XCYCLE – Reducing cyclist accidents at urban junctions

The aim of the EU XCYCLE project is to achieve improved safety and comfort for cyclists through innovative solutions.

The focus of the project XCYCLE is on collision scenarios involving trucks turning right with cyclists having right of way at a complex urban junction. This scenario continues to be one of the highest risk situations in current traffic. In XCYCLE, a cooperative demonstrator will be set up for this application case. It will allow new forms of assistance by intelligently networking vehicles, cyclists and smart infrastructure.

The DLR’s role in the EU XCYCLE project is the usage and implementation of wireless communication and designing a situation detection and interpretation system from the viewpoint of smart infrastructure. To achieve this, a demonstrator is set up in test field AIM (Application Platform for Intelligent Mobility). This will utilise the AIM Research Intersection and the AIM Reference Track for data capture and communication. The AIM Research Intersection at the Braunschweig city ring road records high resolution trajectories of traffic objects and processes them in real time. The system was expanded with specific measurement systems for XCYCLE. These sensors focus on measuring the relevant lane areas and conflict zones. The detected objects are classified (e.g. bicycles, cars, trucks) and their details such as position, speed and acceleration are recorded.

The trajectory data provides insights into when critical situations took place and how they occurred. The aim of this work is to develop an understanding of patterns and interactions in order to predict potential conflicts and to send a warning to those involved. For example, a truck driver could have a display which shows the position of a cyclist in order to avoid an oversight. Even active interventions such as emergency braking are possibilities. Cyclists could also receive information about dangerous traffic conditions. One example would be a display unit fitted to the truck or bicycle itself. Investigations are also looking into whether active signage at the crossing could help. The results of the work will be visualised in a final demonstration during which different technical variants of the outlined cooperative system combination are set up, demonstrated and evaluated.

Project title and website:
XCYCLE – Advanced measures to reduce cyclists' fatalities and increase comfort in the interaction with motorised vehicles

Duration:
06/2015 to 11/2018

Contracting authority:
European Commission (Horizon 2020 – MG3.4)

Project coordinator:
University of Bologna

Project participants:
University of Leeds
Volvo Technology
German Aerospace Center (DLR) - Institute of Transportation Systems
University of Groningen
VTI
Dynniq B.V.
KITE Solutions
Jenoptik Robot

This project is managed by the department:

Research Information Flow Modeling in Mobility Systems

The department conducts research on the informational foundations for the design of future mobility, with a view to all stakeholders – people, technical systems and services. Here, scientists develop methods for determining information needs, modeling information flows, and designing innovative solutions for digital, automated, and connected mobility systems based on this information.

Contact

Dr. Caroline Schießl

Head of Department
German Aerospace Center (DLR)
Institute of Transportation Systems
Information Flow Modeling in Mobility Systems
Lilienthalplatz 7, 38108 Braunschweig