The development of a driver vision support system using far infrared technology: progress to date on the DARWIN project

This paper describes the progress of research currently being carried out by the "DARWIN" (driving in adverse weather and visibility conditions) project. The project involves the design, development and evaluation of a far infrared vision-support system, based on a head-down virtual image display, that can help drivers, in conditions of reduced visibility, to detect vehicles and other objects in the road ahead. Human factors evaluations carried out using a driving simulator and a mock-up of the system's display show a high level of user acceptance and a consistent tendency among volunteer test subjects to leave a greater gap to the vehicle in front when driving with the system on.