Protecting Occupants in Vehicle Rollover Crashes. This project addresses a public health issue involving rollover crashes. It will help prevent 340 deaths, 6000 injuries and save $3.6 billion annually in Australia and many fold this number internationally. A dynamic rollover crashworthiness test protocol, that ensures efficient and economical vehicle rollover protection systems are designed and manufactured, will be provided to consumer and regulatory bodies to consider and implement. In additio ....Protecting Occupants in Vehicle Rollover Crashes. This project addresses a public health issue involving rollover crashes. It will help prevent 340 deaths, 6000 injuries and save $3.6 billion annually in Australia and many fold this number internationally. A dynamic rollover crashworthiness test protocol, that ensures efficient and economical vehicle rollover protection systems are designed and manufactured, will be provided to consumer and regulatory bodies to consider and implement. In addition, much needed Occupational Health & Safety information regarding vehicle rollover crashworthiness, which provide a safe work place environment for professional drivers and employees using vehicles, will be supplied to industry fleet managers, defence and emergency services.Read moreRead less
CoopEcoSafe: a new cooperative, green and safe driving system. Road transport plays a vital role in our economy but generates huge costs in road trauma and greenhouse gases. Eco-driving has been trialed as a cost-effective approach to reducing fuel consumption, but little research has examined its effects on safety. This research brings together disciplines of road safety, psychology and engineering to address the fundamental question: how can mobility be greener while being safer? It develops: ....CoopEcoSafe: a new cooperative, green and safe driving system. Road transport plays a vital role in our economy but generates huge costs in road trauma and greenhouse gases. Eco-driving has been trialed as a cost-effective approach to reducing fuel consumption, but little research has examined its effects on safety. This research brings together disciplines of road safety, psychology and engineering to address the fundamental question: how can mobility be greener while being safer? It develops: a new theoretical model that optimises environmental and safety outcomes; new persuasive in-vehicle Human Machine Interface supported by cooperative Intelligent Transport System; and, comprehensive benefits evaluation. This research will bring major improvements to both road safety and energy use. Read moreRead less
Crashworthiness topology optimisation for light-weight battery compartments. This project uses computational modelling and optimisation methods to the design of battery compartments for electric vehicles. As the use of electric vehicles becomes more extensive, awareness of the consequences of catastrophic failure of high energy battery in a crash has increased. This project will develop novel design methodologies, using multi-disciplinary techniques for battery compartment structure. The methodo ....Crashworthiness topology optimisation for light-weight battery compartments. This project uses computational modelling and optimisation methods to the design of battery compartments for electric vehicles. As the use of electric vehicles becomes more extensive, awareness of the consequences of catastrophic failure of high energy battery in a crash has increased. This project will develop novel design methodologies, using multi-disciplinary techniques for battery compartment structure. The methodology will expand conventional crashworthiness design to the coupled mechanical-electrochemical-thermal problems. The proposed crashworthiness optimisation of battery compartment structure will enhance safety and reliability of electric vehicles, potentially benefiting consumers and manufacturers.Read moreRead less
Innovative X-by-Wire Control Systems for Improved Vehicle Manoeuvrability and Stability. Future automobiles will be equipped with safety-critical ‘x-by-wire’ systems, such as ‘steer-by-wire’, ‘brake-by-wire’, and ‘drive-by-wire’, to enable active safety control and improve reliability and performance. This project aims to develop a new coordinated control strategy based on an in-depth understanding of the fundamental dynamics and stability characteristics of vehicles. Corresponding x-by-wire sys ....Innovative X-by-Wire Control Systems for Improved Vehicle Manoeuvrability and Stability. Future automobiles will be equipped with safety-critical ‘x-by-wire’ systems, such as ‘steer-by-wire’, ‘brake-by-wire’, and ‘drive-by-wire’, to enable active safety control and improve reliability and performance. This project aims to develop a new coordinated control strategy based on an in-depth understanding of the fundamental dynamics and stability characteristics of vehicles. Corresponding x-by-wire systems will then be implemented, using a novel networked bilateral-control concept and new haptic devices for enhancing the overall performance and safety of vehicles. This project will lead to the innovative design of vehicle active safety systems for automobile manufacturing in Australia and the rest of the world.Read moreRead less
Electromagnetically Interconnected Suspension for Electrified Vehicles . This project aims to develop an innovative, electromagnetically interconnected suspension system to enhance vehicle ride comfort, stability and handling dynamics, and thus safety of electrified vehicles. Specifically, the project integrates a set of novel electromagnetic shock absorbers to form an effective electrical network so as to realise an electromagnetically interconnected suspension system. Advanced integrated con ....Electromagnetically Interconnected Suspension for Electrified Vehicles . This project aims to develop an innovative, electromagnetically interconnected suspension system to enhance vehicle ride comfort, stability and handling dynamics, and thus safety of electrified vehicles. Specifically, the project integrates a set of novel electromagnetic shock absorbers to form an effective electrical network so as to realise an electromagnetically interconnected suspension system. Advanced integrated control techniques can then be applied to improve vehicle performance and dynamics in three planes. The project will assist the rapid development of transportation electrification. The outcomes from this project will lead to tangible improvements in vehicle comfort and safety.Read moreRead less
