Intersection Safety Assist Draft Test Procedure Performability Validation

NHTSA-Vehicle Safety Research2021PDFTech ReportDavis, Ian J.Forkenbrock, Garrick J.United States. Department of Transportation. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Vehicle Research and Test CenterUnited States. Department of Transportation. National Highway Traffic Safety AdministrationUnited States. Department of Transportation. National Highway Traffic Safety AdministrationUnited StatesIntersectionsCrash avoidance systemsVehicle safetyAdvanced driver information systemsTest tracksWarning systemsintersection safety assistISADOT HS 813 009The work described in this report was performed to (1) assess the feasibility of using a preliminary version of NHTSA\u2019s intersection safety assist (ISA) draft research test procedure to facilitate objective and repeatable test track evaluations of the technology, and (2) to develop refinements needed to improve test performability, where necessary. Three test scenarios were used, principal other vehicle (POV) straight across subject vehicle (SV) path, POV left turn across SV path, and SV left turn across POV path. Each scenario had sub-scenarios with different vehicle speed combinations, crash-imminent and near-miss test choreography, and provisions to support evaluations of up to three levels of automation. One passenger car equipped with certain ISA features was used to assess the performability of each test scenario. For each scenario, the proximity of the SV to the POV at specific impact and near-miss evaluation points was summarized. While the protocols described in the preliminary version of NHTSA\u2019s ISA draft research test procedure were generally found to be performable, some criteria used to assess test validity were not satisfied. Revisions to improve test performability have been made, and have been incorporated into NHTSA\u2019s September 2019 ISA draft test procedure. These revisions, along with updates applied to the test equipment and an improved understanding of the parameters used to better optimize its use, are believed to have largely reconciled the ability to produce valid trials for each test condition. The SV provided ISA interventions during most tests where the POV accelerated from rest and was driven straight across the path of the SV. None of these interventions were sufficient to prevent the SV from impacting the POV. No ISA interventions were observed during trials performed with near-miss timing, regardless of test condition.119