An algorithm for combining autonomous vehicles and controlled events in driving simulator experiments

Autonomous vehicles can be used to create realistic simulations of surrounding vehicles in driving simulators. However, the use of autonomous vehicles makes it difficult to ensure reproducibility between subjects. In this paper, an effort is made to solve the problem by combining autonomous vehicles and controlled events. A controlled event can be compared to a theatre play. The aim is to achieve the same initial play conditions for each subject, which can be problematic since the traffic situation around the subject will be dependent upon each subject’s actions while driving in autonomous traffic. This paper presents an algorithm that achieves the transition from autonomous traffic to a predefined start condition for a play. The algorithm has been tested in the Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute (VTI) driving simulator III with promising results. In most of the cases we examined the algorithm could reconstruct the specified start condition and conduct the transition from autonomous to controlled mode in a inconspicuous way. Some problems were observed regarding moving unwanted vehicles away from the closest area around the simulator vehicle, and this part of the algorithm has to be enhanced. The experiment also showed that the subjects drove faster in the presence of controlled everyday life traffic normally used in the VTI driving simulator than in autonomous traffic.     

Eco-driving training of professional bus drivers – Does it work?

The drive to reduce fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions is one shared by both businesses and governments. Although many businesses in the European Union undertake interventions, such as driver training, there is relatively little research which has tested the efficacy of this approach and that which does exist has methodological limitations. One emerging technology employed to deliver eco-driving training is driver training using a simulator. The present study investigated whether bus drivers trained in eco-driving techniques were able to implement this learning in a simulator and whether this training would also transfer into the workplace. A total of 29 bus drivers attended an all-day eco-driving course and their driving was tested using a simulator both before and after the course. A further 18 bus drivers comprised the control group, and they attended first aid courses as well as completing the same simulator drives (before-after training). The bus drivers who were given the eco-driving training significantly improved fuel economy figures in the simulator, while there was no change in fuel economy for the control group. Actual fuel economy figures were also provided by the bus companies immediately before the training, immediately after the training and six months after the training. As expected there were no significant changes in fuel economy for the control group. However, fuel economy for the treatment group improved significantly immediately after the eco-driving training (11.6%) and this improvement was even larger six months after the training (16.9%). This study shows that simulator-based training in eco-driving techniques has the potential to significantly reduce fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions in the road transport sector.     

新加坡C902地铁隧道工程项目6640mm铰接式土压平衡复合盾构的研制

盾构设计的合理性和科学性是盾构设备安全可靠和高效施工的基础。文章通过对新加坡C902地铁隧道工程项目6 640 mm铰接式土压平衡复合盾构的技术研究和工程应用,介绍其设计条件及主要技术参数,着重对该盾构及其相关设备组成部分进行了详细论述。此复合盾构在系统优化及设计理念的先进性上比原先的盾构有很大的提高,尤其是增加了很多人性化的设计。     

Development of a representative urban driving cycle construction methodology for electric vehicles: A case study in Xi’an

This paper develops a systematic and practical construction methodology of a representative urban driving cycle for electric vehicles, taking Xi’an as a case study. The methodology tackles four major tasks: test route selection, vehicle operation data collection, data processing, and driving cycle construction. A qualitative and quantitative comprehensive analysis method is proposed based on a sampling survey and an analytic hierarchy process to design test routes. A hybrid method using a chase car and on-board measurement techniques is employed to collect data. For data processing, the principal component analysis algorithm is used to reduce the dimensions of motion characteristic parameters, and the K-means and support vector machine hybrid algorithm is used to classify the driving segments. The proposed driving cycle construction method is based on the Markov and Monte Carlo simulation method. In this study, relative error, performance value, and speed-acceleration probability distribution are used as decision criteria for selecting the most representative driving cycle. Finally, characteristic parameters, driving range, and energy consumption are compared under different driving cycles.     

两相管流工艺计算软件的研制

利用流体力学理论,结合目前国内外最新的两相流理论和实验研究成果,在描述气液两相管流水力计算、热力计算和流型判断的数学物理模型的基础上,研制出适用于海洋、沙漠、丘陵地区,原油与伴生气、凝析天然气与凝液混合输送工艺的一套新的计算模拟软件TFTCS．对TFTCS的结构、功能、适用范围作了介绍,用该软件对某湿天然气管线进行了模拟计算,同管线生产数据进行了对比,并与国外同类软件PIPEPHASE进行了对比验算。实际应用表明,该软件功能完善、操作方便、计算结果可靠,能满足油气混输管线的设计计算和生产管理的需要。     

Drivers’ ability to learn eco-driving skills; effects on fuel efficient and safe driving behaviour

