Abstracts of Magazine FUJITSU 2008-7 (VOL.59, NO.4)

Special Issue: ITS

• Summary of Special Edition on ITS

ITS stands for "Intelligent Transport Systems" and is field of research and business aiming to provide greater convenience for people by making advances in traffic systems. Such advances are realized by utilizing many technologies that include semiconductors and devices that enable advanced processing onboard vehicles, sensors that enable vehicles to recognize environmental conditions, in-vehicle information processing terminals like car navigation systems, roadside equipment, and a road management center. Based on its actual development of many types of IT equipment and solutions, the Fujitsu Group has been researching, developing, and providing products in a wide area that also includes the ITS field. This paper describes an overview of a highly advanced transportation system as the background of developing ITS and related technologies.

• Transportation Support Systems and Logistics Management

Fujitsu developed an on-board terminal for the truck transport business in 1992 and commercialized daily operation reports with a vehicle speed chart for the first time in Japan. In 2000, we received a type certificate of a digital tachograph authorized by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. Linking operation/vehicle-zone information from the on-board terminal equipped with a standardized GPS receiver to map information on an office PC allows daily reports to be created automatically. The latest operation support systems have significantly contributed to reducing operation costs, enhancing safety, and promoting economic driving practices, as well as improving the work done by transport companies. Logistics management involving retail stores, retail headquarters, and a transport (wholesale) operator has become a key in the physical distribution of commodities to retail stores. This paper introduces the technique of logistics chain management (LCM) for improving business by sharing information among operation support systems. The paper also describes the future image of real-time operation support systems in line with governmental regulation of the truck transport industry.

• Clean Diesel Engine Control Module

This paper describes exhaust gas cleaning technology for diesel engines and the engine control modules (ECM) that realize that technology. An ECM mounted in commercial vehicles must be lightweight and low cost, and its structure conducive to mounting on a chassis. This technology employed for developing the ECM achieves the processing capability to jet high-pressured and fine-grained fuel with accuracy by using common rail and fuel injection technologies, and offers the environmental durability to withstand frame installation work near the engines of small, midsize, and heavy-duty trucks.

• Real-Time Transportation Information System

The real-time transportation information system reports fuel efficiency, driving time, and driving distance. It also reports environmental data regarding CO₂, NOx, and particulate matter (PM) emissions. The system analyzes huge quantities of data on driving operations and useful information collected from vehicle controllers. By using such information, transport companies can advise their employees about fuel-efficient driving (eco-driving). This paper introduces a system that supports transport companies in practicing environment-friendly "eco-driving" and reducing CO₂ emissions.

• Analyzing Actual Situations of Fatal Traffic Accidents

One of the key challenges facing the Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) is to reduce the number of traffic fatalities. Toward that end, it is important to develop systems and estimate efficacy based on the actual situations of fatal traffic accidents. For this reason, using statistical information made available by public organizations is very valuable, and from the standpoint of the development side, such information must be properly arranged. This paper describes the results obtained from a two-year investigation of daily information on traffic accidents. It also cites a case study using this information.

• Virtual Experiment Environment to Evaluate Vehicle-Infrastructure Cooperative Safe Driving Support Systems

Vehicle-infrastructure cooperative safe driving support systems are being developed. Putting such systems to practical use first requires an evaluation of their effects on driving safety. However, restrictions related to safety and cost, as well as technical hurdles, make quick and efficient evaluations difficult based on experiments conducted in the real world. We have therefore developed an environment to evaluate such systems efficiently by conducting virtual experiments in a laboratory. This environment provides virtual driving support services by simulating virtual roadside and onboard systems in real-time synchronization with simulated driving. The subject driver can experience the virtual services as if actually driving on a real road. In this way, we can evaluate the validity of a given system by analyzing driver response and the results of system operation. This paper introduces the virtual experiment environment for evaluating the safe driving support systems.

• Drive Recorder

Annual traffic fatalities have decreased since 1991, although the total numbers of traffic accidents and persons injured each year have continued to increase. It is therefore necessary to analyze the factors leading to traffic accidents and find preventative solutions. In 2005, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism conducted a test to validate drive recorders that can detect accidents or near accidents and record driving data, along with front/rear imagery before and after accidents occur. The results concluded that drive recorders offer three key advantages: promptly processing accident data, reducing the number of accidents, and cutting fuel costs. Consequently, drive recorders are expected to become more popular in the commercial vehicle market, and then spread to the passenger car market in combination with car navigation/car security systems. This paper gives an overview of a newly developed in-vehicle drive recorder and its base equipment, and describes related market trends.

