INVENT

INVENT - Intelligent traffic and user-oriented technology

On May 28 2005, INVENT demonstrated their innovations in driver assistance, efficient traffic management, and stimulating future research and progress in traffic policy, at the BMW Research and Innovation Center in Munich. Numerous simulations and demonstrations illustrated the functionality, operation, and value of technical innovations that support drivers in traffic jams (or even prevent them from arising), provide dynamic route guidance, improve the efficiency of logistic services, and promote active safety.

With the goal of improving both traffic flow and traffic safety in the future, the INVENT partners are working together to develop novel driver assistance systems, knowledge and information technologies, and solutions for more efficient traffic management, to prevent or minimise the severity of accidents.

Three research areas, eight component projects

• Detection and Interpretation of the Driving Environment:
  Using laser, radar, sensors and video image processing, cars will acquire datas on road conditions, weather, traffic flow, etc, that will be assimilated and processed to detect danger and intervene promptly and appropriately.
• Anticipatory Active Safety:
  Intersection assistants, which automatically detect crossing cyclists and pedestrians and warn the driver, but also recognize traffic signs, and thus support the driver.
  Lateral control assistants, which support the driver in lane changing and turning manoeuvers.
• Congestion Assistance:
  Automatic cruise and headway control functions to adapt speed to the traffic flow, maintain safe distance and automatically detect potential obstacles, to avoid collisions.
• Driver Behaviour and Human Machine Interaction:
  Solutions for measuring the driver’s reactions and response to new systems, to improve the human–machine interface.
• Traffic Performance Assitance:
  Vehicle-based systems collecting and combining data about the traffic state, and communicating the information to upstream vehicles, to achieve optimised traffic flow.
• Network Traffic Equalizer:
  Dynamic route guidance and navigation systems taking the latest traffic data into account to choose the optimal route to destination.
• Traffic Management in Transport and Logistics:
  Intelligent route planning systems for deliveries, and optimised courier services taking into account mobility of customers and duration of trip, guaranteeing precise delivery times.
• Traffic Impact, Legal issues and Acceptance:
  Evaluation of the economic and business implications of the new technologies, as well as potential legal conflicts.

This research initiative brings together 24 companies, among which automobile manufacturers, electronics industry and suppliers, telecommunication and IT companies, logistics service providers, and software developers as well as research institutions. Numerous university institutes as well as small to medium-sized companies are also contributing to the projects as subcontractors.

The four-year cooperation will continue through mid 2005 and has been supported by grants from the Federal Ministry for Education and Research (BMBF).

Partners:

Audi, BMW, Bosch, DaimlerChrysler Research and Technology, the German Aerospace Agency (DLR) Ericsson, the Aachen Vehicle Research Institute (fka), Ford, Hella, Hermes Parcel Service, IBM, the Magdeburg Institute for Automation and Communication (ifak), MAN Commercial Vehicles, Navigation Technologies, Opel, PTV, Siemens AG, Siemens Restraint Systems, Siemens VDO, TransVer Traffic Consultancy of Munich, the German Standards Group (TÜV), the University of Cologne, the law firm Vogt & Co., and Volkswagen.

Contact:

Walter Scholl
INVENT Office
Hülenbergstrasse 10
D-73230 Kirchheim/Teck
Tel: ++49 7021-978181
Fax: ++49 7021-978182
Email: info@wes-office.de

Take me to the INVENT website