PROMETHEUS - Design Technics

PROMETHEUS, a Research Cooperation Program, uniting the primary European Automotive Companies, strives to improve Road Safety and Traffic Efficiency by developing appropriate information and communication technology. Industrial Application Projects are designed by the Function Groups, concerned with Driver Assistance by electronics systems and Vehicle to Vehicle and/or Vehicle-to-Infrastructure Communication. We describe the Function Group's activity and analyze the pre-competitive research Design Process for a Cooperative Control application assessed by the corresponding Thematic Working Groups. Such an application is designed along a Top-down approach starting with defining the strategies concepts, a technical baseline, investigating critical areas and technical solutions. For the given application, requirements are analyzed for a Positioning System and a Communication Device. Specifications are determined according to reliability and safety criteria. Reconfigurable simulation software enables the validation of the various technical concepts. It also allows for the testing of driver assessment of the new product in a variety of traffic conditions. Corresponding Common European Demonstrators provide the final tests on test-tracks in real driving conditions. The application design process relies also on Basic Research Groups activities. The underlying standardization follows in cooperation with Governmental and Pan-European Authorities.