• 76-GHz Millimeter-Wave Radar for Automotive Use

Given the effectiveness of new vehicle control systems including Pre-Crash Safety systems in reducing traffic fatalities or preventing traffic jams, such systems are being examined for reducing collision damage. Systems that detect vehicles and obstacles to the rear and side, as well as ahead have already been marketed, and soon systems that detect objects in all directions will be developed. Such systems employ millimeter-wave radar, given its weather resistance and compact structure. "Long-range radar" offers superior angle accuracy and can measure distance and relative velocity beyond 150 meters. "Compact, short-range radar" is characterized by compact size, wide-angle detection, and high-speed processing. We believe that millimeter-wave radar will find expanded applications in various systems through improved sensing performance and operation in conjunction with various other sensors in the future. This paper introduces some examples of development and describes our future challenges.

• Millimeter-Wave Radar for Detecting Pedestrians

Recently, major advances have been made in vehicle safety systems using information technology (IT), resulting in a significant decrease in traffic fatalities. No safety system is available, however, to specifically protect pedestrians and bicycle riders. Consequently, there is an urgent demand in Japan to put such a safety system to practical use. The Fujitsu Group has been developing millimeter-wave radar since the 1970s and possesses cutting-edge radar technology and the latest detection technology using millimeter waves. We have now developed algorithms to detect pedestrians at road crossings and an advanced millimeter-wave radar for this purpose. This paper gives an overview of the millimeter-wave radar we have developed to detect pedestrians and describes its performance and features. It also describes the radar's application to detecting pedestrians at road crossings and cites specific cases. Lastly, it describes application examples of the radar technology to other systems in the fields of the Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS).

• Pre-Crash Brake System

This paper introduces a so-called pre-crash brake system, "Collision Mitigation brake System (CMS)" that recognizes the risk of collisions early and the role of electronic control unit (ECU) that supports the system. The CMS is one of the pre-crash safety technologies employed for vehicle safety. When installed onboard a vehicle, the system uses millimeter-wave radar to monitor the vehicles ahead. Upon recognizing a risk of collision, the system issues a beeping alarm to alert the driver for braking. Even if the driver fails to steer and brake for avoiding a collision, the system automatically issues brake-system instructions in order to reduce collision speed and mitigate fatal accidents.

• Application of Image Recognition to Visual Assistance for Drivers

Vision systems are expected to play a vital role in intelligent transportation systems for ensuring traffic safety. This paper describes our method of detecting approaching vehicles in a blind-spot monitoring system designed for use at road crossings. This method is intended to enhance such systems by providing visual assistance for recognition by drivers. Our method employs an optical flow technique. In order to detect objects as early as possible, we developed a method of controlling the time difference between two frames subject to optical flow processing for capturing a very slow flow in the far distance. By using experimental video data, we confirmed our method could detect an approaching vehicle object five seconds before reaching that vehicle. We also evaluated the scale of hardware required by our method to process 30 frames of video data per second. As a result, we estimated that the hardware requires about half the size of one frame memory and can be realized without DRAM at low cost.

• Visibility Enhancement Technology for In-Vehicle Cameras

The in-vehicle camera system (IVCS) for monitoring blind spots has recently come into common use. However, pictures taken under adverse backlight conditions and at night often have excessive contrast and insufficient visibility. In order to solve such problems, we developed a visibility enhancement technique. Our original filtering technique effectively expands the reflection component that is important for the recognition of objects, while compressing the less important illumination component, to significantly enhance picture visibility. Real-time processing of the IVCS has also been implemented with a minute processing delay of less than 0.065 millisecond and within a small scale of hardware. This paper describes the principles, features, and the processing performance of our proposed technique.

