TUM

Researchers at the Technische Universitaet Muenchen (TUM) in Germany have developed a new technology that helps driver assistance systems in cars locate pedestrians and cyclists, even while they are obstructed from view.

The sensor system allows pedestrians’ and cyclists’ cell phones to act as transponders, with on-board GPS in cars computing the projected trajectory of the transponders and initiating an emergency braking sequence when required.

A new approach to distance measurement, the ‘cooperative transponder’ research project, Ko-TAG, has been developed by professor Erwin Biebl and his team.

Using this technique, the distance to an object can be ascertained to an accuracy of a few centimeters within a time of few microseconds.

"We achieved an accuracy in distance measurement of a few centimeters."

In addition, researchers at TUM could also reduce the measurement errors to a few picoseconds.

Professor Biebl said: "We achieved an accuracy in distance measurement of a few centimeters.

"Together with the unique code-based process, this is the explanation for the exceptional performance and an important unique selling point of our system."

Although, small transmitters can be integrated in clothing or school bags, cell phones are more likely to serve as transponders in the future because of their wide usage, according to researchers

The project was funded by the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology.

Project collaborators included The Department of High Frequency Technology at the Technische Universitaet Muenchen, Fraunhofer IIS, BMW Forschung und Technik, Continental Safety Engineering International, Daimler, the Heinrich Hertz Institute of the Fraunhofer Gesellschaft, and the Steinbeis Innovation Center for Embedded Design and Networking.

Image: The new sensor system calculates the distance of an to an accuracy of a few centimeters. Photo: courtesy of Ko-TAG.