Projects
These are the projects that have teams actively working on them. At this stage none have formerly started, but have teams exploring the scope and viability of various project ideas.
Projects
The cluster has been working at establishing collaborative projects. We have several active project teams all in various stages of formation:
- TruckOn - Overhead Collision Prevention
This is ESA's first completed project. This is a proof-of-concept project for a system to prevent over-height vehicles from colliding with tunnels, overpasses and enclosed steel bridges. - Assisted Living
Mark Steiner is leading a team to investigate technologies that assist the elderly and disabled to live at home longer. The proposed technology combats isolation by providing simple communication to friends, family and carers as well behind-the-scenes monitoring of basic habits. Friends and family can be automatically be notified if there is a break in routine. An important element is hiding the technology and complexity an easy to use interface. Discussions are under way with government agencies and aged care facilities to best understand the needs of carers and their clients. - Assisted Vision
NICTA is leading a team to explore what can be done with the latest technology to assist people with poor vision. The proposal involves the use of smart miniture cameras backed by state-of-the-art algorithms to recognise and describe objects and people in the line of sight. This project is not an active ESA project at this point in time. - OASIS (was Funky Kiosk)
Bill Horton is exploring how a future kiosk might intelligently respond to a customer. Technologies to support this include:- Techniques to recognise the customer.
- Techniques to recognise what goods the customer is carrying.
- Tailoring content based on the customer and the goods.
- Downloads of movies, games, or music using ultra-high-speed wireless.
General Project Information
Under construction. This will outline some FAQ on projects.
What will decide a project's scope?
While projects are in their exploratory stages their exact scope is often undecided. ESA wants its projects to have commercial potential. Therefore the ideal project is customer-driven with a strong customer lead. Projects supported by grants may have their scope determined by the grant conditions.
How is a project funded?
The bulk of resources will come from team partners, e.g. in-kind and cash. In some cases projects will have supplimentary external funding, e.g. government grants.
What factors determine which companies are on a project team?
A successful project will require strong collaboration built on goodwill and trust. Furthermore, each partner must be convinced that their team mates are adding value and working for the good of the group. We expect that to a large extent a team will be self-selecting. The cluster executive will manage a voting process if this helps team formation. Note that each project team member will be required to be a cluster sponsor which will support the general cluster program for the year.
How is IP ownership determined in a project?
Ultimately a team must decide the nature of the project agreement. We propose the following proven IP model as a useful starting point for discussion.
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Background IP (i.e. pre-existing IP):
- Partners may use freely within the project.
- Owning partner must licence (for royalty) if required to enable use of Foreground IP.
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Foreground IP (i.e. new IP created within the project):
- Creating Partner owns solely or jointly.
- Owner can freely on-sell or sub-license without accounting.
- Other Partners granted non-exclusive, royalty-free licences for own use and exploitation.
- Creating Partner may freely license to others without consent or accounting.
- Non-owners may not license or disclose to others except where inherent in their own products.
New Project Proposals
New project proposals reside here.
016 Wireless Vehicle Communications via DSRC: Payment Systems
| Name | 016 Wireless Vehicle Communications via DSRC: Payment Systems |
|---|---|
| Short Description | The next generation of safety technology for vehicles is Wireless Vehicle Communications via DSRC (Dedicated Short Range Communications). DSRC enables collisions to be avoided using direct Vehicle to Vehicle and Vehicle to Infrastructure wireless communications to warn of impending danger. This same technology can be used for a variety of traffic payment systems. By:
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| 'Champion' | Name: David Harris Company: Dejai |
| Relevant Grant(s) (if known and if applicable) |
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| Commercialisation Considerations (if known) |
New Project Proposal: Template
| Name | Project Name |
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| Short Description | A short description goes here |
| What problem is being solved? |
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| 'Champion' | Name: Company: |
| Relevant Grant(s) (if known and if applicable) | |
| Commercialisation Considerations (if known) |
Past Project Proposals
Here you can find all the past proposals for projects.
