Thomas Edward Pilutti

Computerized Defensive Driving Rules For Highway Maneuvers

A real-time driving software to be installed on vehicles is proposed. The paper discusses a possible approach to this task and investigates the feasibility of its development through use of a simulation. Considering the almost infinite number of possible driving situations, the study has been narrowed to look at the task of merging a vehicle onto a highway. The system assumes that the vehicle and road are equipped with a variety of proximity and environmental sensors. The sensors of the merging vehicle allow real-time detection of movements of other vehicles in the close neighborhood. Based on sensor activity, a rule-based defensive driving algorithm may predict future actions or take an active role in vehicle operation. Simulation results of the merging scenario algorithm and possible applications are provided.