Findings from subjective evaluations and driver ratings of vehicle dynamics: steering and handling

This paper investigates subjective assessments (SA) of vehicle handling and steering feel tests, both numerical and verbal, to understand drivers’ use of judgement scales, rating tendencies and spread. Two different test methods are compared: a short multi-vehicle first-impression test with predefined-driving vs the standard extensive single-vehicle free-driving tests, both offering very similar results but with the former saving substantial testing time. Rating repeatability is evaluated by means of a blind test. Key SA questions are identified by numerical subjective assessment autocorrelations and by generating word clouds from the most used terms in verbal assessments, with both methods leading to similar key parameters. The results exposed in this paper enable better understanding of SA, allowing improving the overall subjective testing and evaluation process, and improving the data collection and analysis process needed before identifying correlations between SA and objective metrics.     

Estimating the bus user time benefits of implementing a median busway: Methodology and case study

This paper presents a general framework to estimate the bus user time benefits of a median busway including the effects on travel time and access time. Unlike previous models, we take into account the effects of geometry and the interaction with the demand structure. Models for predicting the bus in-vehicle time benefits of a median dual carriageway busway against mixed traffic condition on 2 and 3 lanes roads are estimated using data from a case study in Santiago (Chile), using a bus travel time model empirically estimated and considering different base case situations, including mixed traffic operations and bus lanes. Results of the application show that the expected in-vehicle time savings of a median busway might be reduced by access time losses due to increased walking distances and road crossing delays. Also, that net time benefits can vary significantly according to the base situation and the structure of demand considered. These findings point out to the need of including a wider set of impacts when studying the benefits of median busways, beyond in-vehicle time savings only. The empirical work presented here is completely based on passive data coming from GPS and smartcards, what makes easier and cheaper to conduct this type of analysis as well as to do it with a comprehensive scope at an early stage of the development of a BRT project. This framework can be extended to other types of dedicated bus lanes provided that a corresponding bus travel time savings model is available.     

Commuters’ behavior towards upgraded bus services in Greater Beirut: Implications for greenhouse gas emissions,social welfare and transport policy

Climate change is one of the most critical environmental challenges faced in the world today. The transportation sector alone contributes to 22% of carbon emissions, of which 80% are contributed by road transportation. In this paper we investigate the potential private car greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction and social welfare gains resulting from upgrading the bus service in the Greater Beirut Area. To this end, a stated preference (SP) survey on mode switching from private car to bus was conducted in this area and analyzed by means of a mixed logit model. We then used the model outputs to simulate aggregate switching behavior in the study area and the attendant welfare and environmental gains and private car GHG emissions reductions under various alternative scenarios of bus service upgrade. We recommend a bundle of realistic bus service improvements in the short term that will result in a reasonable shift to buses and measurable reduction in private car emissions. We argue that such improvements will need to be comprehensive in scope and include both improvements in bus level of service attributes (access/egress time, headway, in-vehicle travel time, and number of transfers) and the provision of amenities, including air-conditioning and Wi-Fi. Moreover, such a service needs to be cheaply priced to achieve reasonably high levels of switching behavior. With a comprehensively overhauled bus service, one would expect that bus ridership would increase for commuting purposes at first, and once the habit for it is formed, for travel purposes other than commuting, hence dramatically broadening the scope of private car GHG emissions reduction. This said, this study demonstrates the limits of focused sectorial policies in targeting and reducing private car GHG emissions, and highlights the need for combining behavioral interventions with other measures, most notably technological innovations, in order for the contribution of this sector to GHG emissions mitigation to be sizable.     

重载铁路调度优化系统内部通信关键问题及算法研究

为研究重载铁路调度优化系统内部通信的关键问题,对调度优化系统内部通信结构和特点进行分析,得出影响通信的关键问题,通过对这些问题进行分析和建模,建立UDP和TCP相结合的总线式通信机制,从而保证系统内部通信的可靠性,满足调度优化系统内部通信的要求。     

某VAN客车空调各出风口出风量分析及优化

以某VAN客车顶置空调风道实体模型为分析对象,模拟了空调风道内部气流分布,分析了空调风道各出风口的风量分配。通过对客调出风口结构的优化,使空调风道各出风口的体积流量趋于均匀,各出风口体积流量标准差、空调风道压力损失有所降低,各项指标得到明显改善,优化效果显著。     

驾驶辅助技术在事故预防中的应用效果

越来越多的车型都搭载了驾驶辅助系统,部分驾驶人对这类系统的实际效果持怀疑态度。本文通过调研国内外相关研究,对几类主流驾驶辅助系统的事故预防效果进行综述。与相同条件下未安装驾驶辅助系统的车辆对比,研究人员发现多数驾驶辅助系统在事故预防方面发挥了明显的作用,降低了相关的事故率、保险索赔率,其中前向和后向的自动紧急制动系统效果最为显著。此外,驾驶人对驾驶辅助系统的接受度以及响应度均会影响事故预防效果。     

Real time detection of driver attention: Emerging solutions based on robust iconic classifiers and dictionary of poses

Real time monitoring of driver attention by computer vision techniques is a key issue in the development of advanced driver assistance systems. While past work mostly focused on structured feature-based approaches, characterized by high computational requirements, emerging technologies based on iconic classifiers recently proved to be good candidates for the implementation of accurate and real-time solutions, characterized by simplicity and automatic fast training stages.In this work the combined use of binary classifiers and iconic data reduction, based on Sanger neural networks, is proposed, detailing critical aspects related to the application of this approach to the specific problem of driving assistance. In particular it is investigated the possibility of a simplified learning stage, based on a small dictionary of poses, that makes the system almost independent from the actual user.On-board experiments demonstrate the effectiveness of the approach, even in case of noise and adverse light conditions. Moreover the system proved unexpected robustness to various categories of users, including people with beard and eyeglasses. Temporal integration of classification results, together with a partial distinction among visual distraction and fatigue effects, make the proposed technology an excellent candidate for the exploration of adaptive and user-centered applications in the automotive field.     

辊压成型设备在客车蒙皮制造中的应用

介绍几种不同结构的辊压成型设备及其在客车蒙皮制造中的应用，以满足客车不同部位蒙皮成型的要求。     

客车底盘纵梁数控冲孔生产线

简要介绍客车底盘纵梁数控冲孔生产线的发展历史与现状；着重介绍SPU12—32-4型汽车U型纵梁三面数控冲孔生产线和SPTB120—10型纵梁数控平板冲孔生产线的特点。