Development and Testing of a Pedestrian Alert System

The project involves the final design, development, and testing of system designed to alert a driver to an impending pedestrian crash. A PAS was designed to mitigate a primary crash cause by enhancing the motorist¿s capability to detect pedestrians. Phase I showed that the PAS concept will provide all weather operation, non-LOS operation around visual screens, pedestrian detection at close and long range, the capability for very good threat discrimination to reduce false alarms, a variable ¿warning zone¿, an automatic alert not requiring interpretation or attention from the driver, the capability to alert the pedestrian, and alert data in a digital format that can drive any type of user interface visual, audible, or tactile. The PAS also is compatible with ITS and telematics concepts and equipment.During the proposed phase II, final specifications will be determined based on simulations of sensor performance, crash data analysis an simulation, communication link simulation, and user focus groups. The specifications drive the detailed design, which, when approved, will be implemented in 10 prototypes. Graduated field tests under increasingly realistic conditions will validate the system performance and provide ideas for modifications and enhancements. Suggested improvements will be implemented before delivering the PAS to FHWA.