New proposals are listed elsewhere.
Active projects are listed elsewhere.
Project Concept Summary 2008
This project page has been maintained for reference purposes. It is not a current list of project concepts.
The following table lists the Embedded Systems Australia cluster project proposals after a Technology Roadmapping Workshop, and an initial assessment at the Project Appraisal Workshop on 11/4/2008.
The table is arranged into four separate groups:
- Major Projects.
- Smaller Projects.
- Major Underlying Infrastructure Projects.
- Strategic Activities.
Within each group, projects were listed in order of their scores (note, however there was considerable overlap).
| ID | Project Links | Score | Comment | 'Champions' | Suggested Potential Collaborators |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Major Projects | |||||
| 009 | Next Generation In-Car Infotainment / Telematics System | 43.4 ± 5.5 | Indicative score (8 respondants). Needs more understanding of potential collaboration with AT Signature 2 project. |
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| 007 & 011 | Home Automation / Management | 39.2 ± 3.9 |
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| 007 | Next Generation Home Control/Media System | See Above | |||
| 011 | Home Management System | See Above | |||
| 005a | Autonomous Vehicles | 38.9 ± 3.6 |
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| 005 | Autonomous Underwater Vehicle | See Above | |||
| Lower Ranked Major Projects... | |||||
| Smart Vehicle (Police) | 30.9 ± 5.8 | Perhaps this could be included with 009 Next Generation In-car Infotainment/Telematics? |
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| Smart Ambulance/Bed | 27.4 ± 5.4 | Need to further explore this topic. |
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| Smaller Projects | |||||
| 006 | Movie Purchase Kiosk with Wireless Download | 39.3 ± 3.2 |
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| 010 | Smart Transport and Roads Sensor Project | 38.7 ± 4.0 |
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| Lower Ranked Smaller Projects... | |||||
| 008 | Secure User Interface Elements | 27.0 ± 4.1 | Requires more information and a compelling sales pitch. |
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| 014 | The Mesh | 21.8 ± 6.8 | Need to refine project pitch, clarifying details and differentiation of application. |
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| 001 | Personal Flight Recorder | 21.6 ± 3.7 | Niche application. |
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| Major Underlying Infrastructure Projects | |||||
| 012 & 013 | Dedicated Short Range Communications (DSRC) Platform | 38.4 ± 5.4 |
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| 013 | Portable Dedicated Short Range Communications (DSRC) Platform | See Above | |||
| 002 | Modular Wireless Sensor Networks | 30.5 ± 6.4 |
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| Strategic Activities | |||||
| 003 | ARTEMIS Embedded Systems Design | 37.7 ± 6.1 | Pursue this independently of projects. |
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| 004 | Embedded Systems CRC | 36.2 ± 7.4 | Consider at a later date. |
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001 Personal Flight Recorder
| Name | 001 Personal Flight Recorder |
|---|---|
| Short Description | A flight 'black box' that records your position,turnsand acceleration and thus yaw, pitch and roll and play back on Google Earth or a Flight Simulator. See http://home.exetel.com.au/jhonan/myflight/index.html for more details. |
| What problem is being solved? |
Flight Training is expensive and difficult. This device will improve training. |
| Skills Required |
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| Suggested Collaborators (if known) |
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| Target and End Market |
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| Time Frame | 12 months |
| 'Champion' |
Name: Jamie Honan |
| Relevant Grant(s) (if known and if applicable) |
None. |
| Comments | This project is well advanced. Jamie has already created a prototype. |
002 Modular Wireless Sensor Networks
| Name | 002 Modular Wireless Sensor Networks |
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| Short Description | Wireless sensor networks are well-suited for environmental monitoring, industrial automation, agriculture, mining, and many other applications. |
| What problem is being solved? |
Currently, each new wireless sensor system deployment requires a ground-up development cycle. There are few "out-of-the-box" sensor solutions which are suitable for easy customisation (through modular system design) and rapid deployment (through suitable software and communications infrastructure). |
| Skills Required |
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| Suggested Collaborators (if known) |
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| Target and End Market |
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| Time Frame | 24 months |
| 'Champion' | Name: Neil Bergmann Company: ITEE, University of Queensland |
| Relevant Grant(s) (if known and if applicable) |
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003 ARTEMIS Embedded Systems Design
| Name | 003 ARTEMIS Embedded Systems Design |
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| Short Description | The European Union is investing more than a billion Euros into a framework for embedded systems design. This project suggest that Australia find some niches in this research landscape, so that we can contribute to this effort, and also share in its benefits.