• Detecting Pedestrian Candidate Regions on Roads Using Symmetry Algorithm

We developed a method of detecting pedestrian candidate regions by applying a symmetry algorithm to images taken by an in-vehicle monocular camera for use as the element technology in a pre-crash safety system. When a stereo camera is used, candidate regions are detected by size using distance information to be provided by stereo matching. Because we use a monocular camera, however, it is difficult to apply similar technology to this method. We therefore focused on most symmetrical shapes of humans and developed a method of detecting the linear symmetry region as the image region that includes pedestrians. Moreover, we developed a method of taking measures to prevent incorrect detection of white lines and the crosswalks. We then confirmed that this method using our monocular camera could accurately detect pedestrian candidate regions on roadways as compared to the saliency algorithm method.

• Detection of Driver Drowsiness Level

It has recently been established that most traffic accidents are due to human error, such as inattentive driving and drowsiness. For this reason, we are studying a technology to monitor drivers based on a frequency analysis of variations in heart rate. We initially focused on the level of driver drowsiness under the category of driver alertness and introduced a method of detecting drowsiness among drivers. By using an electrocardiographic sensor to obtain a heartbeat signal, we can detect the early signs of drowsiness and cope with individual differences through a unique, coordinated analysis of two specific indexes that denote levels of excitement and awareness. An experiment conducted by using a driving simulator verified that our technology helps detect driver drowsiness before a critical situation could occur.

• Advanced Vehicle Positioning Method Using Infrared Beacon

Fujitsu Laboratory developed a novel vehicle positioning method using the existing infrared beacon infrastructure that has been spreading on Japanese roadways. This method can realize measurement accuracy of 40 cm whenever the vehicle passes under an infrared beacon roadside unit. GPS is now a popular means of providing vehicle-positioning systems. When applying GPS to more critical purposes, however, it generally lacks the necessary accuracy and reliability. To solve these problems, we have proposed a new vehicle positioning method using the existing infrared beacon infrastructure. This method is based on the principle of precisely locating optical source of the infrared-rays being received. Moreover, the infrared beacon infrastructure is designed for short-range communication, and thus offers high reliability. It is also easier to estimate the direction of the source of infrared-rays than radio waves since infrared-rays travel in a straight line. Many advanced ITS services and solutions are expected by utilizing this method.

• Wireless Communication Technologies for ITS

Fujitsu is developing a wireless communication system that offers driving safety support services. This system enables cooperation between road infrastructure and vehicles by providing infrastructure information to vehicles from roadside units. Highly reliable, real-time wireless communication services must be made available in multipath fading environments generated by surrounding buildings, vehicles, and other objects. We investigated a Mobile WiMAX-based wireless communication system because Mobile WiMAX adopts OFDM transmission technology that is not vulnerable to multipath fading environments. We also developed a trial system for the UHF band newly assigned by the government for cooperative infrastructure-vehicle systems. Through experiments conducted on public roads utilizing the trial system, we verified that our system fully met the requirements for driving safety support services.

• Action Plan for Metropolitan Expressway Co., Ltd.

It is essential for the maintenance administration of metropolitan expressways to constantly monitor facilities that operate on a 24/7 basis, such as information boards, emergency roadside telephones, traffic congestion measuring devices, and electronic toll collection (ETC). Since the network infrastructure that supports the monitoring of these socially important facilities is obviously essential, there are growing demands for a faster, more reliable network infrastructure in response to the increased amounts of data resulting from advances made in new technology. We extracted the objects of operation, prospects, and costs of road management, and then introduced our action plan for a network infrastructure that fuses existing technology with new technology, reduces operating costs, improves the service level of road monitoring, and can flexibly cope with new types of Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS).

• Development of AVN with One-Seg Service Reception

Fujitsu Ten has developed AVN (a product combining Audio, Visual, and Navigation functions) that incorporates a function for receiving One-Seg service. The One-Seg service is a category of terrestrial digital TV broadcasting services using suitable transmission parameters for mobile reception, such as by in-vehicle systems. We realized AVN with built-in One-Seg service through a compact design, employing a low-IF silicon tuner and multi-function digital signal processors (DSPs). This paper elaborates on the functions and characteristics of AVN products.

• GPS Film Antenna

Fujitsu Ten has developed a new circularly polarized antenna consisting solely of a configuration of linear conductors that can be placed on a plane surface. Already introduced to the market, this new GPS film antenna is designed to adhere to the inner windshield surface. The antenna features a simple structure, consisting of printed linear patterns on single-sided, transparent resin film. It therefore offers the advantage of a much simpler structure than that of a conventional solid patch antenna, and does not impair the aesthetic appearance of vehicles. This structure has opened a new world of possibilities for circularly polarized antennas, offering a wide variety of applications for vehicular use, including ITS-related products. This paper first discusses the basic principles of this antenna in receiving circularly polarized waves. It then describes some special features and performance aspects of the GPS film antenna, while providing other applications based on the principles.

