Crash Compatibility of Automated Vehicles with Passenger Vehicles

Abstract

Automated Vehicles have been one of the most sought-after concepts to make transportation more effective and safer. One such class of vehicles is the no-occupant vehicles with automated driving systems (ADS), which are primarily intended for goods transportation services. This vehicle class presents a body structure different than that of a passenger vehicle. Yet, these no-occupant automated vehicles are sharing the roads and could potentially be involved in crashes with passenger vehicles. Occupant safety can be compromised if vehicles are not compatible from a crashworthiness perspective. ADSs vehicles should consider appropriate vehicle crashworthiness compatibility given the potential for interactions with vulnerable road users and other vehicle types. Investigation of the level of automated vehicle crashworthiness compatibility with human-driven vehicles can lead to more appropriate vehicle designs, as well as more suitable and better passive protection systems for occupants in such crash scenarios. This research project considers finite element crash computer simulation investigation between ADS and passenger vehicles with the intent to provide a better understanding of the differences in crashworthy behavior of ADS vehicles.