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| What problem is being solved? |
Australia is likely to get left behind by this billion dollar EU investment in embedded systems. |
| Skills Required |
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| Suggested Collaborators (if known) |
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| Target and End Market |
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| Time Frame | 36 months |
| 'Champion' | Name: Neil Bergmann Company: ITEE, University of Queensland |
| Relevant Grant(s) (if known and if applicable) |
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| Key Issue | Australian government "buy-in" to the ARTEMIS scheme in the EU. |
004 Embedded Systems CRC
| Name | Embedded Systems CRC |
|---|---|
| Short Description | The government's CRC scheme funds industry/university/government research collaboration in areas of national interest. |
| What problem is being solved? |
Low Australian industry involvement in Embedded Systems research. CSIRO is a member of many CRCs, NICTA is a member of none. |
| Skills Required |
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| Suggested Collaborators (if known) |
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| Target and End Market |
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| Time Frame | Consortium with firm financial commitments and a strong research program needed by September 2008. |
| 'Champion' | Name: Neil Bergmann Company: ITEE, University of Queensland |
| Relevant Grant(s) (if known and if applicable) |
CRC Program |
005 Autonomous Underwater Vehicle
| Name | 005 Autonomous Underwater Vehicle |
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| Short Description | ATSA has established a project to develop a new type of small (approx 25kg) Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV). Our core capability is in developing the vehicle platform. We would like to collaborate with other embedded systems developers to develop payloads including marine sensors, underwater navigation, autonomous decision making etc. |
| What problem is being solved? |
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| Skills Required |
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| Suggested Collaborators (if known) |
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| Target and End Market |
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| Time Frame | 18 months |
| 'Champion' | Name: Darren Burrowes Company: ATSA Defence Services Web: www.atsa.com.au |
| Relevant Grant(s) (if known and if applicable) |
006 Movie Purchase Kiosk with Wireless Download
| Name | Movie Purchase Kiosk with Wireless Download |
|---|---|
| Short Description | Demonstrator Project Kiosk that enables a customer to select a movie and download it wireless to his/her mobile phone. |
| What problem is being solved? |
Inconvenient purchase and transfer of movies to mobile devices. |
| Skills Required |
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| Suggested Collaborators (if known) |
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| Target and End Market |
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| Time Frame | Nine months |
| 'Champion' |
Name: Chris Nicol |
| Relevant Grant(s) (if known and if applicable) |
Global Opportunities, COMET |
007 Next Generation Home Control/Media System
| Name | Next Generation Home Control/Media System |
|---|---|
| Short Description | Integration of home automation incorporating media lookup, control and playback. |
| What problem is being solved? | Poor availability of integrated systems for management of home media collections together with home automation and centralised data storage facilities, such as address books. Should also incorporate security features. |
| Skills Required |
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| Suggested Collaborators (if known) |
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| Target and End Market |
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| Time Frame | 24 Months |
| 'Champion' | Name: Robi Karp Company: Fluffy Spider Technologies, www.fluffyspider.com |
| Relevant Grant(s) (if known and if applicable) |
008 Secure User Interface Elements
| Name | Secure User Interface Elements |
|---|---|
| Short Description | Provide secure paths to and from a Trusted Computing Base (TCB) to a User Interface. Requires work from TCB supplier and UI supplier. |
| What problem is being solved? | Security for input and output of data to and from user. |
| Skills Required |
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| Suggested Collaborators (if known) |
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| Target and End Market |
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| Time Frame | 24 Months |
| 'Champion' | Name: Robi Karp Company: Fluffy Spider Technologies, www.fluffyspider.com |
| Relevant Grant(s) (if known and if applicable) |
009 Next Generation In-Car Infotainment/Telematics System
| Name | Next Generation In-Car Infotainment/Telematics System |
|---|---|
| Short Description | Integrated information and entertainment system for car. |
| What problem is being solved? | Intuitive and useful information provided to the user about current auto status along with integration to entertainment subsystem, potentially with external network to home and Internet services. |
| Skills Required |
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| Suggested Collaborators (if known) |
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| Target and End Market |
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| Time Frame | 24 Months |
| 'Champion' | Name: Robi Karp Company: Fluffy Spider Technologies, www.fluffyspider.com |
| Relevant Grant(s) (if known and if applicable) |
010 Smart Transport and Roads Sensor Project
| Name | Smart Transport and Roads Sensor Project |