Whilst driving is inherently a safety–critical task, awareness of fuel-efficient driving techniques has gained popularity in both the public and commercial domains. Green driving, whether motivated by financial or environmental savings, has the potential to reduce the production of greenhouse gases by a significant amount. This paper focusses on the interaction between the driver and their vehicle – what type of eco-driving information is easy to use and learn whilst not compromising safety. A simulator study evaluated both visual and haptic eco-driving feedback systems in the context of hill driving. The ability of drivers to accurately follow the advice, as well as their propensity to prioritise it over safe driving was investigated. We found that any type of eco-driving advice improved performance and whilst continuous real-time visual feedback proved to be the most effective, this modality obviously reduces attention to the forward view and increases subjective workload. On the other hand, the haptic force system had little effect on reported workload, but was less effective that the visual system. A compromise may be a hybrid system that adapts to drivers’ performance on an on-going basis.     

盾构大数据预处理方法研究

在盾构法隧道施工过程中,合理设置盾构机运行参数,确保盾构机能够按照一定速度掘进,是整个工程流程控制中非常重要的工作。针对现有的盾构参数预测方法缺少对数据系统性的分析和处理,导致预测效果不及预期的情况,文章提出了一整套新的数据预处理流程。该流程分为数据分析和数据处理两个阶段,第一阶段通过主成分分析、皮尔森相关性系数分析进行特征筛选,第二阶段通过插值平滑、卷积平滑进行数据平滑。经过这两个阶段的原始数据处理后,能够在盾构产生的海量数据中提取出特征更明显、价值更高的数据。通过选取真实盾构机数据集进行对比实验,结果表明,所提出的数据预处理流程,能够有效提高盾构机参数预测模型的准确率。     

Commuters’ exposure to PM2.5 and CO2 in metro carriages of Shanghai metro system

Air quality inside transportation carriages has become a public concern. A comprehensive measurement campaign was conducted to examine the commuters’ exposure to PM_2.5 (d_p ⩽ 2.5 μm) and CO₂ in Shanghai metro system under different conditions. The PM_2.5 and CO₂ concentrations inside all the measured metro lines were observed at 84 ± 42 μg/m³ and 1253.1 ± 449.1 ppm, respectively. The factors that determine the in-carriage PM_2.5 and CO₂ concentrations were quantitatively investigated. The metro in-carriage PM_2.5 concentrations were significantly affected by the ventilation systems, out-carriage PM_2.5 concentrations and the passenger numbers. The largest in-carriage PM_2.5 and CO₂ concentrations were observed at 132 μg/m³ and 1855.0 ppm inside the carriages equipped with the oldest ventilation systems. The average PM_2.5 and CO₂ concentrations increased by 24.14% and 9.93% as the metro was driven from underground to overground. The average in-carriage PM_2.5 concentrations increased by 17.19% and CO₂ concentration decreased by 16.97% as the metro was driven from urban to the suburban area. It was found that PM_2.5 concentration is proportional to the on-board passenger number at a ratio of 0.4 μg/m³·passenger. A mass-balance model was developed to estimate the in-carriage PM_2.5 concentration under different driving conditions.     

Did Chinese cities that implemented driving restrictions see reductions in PM10?

Imposing driving restrictions is becoming increasingly popular as a policy intended to control urban air pollution. Existing studies on this topic offer highly mixed observations, and each study tends to focus on only one city. In this paper, we used 11 Chinese cities with driving restrictions as the treatment group, and compared them to other cities that did not implement the policy. Based on a propensity score matching and difference-in-difference analysis, we found no evidence of a decrease in PM10 concentrations in cities after they implemented driving restrictions. This finding may be attributed to an increase in the number of cars in these cities after implementing driving restrictions, but we also found no evidence of an improvement in air quality for a given number of cars after implementation of the policies.     

基于驾驶模拟器的通讯软件分心驾驶研究

驾驶车辆时使用手机通话或发短信会损害驾驶表现,但是,很少研究直接比较使用语音消息与文字消息的干扰作用。明确不同次任务对驾驶的影响是立法、车载设备设计和驾驶安全培训的基础。本文以驾驶模拟器与眼动仪为试验平台,比较了语音消息和文字消息对驾驶表现的影响。结果表明,语音消息和文字消息均会导致速度平均值、加速度和跟车距离发生更多变化,降低行车安全性。相较于文字消息,语音消息条件下车辆可以保持较好的横向稳定性与车道保持能力。在视觉行为方面,文字消息和语音消息均会减少驾驶员前方道路注视次数及注视时间,降低驾驶员道路交通信息的获取能力。