Evaluation of AEBS Real Life Performance - A Method for Using Limited Log Data Applied on Volvo Trucks

Abstract

Rear end crashes where a Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) drives into another vehicle from the rear can lead to severe or fatal injuries to the occupants in the hit vehicle and often gives long term consequences. Advanced Emergency Braking System (AEBS) is an active safety system for HGVs which is designed to avoid and/or mitigate these kind of crashes and since the 1st of November 2015 it is mandatory for all new HGVs in Europe to be equipped with AEBS. To evaluate the real life performance of AEBS, this project has developed a method which uses a limited set of parameters considered to be logged in all HGVs during normal driving. The method has been tried out on a small dataset of 261 Volvo HGVs with a high number of AEBS brake interventions. The parameters considered for AEBS have been Current date and time, Current odometer value, GPS positions and Duration of intervention and these have also been combined with data considered logged for other safety systems as Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Brake Assist and Driver Alert Support (DAS). Further have information for activation and deactivation of AEBS been considered to find out the level of use of the system. When investigating AEBS activation and deactivation events only, the analysis possible to perform have been very limited but in combination with FCW activation and deactivation information, it have been possible to make estimations of the reasons for deactivation events. The coordinates of the interventions were analysed manually and showed on potential for finding interesting spots but the process needs to be automated and preferably combined with a road database to increase the use. Further have few combined interventions between AEBS and other safety systems been found due to a small dataset and possibly overwritten intervention logs. Recommended further work is to use the method for a large dataset and automate the process of plotting coordinates as well as increasing the number of parameters considered for storing of AEBS interventions.