|---|---|
| Short Description | Develop an multi-sensor capable of being embedded in traffic lanterns capable of analysing traffic flows for traffic control applications. |
| What problem is being solved? | In road loop detectors don’t supply sufficient information about traffic flows and cameras mounted above traffic light height are expensive to install and maintain. Collection of origin-destination information across a regional traffic network is very costly. |
| Skills Required |
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| Suggested Collaborators (if known) |
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| Target and End Market |
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| Time Frame | 12 Months |
| 'Champion' | Name: Geoff Goeldner Company: NICTA |
| Relevant Grant(s) (if known and if applicable) | Global Opportunities, COMET |
011 Home Management System
| Name | Home device and information management appliance. |
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| Short Description |
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| What problem is being solved? |
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| Skills Required |
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| Target and End Market |
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| Time Frame | |
| 'Champion' | Name: The Warren Centre - Tony Strasser (SKM), Nick Fondas (iTech Corporation) Company: The Warren Centre www.warren.usyd.edu.au |
| Relevant Grant(s) (if known and if applicable) |
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| Commercialisation Considerations (if known) | |
| Key issue / comment |
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012 Dedicated Short Range Communications (DSRC) Platform
| Name | Dedicated Short Range Communications (DSRC) Platform. |
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| Short Description |
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| Features and Options |
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| What problem is being solved? |
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| Skills Required |
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| Stakeholders |
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| Suggested Collaborators (if known) | Stakeholder representatives. |
| Target and End Market |
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| Time Frame |
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| 'Champions' | Name: The Warren Centre - Tony Strasser (SKM); GIC - John Humphreys Company: The Warren Centre www.warren.usyd.edu.au |
| Relevant Grant(s) (if known and if applicable) |
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| Commercialisation Considerations (if known) | |
| Key issue / comment |
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013 Portable Dedicated Short Range Communications (DSRC) Platform
| Name | Portable Dedicated Short Range Communications (DSRC) Platform. [This is a variation on project 'Dedicated Short Range Communications (DSRC) Platform'] |
|---|---|
| Short Description |
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| What problem is being solved? |
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| Skills Required |
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| Stakeholders |
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| Suggested Collaborators (if known) | Stakeholder representatives. |
| Target and End Market |
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| Time Frame |
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| 'Champion' | Name: Stuart Cumming Company: inContact |
| Relevant Grant(s) (if known and if applicable) |
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| Commercialisation Considerations (if known) | |
| Key issue / comment |
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014 The Mesh
| Name | The Mesh |
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| Short Description |
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| What problem is being solved? |
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| Skills Required |
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| Stakeholders |
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| Suggested Collaborators (if known) | Open to suggestions from interested parties. |
| Target and End Market |
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| Time Frame |
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| 'Champion' | Name: Martin Strange Company: Adelaide University |
| Relevant Grant(s) (if known and if applicable) |
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| Commercialisation Considerations (if known) | Since The Mesh is about a universal means of controlling and networking any type of device, market size is unlimited. The challenge is getting acceptance for such a large-scale vision. |
Completed Projects
TruckOn
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The TruckOn proof of concept project was recently completed by a team of ESA partners. We demonstrated how over-height vehicles could be detected and prevented from colliding with overhead infrastructure such as tunnels, overpasses and enclosed bridges. Below are links to the project overview page titled "TruckOn - Overhead Collision Prevention" and to other pages of interest related to TruckOn. |
TruckOn - Overhead Collision Prevention
When an over-height truck collides with a tunnel, overpass or enclosed bridge, everything comes to a grinding halt. This is dangerous for the driver and other road users; costly for the Road Authority and the truck owner; and a major disruption for all road users as they wait for the accident to be cleared. TruckOn is a forward-looking 'proof-of-concept' project to demonstrate how emerging wireless vehicle communication technologies could prevent accidents of this type.
