Vehicle-Infrastructure Integrated Approach for Pedestrian Detection: Feasibility Study Based on Experimental Transit Vehicle Platforms

Pedestrian safety is a primary concern in transportation, especially in an urban environment. A variety of technologies, either infrastructure-based or vehicle-based, have evolved and emerged in recent years that offer promising prospects for detecting pedestrians. The sensing technologies can be utilized in the implementation of pedestrian collision warning systems. In these systems, timely warning signals are provided to subject vehicle drivers to avoid collisions. However, the complexity of operating environment on roadways and the limitations inherent in individual sensing devices present significant challenges in achieving reliable and all-situation performance of many safety systems, especially for vehicle-based solutions. Besides seeking an enhanced onboard vehicle-based solution, an approach based on vehicle-infrastructure integration has now emerged as a powerful alternative. This paper describes the rationale for such an approach as well as the configuration of an experimental system for feasibility evaluation. An experimental transit platform is highlighted as a candidate for the proposed solutions, although the discussed approach is applicable to all vehicle platforms.