企業情報VITRONIC Launches ILB Development Project for More Road Safety

VITRONIC has launched a research project in Potsdam with the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and the University of Applied Sciences Potsdam (FH;P). It is funded by the Investment Bank of the State of Brandenburg (ILB).
The project’s aim is to develop the Local Traffic Safety Analyzer (LTSA), which records those known as vulnerable road users (VRU), for example, cyclists and pedestrians, within the road space. In the future, the LTSA will support automated and connected transportation to improve traffic flow and increase traffic safety.

The LTSA is a distributed recording system that uses various sensors in different positions to record complex traffic scenarios. Its objective is to identify and analyze lanes as well as roadside spaces and crossings. This will help to deduce motion paths and messages used to describe the real-time traffic situations road users find themselves in. These messages can be sent and made available to road users.
Two real laboratories in Potsdam are planned as part of the joint project. They will be managed by the Vitronic subsidiary located there. "Real laboratory" are transdisciplinary research and development facilities where science and business partner to create viable solutions.

Real laboratory 1: Traffic in a test tube
Real laboratory 1 is located on the FH;P campus. Its objective is to research the behavior of VRUs using Vitronic sensor systems. With support from FH;P students, scenarios will be recreated and pedestrian and cyclist motion paths will be determined. The findings from real laboratory 1 will then create a basis of research for real laboratory 2, where they will be implemented accordingly.

Real laboratory 2: Use in public spaces
Real laboratory 2 is located at a public crossing in Potsdam. The research findings from real laboratory 1 will be integrated and validated here. In addition, flowing traffic will also be recorded to identify potentially dangerous situations, namely collisions, between various types of road users before they occur. In such cases, warning messages will be made available via WLANp and/or 4G/5G as a way to make affected road users aware of the potential situation. Comprehensive recording of various road users at the test crossing supports optimization of the existing light signaling system control. Recorded traffic data is transmitted to the DLR’s traffic-actuated intelligent signal control system (VITAL). The DLR's VITAL computer processes the data to achieve improved traffic flow at the crossing. This then facilitates, for example, shorter wait times and therefore, reduced exhaust emissions.

Procedures used at the real laboratories are subject to ongoing validation while they are in operation. Research findings will be presented together with the DLR and FH;P soon after project-relevant milestones have been reached.