An instrumented vehicle for microscopic monitoring of driver behaviour

A vehicle-based data collection system is explored. It is capable of gathering accurate data on the relative movements of adjacent vehicles, and hence driver behavior, in a traffic stream. The instrumented vehicle may support a variety of detection devices, for example a tracking laser rangefinder head, or a constantly scanning laser beam (a LIDAR). To relate the measurements to the position of the vehicles on the road, several sub-systems are devised to calculate corrections required by variations in steering, and vibrational movements caused by the road surface. Operational specifications of the vehicle are devised, in terms of road and traffic conditions required for optimum performance, and strategies for use.