impact traffic differently. Given the current state of simulation software, determining the impact of connected and automated vehicles on traffic, as well as, making suggestions to improve it are very relevant. For example, a city may require to understand how will traffic change in road segments when automated vehicles exist or a manufacturer may require to test the effects of a control scheme on traffic. 

AETHON can parameterise simulation software in order to account for the existence of Connected and Automated Vehicles and vehicles equipped with ADAS and execute an impact study on the traffic which will assist both manufacturers and cities to better adapt their technologies and policy respectively. 

Integrating with the city

As with vehicles, cities are also changing and becoming smarter. New sensors and analytics’ software are installed providing new capabilities for monitoring and controlling traffic. Cities implement smart infrastructure and smart information-providing applications that empower users and infrastructure to respond to various circumstances. The existence of Connected and Automated Vehicles is a new, significant variable to consider.

On the technology level, a city needs to research and implement new data collection schemes between Vehicles and Infrastructure (V2I, I2V), new control measures and traffic management processes. On the decision-making/policy level, the city requires information regarding various aspects such as transition aspects (mixed Automated Vehicles penetration) or impact of Connected and Automated Vehicles on Public Transport. 

AETHON is currently executing cutting edge research on various aspects regarding implementation and integration of Connected and Automated Vehicles in a city ranging from traffic management to study of endogenous human factors relating to vehicle automation. The expertise and knowledge of AETHON can assist cities to prepare and adapt for the appearance of Connected and Automated Vehicles at all levels of a city management, from policy to technical management.

Cities implement smart infrastructure and smart information-providing applications that empower users and infrastructure to respond to various circumstances. The existence of Connected and Automated Vehicles is a new, significant variable to consider.

Adoption and behavioural aspects

One of the most important aspects for Connected and Automated Vehicles is the adoption of the technology by users. Manufacturers implement state-of-the-art approaches to Human-Machine Interface design for passengers of all vehicles, included Automated Vehicles to improve adoption rate. However, novel design might not suffice if the conditions in the place of implementation are not adapted. Buyers of Automated Vehicles will consider other aspects such as car insurance, first aid, city environment and more. 

AETHON can assist stakeholders in analysing and evolving their current schemes to adapt to behavioural patterns of users of Connected and Automated Vehicles. This is achieved by modelling users behaviour and reaction regarding Automated Vehicles based on user needs and demands. AETHON has significant experience on behavioural analytics for travellers and the capability to create models, such as, demand modelling, buyers attitude using remorse theory and many more, based on behaviour of users and fulfilling our clients’ needs.