• In-Vehicle Nerve Network: Automotive Network

Fujitsu has developed an automotive network controller for connecting each type of electronic control unit (ECU). Many kinds of information have recently been computerized for automotive application (e.g., body control, safety control, infotainment control information) through networks, thus requiring the best possible network to meet each information requirement. This paper introduces FlexRay, which operates at 10 Mbps with safety network redundancy and conforms to IDB-1394 with SmartCODEC —a compression scheme for transferring certain image data for infotainment networks. These networks are now being discussed at international standardization organizations. Expectations are high for both types of networks to spread worldwide in the near future.

• In-Vehicle Broadband Network Technology with Dedicated Video Codec

In-vehicle information and AV systems now use dedicated cables to transmit video, audio, and control commands. The "ITS Data Bus-1394" (IDB-1394) is the most promising in-vehicle information system network standard for integrating such data transmission. We have developed a new video codec named "SmartCODEC" dedicated to in-vehicle systems and which features high image quality, negligible compression-decompression delay, and low cost. This paper introduces a new form of in-vehicle video transmission technology and describes the industry's first prototypes of in-vehicle real-time multiple video streaming systems using the IDB-1394 controller LSI: MB88388A with built-in SmartCODEC. We verified and confirmed the behavior of actual systems with two kinds of newly developed prototype systems. This paper also outlines this technology that enables advanced in-vehicle information and AV systems to be integrated into a single network.

• Simulator for Automotive Control Development: CRAMAS

The ComputeR Aided Multi-Analysis System (CRAMAS) is an effective tool for control development using simulation technology. Originally developed as the Hardware In the Loop Simulator (HILS) by Fujitsu Ten, CRAMAS can simulate the real-time behavior of an actual vehicle that is the target of control (whereas an engine is the target of engine control). Engineers can use CRAMAS to develop controls without using actual machines and therefore contribute to improving development efficiency. CRAMAS was initially adapted to such power train areas as the engine and transmission, but is now being introduced to wider areas including hybrid vehicles, integrated safety control, and millimeter-wave radars.

• Probe System and ITS Center Concept

Probe car (floating car) systems that regard individual vehicles as moving sensors and provide traffic, weather information, etc. generated from the data collected are attracting much attention. Among the systems realized are primarily probe traffic (congestion) information systems based on vehicle positions, time stamps, etc. The effectiveness of such probe car systems was verified by an extensive experiment (in which we participated) conducted during fiscal 2005 to 2006. Consequently, Fujitsu started activities to launch a business based on a taxi probe traffic information system with certain companies. At the same time, Fujitsu is developing the concept of an ITS center to cooperatively operate with that system. It is also advancing a study on new services with further added value. This paper describes the probe traffic information system and the ITS center concept.

• Study of Driving Safety Support Systems

Given the fact that more than one million people are injured in traffic accidents each year, the National Police Agency is promoting the development of Driving Safety Support Systems (DSSS) to reduce the number of traffic accidents. In cooperation with the National Police Agency, Fujitsu has built two prototypes of a cooperative information system for preventing collisions that may occur when vehicles make right turns as DSSS subsystems to be used in demonstration experiments: the right-turn collision avoidance image provision system that provides MPEG-2 images to the vehicle from a camera located at the closing point, and the right-turn collision avoidance information provision system that provides information to the vehicle from sensors located at the closing point. This paper gives an overview of the experimental system as a prototype and describes the results of experiments conducted on actual roads.

• Policy and Activities about ITS in Japan

Mobility allows humans to pursue economic development and build up a rich, comfortable and convenient society and life. Conversely, being mobile also causes such negative side effects as traffic accidents, congestion, and environmental pollution. Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) adopt information technologies to address these negative aspects and achieve more advanced movement. The 1st ITS World Conference was held in 1994, and Japan launched its national project in 1996. This paper traces the diverse activities of Japan's ITS project from the past to the present (as part of IT new reform strategy) and also describes the country's policy, the activities of each ministry concerned, and cooperative activities.