Trustworthy positioning for intelligent transport systems. This project aims to develop a holistic approach for reliable positioning for Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS). This project will address the challenges of integrity monitoring in ITS when using satellite-based technology, its integration with other sensors, and when supported by the proposed Australia National Positioning Infrastructure. It will consider Australian geography, large area, and sparse population, and emphasise rural tra ....Trustworthy positioning for intelligent transport systems. This project aims to develop a holistic approach for reliable positioning for Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS). This project will address the challenges of integrity monitoring in ITS when using satellite-based technology, its integration with other sensors, and when supported by the proposed Australia National Positioning Infrastructure. It will consider Australian geography, large area, and sparse population, and emphasise rural transport. Expected primary outputs include algorithms, a detailed analysis of required systems and recommendations that will help prepare Australia for the importation of self-driving vehicles.Read moreRead less
Investigation into on-road vehicle rollovers using a combined rigid and flexible multibody model. Rollover propensity is one of the major safety indicators of vehicles. In-depth understanding of the causes and mechanisms of vehicle rollovers and the availability of advanced design and simulation tools will greatly assist the automotive industry in improving vehicle safety and consequently enhance the industry's competitiveness in the international marketplace. The developed knowledge would also ....Investigation into on-road vehicle rollovers using a combined rigid and flexible multibody model. Rollover propensity is one of the major safety indicators of vehicles. In-depth understanding of the causes and mechanisms of vehicle rollovers and the availability of advanced design and simulation tools will greatly assist the automotive industry in improving vehicle safety and consequently enhance the industry's competitiveness in the international marketplace. The developed knowledge would also benefit aeronautical, ship building and military industries which are generally well-equipped to absorb new technology and seek a competitive edge. The wide community would benefit by potentially reduced death rates and fatal injuries caused by rollover crashes, and through increased employment in industry. Read moreRead less
Quantitative analysis of dynamic performance of vehicles with uncertain system parameters and road inputs. Ride comfort, road holding and stability of on-road vehicles are not only important quality indicators but major public health and safety issues. To accurately predict and prevent unsafe motions of a vehicle under all circumstances is still a major technological challenge. The research, which aims to develop a novel design theory, presents a significant step forward in tackling the challeng ....Quantitative analysis of dynamic performance of vehicles with uncertain system parameters and road inputs. Ride comfort, road holding and stability of on-road vehicles are not only important quality indicators but major public health and safety issues. To accurately predict and prevent unsafe motions of a vehicle under all circumstances is still a major technological challenge. The research, which aims to develop a novel design theory, presents a significant step forward in tackling the challenge in the quantitative performance analysis of vehicles with various uncertainties. The acquired knowledge will assist engineers in developing safer vehicles and also benefit the aeronautical, military and other transportation industries. The wider community would benefit by potentially reduced death rates and fatal injuries caused by car crashes.Read moreRead less
Demand Dependent Active Suspensions for Preventing Vehicle Rollover. Rollover crashes are a major public safety issue in Australia. Reliable and low cost anti-roll technology and the availability of required design methodology and simulation tools will greatly assist the automotive industry in improving vehicle safety and consequently enhance its competitiveness in the global marketplace. The knowledge acquired from this project would provide an essential theoretical basis for commercialising th ....Demand Dependent Active Suspensions for Preventing Vehicle Rollover. Rollover crashes are a major public safety issue in Australia. Reliable and low cost anti-roll technology and the availability of required design methodology and simulation tools will greatly assist the automotive industry in improving vehicle safety and consequently enhance its competitiveness in the global marketplace. The knowledge acquired from this project would provide an essential theoretical basis for commercialising the proposed suspensions and enhance the exports of Australian car component manufacturers. It would also benefit aeronautical, military and other industries. The wide community would benefit by potentially reduced death rates and fatal injuries caused by rollover crashes, and through increased employment in industry.Read moreRead less
An Innovative Powertrain Architecture and Optimal Energy Management for Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles. Plug-in hybrid electric vehicle technologies will significantly reduce the dependence of vehicles on fossil fuels, thereby reducing their emissions of carbon and other pollutants. The project will produce new knowledge in automotive engineering, software tools for vehicle design and a novel powertrain architecture with key components almost ready for commercial application. The research will ....An Innovative Powertrain Architecture and Optimal Energy Management for Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles. Plug-in hybrid electric vehicle technologies will significantly reduce the dependence of vehicles on fossil fuels, thereby reducing their emissions of carbon and other pollutants. The project will produce new knowledge in automotive engineering, software tools for vehicle design and a novel powertrain architecture with key components almost ready for commercial application. The research will directly contribute to the use of green energy and the reduction of vehicles' harmful environmental impacts. The nation will benefit from new economic activity, such as increased exports of automotive parts and components, and from strengthening its position as a world leader in reducing carbon emissions.Read moreRead less