IMAGinE and Opel: For safer, more cooperative driving in the future

• Under Opel leadership: Vehicle communications project reaches completion
• Since 2016: 12 partners work on development of innovative assistance systems for cooperative driving
• Objective: Safe, accident-free driving through extended interaction among vehicles

Optimisation of traffic flow, the prevention of accidents and safer, more relaxed driving – these are the objectives of IMAGinE 1, a German research project for the automation of intelligent manoeuvres and cooperative risk avoidance in real time that has now reached its successful completion. Under the leadership of Opel and project coordinator Nikolas Wagner, Manager ADAS Innovations from the Technical Center Central Europe at Opel Automobile GmbH, 12 partners from the automobile industry, research and road network operation have been working since September 2016 on the development of innovative assistance systems for the cooperative driving of the future. The developments were then tested in simulations as well as in various real cars, including Opel models. “IMAGinE achieved a milestone on the way to cooperative driving in the future “, said Nikolas Wagner. Frank Jordan, Head of Automotive Research and Advanced Engineering Opel/Stellantis, added: “IMAGinE enables increased safety while simultaneously reducing emissions through networked driving”.

Five research areas for future cooperative driving

Current assistance systems share safety related information with the driver or take immediate action themselves, but the information is hardly ever shared between different vehicles. Challenge for IMAGinE was to improve connections between road users to counteract the risk of accidents effectively and promptly. Project team therefore investigated five subject areas:

1) Cooperative manoeuvre coordination

Coordinated manoeuvre planning was investigated for the first time in IMAGinE. Project team used current technologies such as V2X communication as well as the exchange of communication in simulations and in cars and trucks on proving grounds. Cooperative manoeuvre coordination makes it easier and safer to manage traffic situations.

2) Cooperative environment model

Sensors of individual vehicles are limited by the environment and the prevailing weather conditions. Project therefore created a cooperative environment model, in which the awareness of all road users was increased by the exchange of information via V2X. For example, cars could promptly recognise “hidden” objects thanks to information received via V2X.

3) New communication mechanisms

Project investigated new message formats that can do more than existing V2X communications. Cooperative driving manoeuvres can be coordinated via MCM (Manoeuvre Coordination Message). Also, messages are shared between road users, i.e., IDSM (IMAGinE Driving Strategy Message) and ITDM (IMAGinE Traffic Distribution Message). Latter enables a more efficient traffic flow, which is free of congestion as far as possible.

4) User focused man-machine interaction

Assistance concepts that encourage more cooperative behaviour on the road must be intuitive and easy to understand. According to studies among test participants, acceptance is higher when the displays and controls in the vehicle are designed for the end-user. IMAGinE man-machine interactions were created correspondingly to inform the driver about cooperative driving manoeuvres and to motivate more cooperative behaviour.

5) Environment simulation

As more and more road users cooperate, the exchange and the search for solutions in the whole system becomes increasingly complicated. Participating partners therefore tested the manoeuvre coordination via simulation in every phase of the research project. Cooperative driving functions were finally integrated in ten real test cars, including Opel models, and tested on proving grounds.

[1] IMAGinE = Intelligente Manöver Automatisierung – kooperative Gefahrenvermeidung in Echtzeit