Safety zone: investigations by engineers at Manchester University, UK, into an extendable car bumper could help accelerate the arrival of computer-controlled motorways. Dr Gonzalez-Villasenor (pictured) is co-author of an award-winning paper presented at the Intelligent Transport Systems World Congress.

　　THERE is an imaginative TV advert where scores of vehicles speed across a busy crossroads all at the same time, with drivers hardly paying attention because their vehicles are being protected by an advance computer system. Of course, this is supposed to be just an eye-catching fantasy promoting forward thinking by a software firm. Or is it?

　　Perhaps it is not all wishful thinking. Investigations by engineers at the University of Manchester, England, into an extendable car bumper could help to accelerate the arrival of computer-controlled motorways.

　　A paper presented recently at the Intelligent Transport Systems World Congress & Exhibition offers a glimpse of how a high-tech, environmentally friendly and efficient motorway network could operate safely in the future.

　　The authors, from Manchester’s School of Electrical & Electronic Engineering, were awarded the accolade of Best Scientific Paper at the meeting of 3,000 key decision makers and technical experts from across the globe.

　　Automated highway systems (AHS) and cooperative vehicle highway systems (CVHS) have been under development for many decades. The vision is that vehicles would not be independently driven, but regulated and controlled via information beamed from transmitters at the side of the road. Cars would also communicate and cooperate with the vehicles around them to ensure a safe and fast journey for everyone.

　　With the use of motorway space in the United Kingdom estimated to be as little as five per cent, the grouping or “platooning” of cars is seen as one way to increase capacity and reduce congestion. Because computer-controlled vehicles would be able to travel much closer together, it would mean less fuel consumption because of a reduction in aerodynamic drag.

　　In their prize-winning paper, the Manchester University academics note that concerns over legal and liability issues, in the event of failure, seem to have held back development.

　　The system proposed by the team would use a “bridging damper” in the event of a signal failure. This would be an intelligent bumper that would extend to touch the car in front, should the main communication system break down.

　　Computer simulations have indicated that a group of at least 20 cars could continue to travel safely and smoothly in the event of a main system failure, by detecting the status of the car immediately in front through their extended bumpers. Information on the other cars in the group would not be necessary.

　　The authors of the paper have investigated the use of a system that would see bumpers adjust to compensate for varying road conditions such as uphill and downhill stretches.

　　Although much of the research has been conducted using computer simulations, the research team has developed a small, simplified pneumatic version of the damper device for further investigation.

　　Dr Renfrew, one of the paper’s authors, said: “With so much intelligence going into the creation of cooperative vehicle highway systems, the consequences of a system failure are potentially quite severe – although the overall benefits, including the potential for greater safety, are considerable.

　　“Our paper explores ideas about how this type of transport system might continue to operate safely if the main communication system broke down. A vast amount of further research is needed to explore the viability of the proposed system. But we do hope that by tackling the issue of safety and presenting our ideas for discussion and further investigation, intelligent transport systems may arrive just a little bit quicker.”

　　The Manchester University paper also proposes that the bridging damper could be used on guided bus and guided taxi systems. But it notes that further research is needed into the technological, social, policy, psychological and economic aspects of “contact convoy” systems.

　　Martin Davey, chair of the judging panel at the conference and project director of transport For London’s Technical Services Group, said: “Dr Renfrew’s paper offers a glimpse of how one form of transport system might operate safely in the future.”

　　The authors received an attractive glass trophy and 500 pounds that were given to Aurelio Gonzalez-Villasenor who carried out most of the research for the paper for his doctorate thesis. Having graduated in May 2006, Dr Gonzalez-Villasenor is now working as a research associate in the Power Conversion Group in the university’s School of Electrical & Electronic Engineering.

　　The English strategic road network is valued at 72 billion pounds and comprises 7,755km (4,800 miles) of trunk roads including motorways. Carrying a third of all road traffic in England and two thirds of all heavy freight traffic, with more that 170 billion vehicle kilometres of journeys undertaken each year, it provides a vital service to commerce and industry and has a major impact on the lives of individuals and communities.

　　By far the greatest proportion of freight, about 80 per cent, is carried by road. The attraction is flexibility - goods are delivered direct either to the store or to the factory, allowing firms to manage inventories with great accuracy.

　　With the average length of hauls being about 87km (54 miles), deliveries can often be guaranteed the same day or overnight. In 2004, UK-registered heavy goods vehicles lifted 1,744 million tonnes of goods. There are at least 30,000 road haulage operators, from owner-drivers to large operators.

　　If this advanced traffic control system becomes a reality, these already impressive statistics will no doubt be greatly improved. (Source: British Consulate-General in Chongqing)