Award Data

The connected vehicles (CV) program is a DOT initiative that uses dedicated short-range communications (DSRC) to enable safer and greener surface transportation. Ongoing efforts exist to bring motor vehicles and infrastructure onto CV networks, but bicycles have been largely overlooked. Consequently, a significant need exists to bring cyclists onto these networks so other connected entities can be ...

Locomotives weigh up to 240 ton each. Rail cars can weigh from 30 ton (empty) to 140 ton (loaded). Track construction and maintenance equipment, earthmoving plant and haul trucks can all weigh 10’s of tons each. Rail road and yard workers can, literally, be surrounded by these very large, heavy and potentially dangerous pieces of equipment. When a 200-lb worker ‘argues’ with any of these equ ...

In addition to hazards relevant to automobiles, motorcycle riders must remain vigilant for hazards that pose significant danger uniquely to motorcycles, such as uneven terrain, sand/gravel, and potholes. However, there is currently no motorcycle-specific hazard tracking or alerting system available for riders. To address this need, Charles River Analytics executed a successful Phase I effort to de ...

Use of motorcycles helmets significantly reduces the risk of fatality or serious brain injury to riders in the event of a crash, but riders often do not wear helmets in warm weather because of thermal discomfort. We propose to develop an innovative ventilation and cooling system that will maintain a cool, dry environment inside the helmet while also meeting applicable safety standards. The key the ...

The Highway Capacity Software (HCS) has, for the past 10 years, been the principal tool for applying the analysis methods of the Highway Capacity Manual (HCM). The HCS has been DOS-based with a very limited user interface. With a number of new research materials being produced, and an approved plan in place which leads to publication of an HCM 2000 and accompanying software, there is a strong op ...

KaZaK Composites, Kaman Sciences and Dr. Malcolm Ray of the University of Iowa propose to investigate the design of energy absorbing utility poles made from composite materials. This team has considerable experience in the multiple technologies needed to successfully complete the proposed program, including design of high performance composite products for automated production and design, analysi ...

Railroad Freight car safety and maintenance cost is directly related to knowledge of the actual braking force provided by a brake shoe. If the brake force is too low, safety is at risk. If the brake shoe is replaced before the end of it's lifetime to ensure safety, maintenance and thus operating costs are increased. Currently there is no system in place to monitor brake shoe force during train ...

In Phase I, we have developed new pedestrian detection and tracking techniques based on stereo images. Our system comprises a number of key modules including (1) disparity layered thresholding method that can be used to extract the potential pedestrian(s) layer by layer; (2) pedestrian detectiona and discrimination using 3D convex feature that can be used to detect the pedestrian in each disparity ...

Physical Sciences Inc (PSI) is working with the NYSEARCH suborganization of the Northeast Gas Association (NGA) to develop the Proactive Infrasonic Gas Pipeline Evaluation Network (PIGPEN) system to detect and warn of third-party damage before it occurs. PIGPEN uses low frequency seismic/acoustic (0.1 to 100 Hz) sensor technology to proactively detect and warn of unauthorized activity near the un ...

Evaluation of bridges for vulnerability to scour or other potential sources of damage requires knowledge of foundation conditions beneath piers and abutments that are often unknown. INFRASENSE proposed to develop and demonstrate a response-based parameter estimation method (RPEM) which will address the need for a simple, low-cost system for unknown foundation evaluation. The RPEM system is based ...