Vehicle Spacing Determination and Display In Low Visibility Conditions

Convoys are used by militaries worldwide to form a unified group of vehicles that provides joint support and protection to troops and supplies being forwarded to mission areas. Therefore, testing vehicles in convoys travelling in operationally realistic environments serves a critical role in enhancing US military capability. Proper convoy formation is paramount to safety and test execution. However, drivers have difficulty maintaining required vehicle-to-vehicle spacing when visibility is poor due to dust, heavy precipitation, or low lighting. Improperly spaced convoys may increase costs by requiring repeated tests or lead to a safety incident. The IS4S team proposes a GPS-based driver assistance system that clearly and concisely communicates accurate vehicle spacing information to drivers of a vehicle convoy. A GPS-based solution will perform in zero-visibility and in all weather environments, as well as provide vehicle spacing information when line-of-sight is obscured by terrain or vehicle maneuvering. The system will be self-contained for easy deployment and operation on multiple vehicle systems, rugged to handle harsh testing environments, and simple to operate.