Volpe develops and applies objective test procedures and specialized measurement capabilities for new technologies, typically in conjunction with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Vehicle Research and Test Center. This objective testing can provide the basis for future rulemaking and helps deploy effective crash avoidance systems.

The Challenge

Performance-based test procedures are needed to evaluate prototype systems built by different carmakers and aftermarket system developers alike—irrespective of the underlying technologies. Objective testing enables the assessment of the maturity and capability of prototype systems, and generates data to help estimate potential safety benefits. 

The Solution

Volpe’s research involves the following:

• Planning, development, and implementation of objective test procedures
• Development of instrumentation and data acquisition systems
• Accurate measurement of positioning performance to ±2 centimeters
• Analysis and verification of vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication messages
• Assessment of system capability based on evaluation of objective test data
• Acceptance testing of government-purchased crash avoidance technologies

The Impact

• Volpe’s objective assessment of technologies can serve as the basis for future regulations.
• Volpe’s work also enables the deployment of effective V2V-based crash avoidance products that can potentially prevent about 4.5 million crashes annually.