Why bother?
| Did the truck stop? Not this time... |
Collisions between over-height vehicles and infrastructure costs the Roads and Traffic Authority NSW (RTA) millions per year in repairs. There are approximately three collisions with infrastructure per month. Such accidents occur despite the deployment of sophisticated warning systems such as road side electronic ‘variable message’ signs or stop signs projected onto a ‘water curtain’ directly across the path of the vehicle. Drivers may think the message is for another road user, or may think they should be able to squeeze through. Some drivers do not know the height of their truck — particularly if the load determines the height.
How does it work?
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Warnings are regularly ignored: this over-height truck has driven through a stop sign projected onto a water curtain at the entrance to the Sydney Harbour Tunnel.
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When an over-height vehicle breaks a height detection beam our road side control system uses wireless vehicle communications (Dedicated Short Range Communications - DSRC also known as M5) to transmit to all vehicles in the vicinity the GPS location and exact time when the beam was broken. It also sends a ‘map’ of the road ahead that includes: distance to the overhead infrastructure and location of a diversion (if available). Systems on board each vehicle process this information to determine if they were guilty of tripping the detector. The guilty vehicle’s on-board system then begins transmitting its identity, speed and other tracking information to the road side controller. Meanwhile, its on-board system also delivers warnings and advisories to the vehicle driver. These are tailored to the location on the road (e.g. distance to the infrastructure) and to the driver’s response.
If a driver ignores advice to take a diversion or pull over, then, as the distance to the infrastructure decreases, a speed control system progressively slows the vehicle until it halts short of the danger. The speed control is reset automatically by the driver taking a diversion or on remote command from a Transport Management Centre.
The Transport Management Centre is kept informed of vehicles that don’t comply with instructions or that need assistance to safely clear the area.
Future Proofing
| The height of this truck depends on how its crane is stowed. |
The on-board software is envisaged to work on a single common platform that can deliver a wide variety of safety and other useful applications that require Wireless Vehicle Communications via DSRC (and/or 3G) and GPS capabilities. Standardisation that supports this approach is already underway in the USA and Europe and demonstrations (of non over-height applications) have been conducted.
For example, in an Australian truck, the one platform could support, TruckOn, the Intelligent Access Program (IAP), RTA ‘Intelligent Speed Adaptation’ (ISA) systems, Navigation (GPS), Electronic Driver Diaries, Fleet Management, Port Access Scheduling, plus Rail Crossing Safety and other collision prevention applications.
Partners
Embedded Systems Australia industry cluster (www.embeddedsystemsaustralia.com.au) with NICTA’s support, made this project possible by arranging a grant from Industry & Investment NSW, workshops, and project discussions with the RTA. The project was delivered by ESA members NICTA, Braetec, Cohda Wireless, CPE Systems and ResTech.
| From Left: David Haley (Cohda Wireless), Philip Lark (Braetec), Heath Raftery (ResTech), Karina Taylor (CPE Systems), Neil Temperley (NICTA), Peter Stepien (ResTech), Tim Wylie (ResTech). |
| Nima Alam (UNSW). |
| From Left: Stuart Pringle (RTA), Bonnie Chen (RTA), Raed Dabid (RTA), Neil Temperley (NICTA). |
Sponsors and Supporters
This project has been supported by a $100,000 grant from Industry and Investment NSW matched by cash and in-kind resources of the RTA. Microsoft has assisted with sponsorship, and The Warren Centre provided assistance during the project’s inception.
