Prometheus

PROMETHEUS is an acronym for Programme for .European Traf­fic with highest Efficiency and Unnprecedented Safety. It was initiated by 13 European car manufacturers. The programme involves many elec­tronic and component manufacturers as well as universities, institutions and governmental agencies. The programme is supplemented with the EC research programme DRIVE.

The background is well known. Road traffic is increasing continu­ously and at a rate which is higher than the capacity of the road network. The result is congestion on the roads and in towns, decreasing traffic efficiency and a high accident rate. The negative consequences on the environment are also the focus of discussions.

Many forms of action are being adopted by road administrations and vehicle manufacturers to ease the situation. Some of the political suggestions are very radical.

The PROMETHEUS programme is a pre-competitive research pro­gramme to investigate what contributions electronic devices and infor­mation technology can provide to ease the problems.

The overall objectives of PROMETHEUS are to:

(1) increase safety;

(2) increase efficiency;

(3) decrease pollution.

We have defined a number of new functions which we believe will contribute to the objectives of PROMETHEUS: safety, efficiency and the environment.

These functions can be realized in different ways with technical sys­tems. The systems/functions have to be evaluated and tested in vehicles.

To realize the systems, new components, new technology and new building techniques must be used. We have defined a number of tasks for electronic industries and universities so that they can make contribu­tions in this respect.

The functions have been arranged in five groups:

1. Improved driver information

Examples of functions in this group are: (a) obstacle detection; (b) monitoring environment/road; (c) monitoring driver;

Examples of functions in this group are: (a) obstacle detection; (b) monitoring environment/road; (c) monitoring driver;

(d) monitoring vehicle;

(e) vision enhancement;

(f) safety margin.

Different technical solutions are conceivable realizing these functions. Obstacle detection can, for example, be implemented by:

(a) computer vision;

(b) microwave radar; or

(c) IR multibeam radar.

The monitoring functions above have to be based upon different kinds of sensors. The information from the sensors has to be analyzed and evaluated in a computer. The result is then presented to the driver in a suitable way.

The next group of functions is:

2. Active support for drivers

Examples of functions in this group are:

(a) critical course determination;

(b) dynamic vehicle control;

(c) intelligent cruise control.

In this group of functions the information from sensors of different kinds is in computers and transformed into processed recommendations to the driver or control signals to the vehicle.

The third function group is:

3. Co-operative driving

Examples of functions are:

(a) intelligent manoeuvering;

(b) collision avoidance;

(c) intelligent intersection control.

In the two first-function groups the vehicle acts autonomously with information gathered from sensors in the vehicle itself. In this group, vehicles in a limited zone communicate with each other and extend in­formation on their intentions and what they see. The volume of informa­tion available to the driver increases and it becomes possible to make better decisions than before. The vehicles in the zone co-operate with each other in decision-making. Clearly, this is a difficult data processing problem and requires the use of techniques of artificial intelligence. The fourth group of functions is:

4. Intelligent traffic management

Examples of functions are:

(a) journey optimization;

(b) demand control;

(c) flow control;

(d) parking control.

The first three-function groups contribute mainly to the objective of increased safety. The fourth group contributes to the objective of increased efficiency and decreased pollution.

What is, needed to realize this function is a navigation system in the vehicle, traffic control centres where the traffic situation is recorded and, directives to vehicles are computed, and telecommunication channels between the vehicles and the centres.

A fairly large number of systems have been suggested in this group and a number of them have been tested and demonstrated.

The last group of functions is:

5, Fleet management

Examples of functions are:

(a) dispatching;

(b) integrated logistic concept.

To realize the function a data acquisition system is needed, together with central control stations.

The list of desirable functions is large and it is a considerable undertaking to realize them with different systems. It is clearly impossible to add on separate systems for each function in a vehicle. The solution is to creat&H a highly integrated total system, in which sensors are used for different' functions, the data processing takes place partly in a central system computer (co-pilot) and presentation for the driver is co-ordinated. To solve these problems, special Working Groups have been organized:

• communication; on-board structure;

• integrated MMI (man-machine-interface);

• vehicle safety and dependability;

• total system integration.

Where do we stand today in PROMETHEUS?

Fact-finding and definition have already been carried out.

The allocation of tasks to electronics and component industries has been made. Agreements on about 100 tasks have been signed.

Programmes for the more research-oriented work in universities and institutions have been formulated and work started. Financing of this work has been provided at the national level by government organiza­tions.

We have already demonstrated a number of functions for board members of the companies.

The value of the suggested functions has to be evaluated by appro­priate groups in PROMETHEUS, DRIVE and by the authorities. What is the contribution to the overall objectives? Are there any negative con­sequences?

PROMETHEUS is a pre-competitive programme. The implemen­tation of autonomous functions is the responsibility of the manufactur­ers. There is a need, however, for certain types of standardization of protocols, for example.

The basic idea - to use information technology to relieve society of some of the negative sides of the road traffic- seems, however, to be very promising and worth a lot of effort to evaluate and implement.