CATS: Cyclist-AEB Testing System development

To protect VRU in accidents with cars, active systems are being developed and deployed that aim at collision avoidance & mitigation.  With sensors such as camera and radar, a real-time estimate is made of the current traffic situation, and the risk of running into a collision with other traffic participants is continuously calculated, in order to determine appropriate action.

Such  Autonomous  Emergency Braking (AEB) systems support the driver with an audio-visual-haptic warning and by automated braking to avoid or mitigate imminent crashes. In 2016, Euro NCAP made Pedestrian-AEB part of their test protocol and star rating. Euro NCAP intends to include Cyclist-AEB systems in the safety assessment from 2018. To further develop a testing system for Cyclist-AEB systems a consortium was initiated, called CATS (Cyclist-AEB Testing System). TNO lead the CATS consortium consisting of various OEMs, TIER1s, and additional industry partners.

Project objective and timing

The objective of the CATS consortium was to develop a testing system for Cyclist-AEB:

• Prepare the introduction of an Cyclist-AEB protocol for consumer tests.
• Propose a test setup (incl. hardware) and test protocol for Cyclist-AEB systems based on technical/scientific considerations.
• Base the tests on analysis of most relevant cyclist accident scenarios in EU countries.

The CATS project started in 2014 Q2, and was concluded in 2016 Q2.

Project activities

• WP1 Accident Analysis
  • Analysis of cyclist to car accident scenarios in EU (with a focus on DE, NL, SE, FR, IT & UK), with focus on killed and severely injured.
  • Selection of the most relevant accident scenarios for test protocol development.
• WP2 Test scenario definition
  • Determination of scenario parameters based on literature, accidentology and real life measurements
  • Definition of most relevant test scenarios
• WP3 Dummy development
  • Development of representative cyclist and bicycle dummy (using pedestrian dummy as basis) taking dummy characteristics for relevant sensor systems, crashworthiness and stability into account.
• WP4 Propulsion system development
  • Development of a propulsion system for cyclist AEB test scenarios as defined in WP2
• WP5 Verification
  • Verification draft protocol by TNO and all participants in CATS
• WP6 Dissemination
  • Dissemination of results