It is a truly collaborative project with all partners contributing significant in-kind support.
Examples
The following scenarios indicate what the driver sees and hears.
| In cabin screen. Above the red line are visuals intended for the driver. Below the red line are the speed limiter simulator and diagnostics, which would normally be hidden from the driver. |
Scenario 1 — Ignore all warnings!
The driver ignores the advisory to take the Diversion (Exit) and proceeds towards the overhead infrastructure.
Visual
There are two different visual symbols when the vehicle is moving: one for ‘upstream’ of the Diversion and a second for ‘downstream’ — when a Diversion option does not exist. When the vehicle is halted, the symbol is replaced with advisory text.
Audio
There are four different audio messages. When travelling slowly, each message is repeated regularly, when travelling fast, a message may be skipped in favour of the most relevant message.
Status
- Upstream Warning — The driver is warned and advised to take the Diversion/Exit. (At high speeds the vehicle is slowed by the speed limiter a small amount to reinforce the warning).
- Downstream Warning — It is now too late to take the Diversion. The driver is now advised to pull over.
- Downstream Safety — The driver has ignored warnings and the danger has increased. The system now progressively slows the vehicle to avoid a collision ahead.
Note: The beginning of the ‘Safety Intervention’ zone is determined by the vehicle type — to give it sufficient room for gradual deceleration to a halt. In this zone the vehicle’s maximum speed is reduced as the distance to the hazard reduces. If the driver still attempts to proceed, the vehicle slows to a halt a preset distance from the infrastructure. - Halted — The vehicle has been slowed to a halt, or the driver has pulled over. Details are provided to the driver on next actions.
- Manual Reset (not shown) — After an RTA road crew has arrived to clear the truck the ‘Transport Management Centre’ issues a Reset command to restore speed control and turn off tracking.
Audio: “Speed control restored. For enquiries phone the RTA on 131 700.”
Scenario 2 — The driver takes the Diversion/Exit
The driver acts on the advice to take the Diversion (Exit).
Status
- Upstream Warning — The driver is warned and advised to take the Diversion/Exit. (At high speeds the vehicle is slowed by the speed limiter a small amount to reinforce the warning).
- Diversion — The system detects that the driver has taken the Diversion.
- Reset — The driver has proceeded along the Diversion out of the area. The system automatically resets; speed control is restored and tracking is turned off.
Enquiries
For enquiries please contact
- Neil Temperley, Neil [dot] Temperley
nicta [dot] com [dot] au, Ph: +61 2 9376 2163 or - Stuart Pringle, Stuart_Pringlerta [dot] nsw [dot] gov [dot] au, Ph: +61 2 8837 0307.
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TruckOn Photo Gallery - Site Setup
We conducted initial trials during May and June 2010 using a Toyota HiLux fitted with a vertical pipe to extend its height. In late June we refitted the equipment to a Mitsuibishi Fuso truck for a stakeholder demonstration dayon 8th July, 2010.
These photos show some of the setup for early trials. The project was a 'proof-of-concept' with all equipment installed on a temporary basis. The equipment does not represent the look of a final product.
We marked out a straight 'road' using witches hats, with an imaginary overhead obstruction (bridge or tunnel) straight ahead. About 2/3 of the way along, we added a side road 'diversion' which led away from the danger. This was the path the driver was advised to take. If the driver did not take the diversion the vehicle was slowed to a halt short of the danger (simulated).
Here is a sattelite view of the test site.
Click on an image below for a larger version and for a slideshow.
TruckOn Photo Gallery - Demonstration Day
Below are photos taken from the TruckOn 'Demonstration Day' on 8th July, 2010.
