PROMOTE-CHAUFFEUR II & 5.8 GHz vehicle to vehicle communications system

The European Commission (EC) Information Society Technologies (IST) Programme PROMOTE-CHAUFFEUR II (2000) builds on the previously implemented and demonstrated CHAUFFEUR I Tow-Bar function. It substantially widens applications by offering innovative truck platoon capabilities and driver assistant functions. Platoon strategies are in the process of being transferred to the demonstration vehicles and concepts for platoon driving are being developed. The innovative communication concept for platoon vehicle-to-vehicle communication (VVC) is also being developed together with a safety concept. A three truck platoon is being realised and demonstrated on test tracks. As an add-on to the Tow-Bar function, the CHAUFFEUR Assistant will allow the following of any other truck and reduce drivers' workload. The functions can be described as a combination of adaptive cruise control (ACC) and lane keeping (LK). Advanced vision sensors and vehicle control features such as brake performance estimation will be added. Public demonstrations will be done on test tracks and real life traffic environments. The technical developments are complemented by horizontal support functions ranging from human machine interface (HMI) work, operational scenarios, cost benefit analyses, system evaluations and simulations and legal implications.