Some factors affecting motorcyclists' conspicuity

Three experiments examined some of the factors that might affect motorcyclists' conspicuity to other road users. In each case, subjects saw a sequence of slides showing traffic, some of which contained a motorcyclist. A record was taken of their reaction times to decide whether or not a motorcyclist was present in each slide. Experiments 1 and 2 examined the effects on conspicuity of headlight use, type of clothing, distance of motorcyclist from viewer, and driving situation (urban or semi-rural). Experiment 3 looked more closely at environmental influences on motorcyclist conspicuity, systematically varying the level of background ‘clutter’ behind the motorcyclist. All three experiments indicate that the effectiveness of the conspicuity aids used, especially clothing, may depend on the situation in which the motorcyclist was located: bright clothing and headlight use may not be infallible aids to conspicuity. Brightness contrast between the motorcyclist and the surroundings may be more important as a determinant of conspicuity than the motorcyclist's brightness per se. Motorcyclists' conspicuity is a more complex issue than has hitherto been acknowledged.     

基于Fuzzy-PI控制的测试负荷力仿真系统

介绍了在电动灯光距离调节器（调光马达）综合性能参数的自动测试系统中应用精密FUZZY－PI实现模拟负载仿真的一种控制方案，具体分析了系统结构、硬件和软件设计。采用步进电机对精密负荷力进行控制加载，结合模糊控制和PI控制，构造了全数字化的仿真加载系统。现场调试和运行结果表明，该方案具有控制精度高、动态响应好、振荡小、可靠性高和抗干扰能力强等的特点。     

The influence of perceptual ‘set’ on the detection of motorcyclists using daytime headlights

Abstract

Voluntary daytime headlight use by the majority of motorcyclists might endanger those not using lights: it has been suggested that drivers might scan for lights rather than for motorcyclists per se. Two experiments are described that attempted to investigate this issue in the laboratory. Subjects had to decide as rapidly as possible whether or not a motorcyclist was present in each of a series of slides depicting traffic. Experiment 1 showed that headlight-using motorcyclists were more quickly detected than unlit motorcyclists, especially when they were far away. However, repeated exposure to headlight-using motorcyclists significantly delayed detection of an unlit motorcyclist. Experiment 2 showed that this delayed-detection effect occurred when only 60% of the motorcyclists shown were using their headlight. Under laboratory conditions, at least, subjects readily appear to develop a 'set’ for responding on the basis of headlight-use, even when this is an unreliable guide to the motorcyclists’ presence.     

Improving motorcycle conspicuity through innovative headlight configurations

Most motorcycle crashes involve another vehicle that violated the motorcycle's right-of-way at an intersection. Two kinds of perceptual failures of other road users are often the cause of such accidents: motorcycle-detection failures and motion-perception errors. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of different headlight configurations on motorcycle detectability when the motorcycle is in visual competition with cars. Three innovative headlight configurations were tested: (1) standard yellow (central yellow headlight), (2) vertical white (one white light on the motorcyclist’s helmet and two white lights on the fork in addition to the central white headlight), and (3) vertical yellow (same configuration as (2) with yellow lights instead of white). These three headlight configurations were evaluated in comparison to the standard configuration (central white headlight) in three environments containing visual distractors formed by car lights: (1) daytime running lights (DRLs), (2) low beams, or (3) DRLs and low beams. Video clips of computer-generated traffic situations were displayed briefly (250 ms) to 57 drivers. The results revealed a beneficial effect of standard yellow configuration and the vertical yellow configuration on motorcycle detectability. However, this effect was modulated by the car-DRL environment. Findings and practical recommendations are discussed with regard to possible applications for motorcycles.     

机车前照灯自动转向装置的设计与研制

前照灯是保证机车安全运行的重要电气设备之一。本文提出了机车前照灯自动转向装置的设计方案，着重分析了其硬件构成及工作原理。     

Influence of front light configuration on the visual conspicuity of motorcycles

A recent study (Cavallo and Pinto, 2012) showed that daytime running lights (DRLs) on cars create “visual noise” that interferes with the lighting of motorcycles and affects their visual conspicuity. In the present experiment, we tested three conspicuity enhancements designed to improve motorcycle detectability in a car-DRL environment: a triangle configuration (a central headlight plus two lights located on the rearview mirrors), a helmet configuration (a light located on the motorcyclist's helmet in addition to the central headlight), and a single central yellow headlight. These three front-light configurations were evaluated in comparison to the standard configuration (a single central white headlight). Photographs representing complex urban traffic scenes were presented briefly (for 250 ms). The results revealed better motorcycle-detection performance for both the yellow headlight and the helmet configuration than for the standard configuration. The findings suggest some avenues for defining a new visual signature for motorcycles in car-DRL environments.     

汽车大灯调节器加载测试系统的设计

为实现对汽车大灯调节器模拟负载以及夹爪位置的精确控制,设计了一种直线式力加载的测试系统。该系统以STM32F103微处理器为控制核心,交流伺服电机作为加载装置,设计了机械结构,信号调理电路,RS232、RS485通讯电路,伺服电机驱动电路等硬件部分。在加载系统中,采用模糊PID算法解决加载过程中多余力和位置干扰等因素的影响,以及调节速度快、超调小难以兼得的问题。实验结果表明:该加载系统能够精确控制模拟负载大小以及夹爪位置,在设置负载(10~100)N,夹爪位置(0~10)cm,满足负载精度5%,夹爪位置精度0.5%。     

全自动前照灯检测仪的研制

本文介绍了单片机最小控制系统，它实现了前照灯检测仪从半自动向全自动的转变。     

多曲面汽车前照灯反射器的设计

多曲面汽车前照灯在现代汽车中获得了广泛的应用,其反射器的设计一直是一个难点。文章详细介绍了多曲面汽车前照灯的设计步骤和技巧,有助于提高多曲面前照灯的设计效率。     

前照灯调节器自动测试技术研究与实现

针对前照灯调节器的检测项目繁多、人工操作不便的情况，研发了基于STM32F103VB微控制器的汽车前照灯调节器自动测试系统。控制系统采用上下位机相结合的控制方式，实现了在人机界面上直接显示调节器的实时控制电压、电流、位移等曲线，提高了生产测试的自动化程度，提高了工人的劳动效率。