A novel physiological index for Driver’s Activation State derived from simulated monotonous driving studies

Automobile driving in monotonous situations such as driving for long periods and/or travelling a familiar route may cause the lowering of the driver’s awareness level or what we term here as a Driver’s Activation State (DAS), resulting in an increased risk of an accident. We propose here to develop means with which to create an in-car environment so as to allow active driving, hopefully thus avoiding potentially dangerous situations. In order ultimately to develop a validated activation method, we firstly set out to examine physiological variables, including cardiovascular parameters, during simulated monotonous driving. Subsequently, we investigated the derivation of a suitable DAS index. During the experiment, a momentary electrical test stimulus of 0.5 s duration was applied at a rate of approximately once per 10 min to the subject’s shoulder to evoke a physiological responses. In 11 healthy male volunteers we successfully monitored physiological variables during the experiment and found particular patterns in the beat-by-beat changes of blood pressure in response to the electrical test stimulus. This finding, explained by autonomic activity balance, suggests that the patterns may be used as an appropriate and practicable index relevant to the Driver’s Activation State.     

Influence of microbubble diameter and distribution on frictional resistance reduction

Investigations into frictional resistance reduction by microbubbles were carried out using a two-dimensional channel. The flow velocity and the amount of air injected were varied, and the frictional resistance reduction was measured. The frictional resistance reduction increased with increasing mean void ratio. When the bubble diameter was changed, the influence on frictional resistance reduction was negligible. The influence of bubble distribution near a wall was also investigated. Although it is thought that the influence of microbubbles near a wall is large, further investigations are required. Received: February 6, 2002 / Accepted: April 30, 2002 Acknowledgments. This research was supported by a special research program of Toyo University, SR239 Research Committee of the Shipbuilding Research Association of Japan, and the Research Project on Smart Control of Turbulence. The authors express their sincere gratitude for these supports. Address correspondence to: H. Kato (kato@eng.toyo.ac.jp)     

导流翼片的倾角和长度在降低大后壁车辆气动阻力中的作用

利用1／16缩比的公共汽车模型及不同倾角和长度的导流翼片，在一带有可移动地面和边界层吸收装置的开放型风洞中进行了在车辆后端面的4边上安装导流翼片时车辆后部尾流区的压强恢复及气动阻力降低的实验。对导流翼片的倾角和长度在降低大后壁车辆气动阻力中的作用及机理进行了研究。找到了能使车辆的气动阻力降低20％左右的导流翼片最佳长度及倾角。     

Similarity of the measured NIC of a BioRID II dummy in car-to-car rear end impact and sled experiments

The Japan New Car Assessment Program (J-NCAP) evaluates the performance of cars in terms of protection against whiplash injuries in rear-end collisions. In the test protocol, a simplified triangular acceleration is applied to the sled. This study clarifies whether biofidelic rear-impact dummy II (BioRID II) measurements obtained for simplified triangular acceleration reflect car-to-car rear-end impacts in real-world accidents in Japan. We conducted a car-to-car rear-end impact experiment and a simplified-triangular-acceleration sled test. Our results indicate that the time series of dummy responses were approximately consistent in the two test conditions. The neck injury criterion (NIC) and maximum acceleration of the head and T1 measured using the BioRID II dummy were similar in the car-to-car and sled experiments. This revealed that the J-NCAP test protocol using simplified triangular acceleration reflects the car-to-car rear-end impact experiment using Japanese cars, in terms of the NIC and maximum acceleration of the head and T1.     

Platoon-based traffic flow model for estimating breakdown probability at single-lane expressway bottlenecks

This study investigates the mechanism of traffic breakdown and establishes a traffic flow model that precisely simulates the stochastic and dynamic processes of traffic flow at a bottleneck. The proposed model contains two models of stochastic processes associated with traffic flow dynamics: a model of platoon formation behind a bottleneck and a model of speed transitions within a platoon. After these proposed models are validated, they are applied to a simple one-way, one-lane expressway section containing a bottleneck, and the stochastic nature of traffic breakdown is demonstrated through theoretical exercises.     

Optimization of the horizontal shape of CO2 injected domain and the depths of release in moving-ship type CO2 ocean sequestration

In moving-ship type CO₂ ocean sequestration, liquid CO₂ is discharged into a domain in a water column. Since the maximum CO₂ concentration that is reached depends on the horizontal shape of the water column and the depths of release, it is very important to optimize these parameters for each injection site in order to minimize the biological impact. We conducted numerical experiments using an offline Oceanic General Circulation Model with a horizontal resolution of 0.1 degree × 0.1 degree. Experiments using a different horizontal site shape show that a site elongated in the meridional direction is effective to reduce the CO₂ concentration. This is because CO₂ has a tendency to be transported in a zonal direction. Optimization of the vertical distribution of CO₂ injections is inherently determined by the balance of the following two factors; (1) dilution effect by eddy activity which decreases with depth, and the (2) predicted no effect concentration (PNEC), a criterion concentration causing no effect on biota, which increases with depth. Based on superposition of simulated CO₂ concentration, we determined the optimized vertical distribution of CO₂ injection which keeps the ratio of a simulated maximum CO₂ concentration to PNEC constant.     

Experimental Study of Effects of Travel Time Distribution Information on Dynamic Route Choice Behavior

This study focuses on the possibility that providing travelers with information on travel time distribution, along with the existing travel time information, might affect their decision making and enhance traffic control. As an initial step to confirm the effectiveness of travel time distribution information, we use a laboratory experiment to obtain panel data of route choices when information is provided. The rationality of the behavior of the respondents and the characteristics of the route choice are first analyzed by aggregation analysis and then statistically examined by specifying a mixed logit route choice model. As a result, it is revealed that both travel time information and maximum travel time information significantly affect route choice behavior when a penalty is imposed for late arrival.     

Reduction in the Head Injury Level due to Junior High School Cyclists Wearing Helmets

We assessed the effect of wearing a junior-high-school helmet when the frontal or lateral part of a helmet impacted the upper part and lower part of the A-pillar of a vehicle at 35 km/h (212 J). The head injury criterions (HICs) of the headform impactor without a helmet were respectively 4530 and 4937. In the case of the headform impactor wearing a junior-high-school helmet, the helmet reduced the HIC by 17.5 % and 9.9 % for impacts of the frontal part of the helmet and by 15.0 % and 4.0 % for impacts of the lateral part of the helmet. We also assessed the effect of wearing a junior-high-school helmet when the frontal part of the helmet impacted a road surface from a height of 1.5 m (66 J). The HIC of the headform impactor without a helmet was 6525. The HIC was reduced by 82.7 % when wearing a junior-high-school helmet. Both experiments show that, under a relatively low impact energy condition such as a road surface impact, wearing a junior-highschool helmet greatly reduces the head injury level. Meanwhile, under a relatively high-impact-energy condition such as impact against an A-pillar, wearing a junior-high-school helmet is ineffective in reducing the head injury level.