The TruckOn team provided a live demonstation of the sytem using a Mitsuibishi Fuso truck to RTA, industry and government stakeholders.
Drivers may not know the height of their truck, particularly if the height is determined by the load or a fitted crane. An unstowed crane is a common cause of over-height vehicle collisions. The truck we used for the demonstration had such a crane mounted at its rear. We set up the system such that when the crane was not properly lowered and stowed, the crane arm triggered the over-height detector.
Our guests took turns to ride in the truck and experience the system in action directly. Meanwhile, remaining onlookers heard the in-cabin audio warnings which were wirelessly relayed to road-side speakers.
Click on an image below for a larger version and for a slideshow.
Over-height Vehicle Collision Photo Gallery
Here are some examples (mostly off the web) of over-height vehicles colliding with over-head infrastructure. Sometimes drivers are not fully aware of the height of their vehicles, because the load determines the height.
Warning systems, even sophisticated ones, regularly get ignored.
| Location | When | Comment | Text | Photo/Video |
| Australia, NSW, Burwood | 2010-07-05 | Truck collides with rail bridge. | www.dailytelegraph.com.au | www.dailytelegraph.com.au |
| Australia, NSW, Grafton | 2009-07-22 | Truck collides with rail bridge. | www.smh.com.au www.dailytelegraph.com.au |
www.smh.com.au www.dailytelegraph.com.au |
| Australia, NSW, Grafton | 2010-09-29 | Truck collides with rail bridge. | www.dailyexaminer.com.au | www.dailyexaminer.com.au |
| Australia, NSW, Maitland | 2009-03-05 | Truck collides with pedestrian bridge. | www.smh.com.au currentaffairs.ninemsn.com.au |
www.smh.com.au currentaffairs.ninemsn.com.au |
| Australia, NSW, Sydney, M2 Tunnel | 2008 | Trucks on their way to a collision with a tunnel. | N/A | |
| Australia, NSW, Sydney, M5 Tunnel | 2010-05-08 | Truck's load collides with tunnel. | news.ninemsn.com.au www.news.com.au www.abc.net.au |
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| Australia, NSW, Sydney Airport Tunnel | 2009-03-26 | Truck collides with tunnel. | news.ninemsn.com.au | news.ninemsn.com.au |
| Australia, NSW, Sydney Harbour Tunnel | 2010-01-20 | Truck ignores stop warning projected onto water curtain. | N/A | |
| China | Truck with dump tray raised collides with overpass. | www.telegraph.co.uk | www.telegraph.co.uk | |
| France | Truck collides with tunnel. | www.citizenside.com | www.citizenside.com | |
| Turkey, Istanbul | 2010-01-25 | Truck with dump tray raised collides with pedestrian footbridge. | www.youtube.com | |
| UK, Staffordshire | 2008-11-15 | Truck's load collides with overpass. | www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk | www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk |
| USA, Kansas | 2006-02-14 | Truck's load collides with overpass. | www.slideshare.net | www.slideshare.net |
| Germany? | 2008? | Truck with dump tray raised collides with overpass. | www.youtube.com | |
| USA? | Truck with dump tray raised collides with sign. | failblog.org |  |
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| USA | N/A | Multiple incidents. | www.11foot8.com www.youtube.com |
Wireless Vehicle Communications via DSRC (Dedicated Short Range Communications)
What is Wireless Vehicle Communications via DSRC?
DSRC (Dedicated Short Range Communications) is a technology that enables vehicle to vehicle and vehicle to infrastructure communications in very short time frames (faster than human response). It's primary application is safety, e.g. collision avoidance. In effect it enables vehicles to 'see around corners', over hills and beyond visual obstructions to know all about the movements of surrounding traffic. Each vehicle can 'watch' and communicate with all vehicles for more than 100 m in all directions as well monitor the status of traffic lights, variable speed signs etc. Similarly, it enables infrastructure to know about the traffic and communicate with vehicles.
