Project ACAS

ACAS = Advanced Cycling Assistant System

Keywords: Autopilot Tech, Cycling Safety, Tangible Interaction (2019)

Overview

In 2016, 18,477 cyclists were injured in reported road accidents, including 3,499 who were killed or seriously injured in UK, and the number has remained high for more than a decade. When the number of deaths and serious injuries is divided by the total number of miles travelled by all people using that form of transport, cyclists are the second most at risk group of road users after motorcycle riders, which is far more higher than car driver.

ACAS is an advanced cycling assistant system helping cyclists building a complete vision of the rear side by employing autopilot techs. By customizing autopilot techs to a reasonable scale and price under the cycling context, the ACAS gets the potential to be wildly used in the current and future AR ear.

Research

To understand what kinds of danger cyclists are facing on the road and contributory factors to that. I did research including: 1. days cycling on the road (experiencing & observation) 2. Talking with experts & technicians in bicycle clubs (stores) 3. Email communication with relevant cycling organizations 4. Read and analyze reports from the government transportation department

Field Research & User Research

Desk Research

Desk Research

Desk Research Conclusion :

1.Pedal cyclists are one of the vulnerable user groups, along with motorcyclists, pedestrians and horse riders. These groups are not protected by a vehicle body in the same way car users are, and tend to be harder for drivers to see on the road. They are, therefore, particularly susceptible to injuries.

2. The most common accident of cycling is collision between cars and cyclists, around 92 percent of all reported cyclist casualties and 75 percent of fatalities involved a collision between a pedal cycle and one motor vehicle.

3. The most common contributory factor assigned to pedal cyclists and motor vehicles was ‘failed to look properly’. This is commonly referred to as the ‘looked but failed to see’ problem in road safety literature.

4. The second most common contributory factor assigned to both pedal cyclists and motor vehicles is ‘failed to judge other person’s path or speed.

5.Cyclists feel safe when they can effectively, clearly and initiatively aware road conditions.

Insight & Objective

Building a system that can help cyclists sensing road condition through an effectively, clearly and initiatively way.

Device 01 - Sensing part

Building a device that can effectively sensing roading condition by borrowing technologies from autopilot.

Existing sensors :

Existing techs :

By analyzing these technologies and sensors used in autopilot industry, Ultrasonic sonic sensor has the most potential to be used to for cycling assistant system although it’s detecting range still validating to be improved.

Sensor test - UPA Ultrasonic

Installation position Test :

The seat post is the best place for installing the sensing part of the ACAS because it is a stable place and there is no obstacle within detection range of the sensor.