TransAID Deliverable 5.4: Signalling for informing conventional vehicles

Abstract

A smooth introduction of automated vehicles in mixed traffic environments requires a mutual understanding between, and cooperation of, the different entities - being automated, connected or simply legacy vehicles. This is especially true when looking at transition areas, where automated vehicles reach their limits and transitions of control happen frequently, leading to new impacts on traffic efficiency and safety. As shown in D4.2, it is important to address this impact by providing infrastructure advice to automated vehicles. In addition, to achieve a mutual understanding, it is not less important to also inform unequipped vehicles about the issues which are coming up. This deliverable identifies communication requirements to legacy vehicles, esp. by giving information about reasons of appearing situations, consequences and measures for avoiding negative impacts. Several existing technologies are introduced and their effectiveness in terms of the communication requirements is analysed. On this basis, the TransAID approach is defined. Here, a mixture of Variable Message Signs (VMS), static signage and an external HMI of CAVs is in focus. To also bridge to a more individual advice, also a web-service approach using mobile devices in the vehicles is included and presented in this deliverable. All approaches in this deliverable need to be treated as prototypes, as neither the HMI has been tested nor any international study has been performed yet. Nevertheless, it is very important to start this discussion now, as it is of key societal interest to avoid negative impacts when automated vehicles enter the road,