Intervention to Avoid Accidents
DSRC uses GPS for positioning and can be connected to the vehicle's driving controls (the 'CAN bus') for intervention, e.g. to automatically apply brakes to prevent a collision or to prevent a driver crossing a level crossing when a train is approaching. It is the only wireless technology suitable for applying intervention to prevent accidents.
DSRC Road Map
DSRC has already undergone extensive testing overseas and is on the roadmap for car manufacturers. Australia already has an industry cluster seeking to secure the spectrum for DSRC see www.AusDSRC.com.au.
Why be involved in a DSRC demonstrator project?
Some of the reasons to get involved include the following.
- Strategic planning.
- Early involvement means you get to influence the design and development priorities of DSRC in Australia.
- Publicity as being a forward-thinking company.
- Competitive advantage and experience with an emerging technology.
- Working with government support. The NSW Dept of State and Regional Development has made available $100,000 for a DSRC demonstrator project in Transport and Logistics.
For more information contact Neil Temperley Neil [dot] Temperleynicta [dot] com [dot] au.
One Communications 'Channel' to Rule Them All
There are a variety of wireless technologies that enable, communications with, and tracking of, trucks. Each is usually specifically configured for just one application. DSRC however, is a fundamental part of a broader standards initiative called CALM (Communications, Air-interface, Long and Medium range) which enables interoperability between all forms of communication an operator might make with a truck.
For a properly equipped truck, this provides access to all information of interest via the one communications technology/channel, such as:
- Driver information: name, driver diary, driver behaviour, time until next fatigue stop.
- Load information: goods, condition and destination. The technology could be integrated with a RFID tag attached to a container for example.
- Truck information: location, destination, maintenance status, fuel, efficiency, emissions.
Allows flexible addressing of communications
Examples include:
- Message addressed to the driver of whichever truck is carrying container XXX.
- Message to all trucks of fleet owner XXX which are within 1 km of port YYY.
Acknowledged communications
Every message is acknowledged by the system as having being received.
Applications
DSRC has more than 100 identified applications. While DSRC's primary focus is safety applications, it has many other applications from payment systems, scheduling, finding parking spots to movie downloads. Where necessary it can be combined with mobile phone technologies 3G/HSPA/GPRS for data backhaul to centralised systems.
DSRC 'unlocks' a variety of new applications related to trucks as outlined in the following sections.
Infrastructure Protection
The technology uses intervention to prevent oversize vehicles entering tunnels and overweight vehicles crossing bridges, e.g. driver is warned well in advance and the truck progressively slows as the driver approaches the no-go zone.
Railway Safety
The system prevents trucks crossing level crossings when trains are approaching.
Transit Lane Sharing
The concept it to enable trucks to share lanes with buses such that the buses are not impeded. The trucks are given advisory speeds and told when to temporarily leave the lane.
Port Traffic Management
DSRC is ideal for this. Road side units can address special messages to all trucks in particular zones around the the port and/or to all trucks of a particular company. Integration with electronic tags on containers, e.g. RFID, would enable containers to be tracked and messages to be directed to drivers carrying particular loads.
Emissions and Fuel Reduction
DSRC can reduce stop/start by giving advisory speeds to vehicles approaching red lights or halted traffic. It enables local and city-wide coordination between traffic lights and traffic to minimise emissions.
Infrastructure Usage Pricing
Tolls are applied on location or road usage and or time, e.g. congestion based pricing and the Intelligent Access Program.
Tolling
DSRC is a logical and more flexible replacement for toll tags.
Platooning
Intervention coordinates vehicles to move in very close groups, thus maximising through-put and reducing wind resistance, i.e. reducing fuel consumption.
DSRC Uptake
While DSRC is on the roadmap for many countries and car manufacturers, uptake will be gradual. Furthermore many applications require a high DSRC uptake to be really effective, e.g. collision avoidance. In the meantime there is an excellent opportunity to explore and develop applications tailored to the Australian environment.