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Watch our webinar here

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The Multi Car Collision Avoidance (MuCCA) Research & Development project final showcase webinar took place on the 19th March 2020. The recording includes presentations from the Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CCAV) and the MuCCA consortium including, Applus Idiada, Connected Places Catapult, Cosworth Electronics, SBD Automotive, Cranfield University and Westfield Sportscars. The webinar also showcased the first view of the final demonstration video. Finally the webinar finished with a Q&A to the consortium from the audience.

 

If you missed the webinar or would like to review it again please click here.

Connected vehicle project could end motorway pileups

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A pioneering project has developed technology that could radically reduce the number of multi-vehicle collisions on motorways. The Multi-Car Collision Avoidance (MuCCA) research and development project, has used artificial intelligence (AI) and vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communications to instruct autonomous vehicles to cooperatively make decisions to avoid potential incidents.

 

The project, funded by Innovate UK and the Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CCAV), and delivered by a consortium led by Applus IDIADA with Cranfield University, Westfield Sports Cars, Cosworth, SBD Automotive and Connected Places Catapult, has seen MuCCA equipped vehicles successfully complete replicas of real-life UK motorway scenarios on test tracks. When the technology in the vehicles detects an incident, the cars share information by radio links, and the on-board computers calculate the best manoeuvres to avoid the obstacles and then safely steer the agreed path to avoid an accident. The MuCCA equipped vehicles also avoid each other and remove the need to brake suddenly – which may have caused vehicles behind to drive into them.

 

Connected and autonomous vehicles (CAVs) are expected to become increasingly common on our roads within the next 10 years, there will however be many non-autonomous ‘human driven’ vehicles that will remain for the foreseeable future. In this near future scenario, MuCCA equipped vehicles could take on the added complexity of anticipating the likely behaviour of any human drivers in the vicinity of an incident.

 

Although the UK has some of the safest roads in the world, around 4,500 accidents still happen on UK motorways each year, contributing to 1,700 annual deaths and over 22,000 serious injuries[1]. Incidents on the motorway network also cause delays and congestions which can have a serious economic impact on UK businesses, costing around £8 billion a year according to estimates. MuCCA technology has the potential to significantly reduce these.

 

Rachel Maclean MP, Minister of Transport, Department of Transport said: “The potential of self-driving vehicle technology is unprecedented and could help to level up transport across the nation by making every day journeys greener, safer, more flexible and more reliable.

The MuCCA project is yet further proof of the UK leading the way in the safe and secure development of self-driving vehicle technology.”

 

Charlie Wartnaby, Technical Lead, Applus IDIADA UK said: The MuCCA project has delivered a world first, achieving collective collision avoidance behaviour between real cars, in a clear demonstration of fully automated cooperative control mediated by vehicle-to-vehicle radio. Combining connectivity and automated driving like this has applications beyond the valuable emergency role proven here to more general cooperative vehicle movement, promising enhanced safety and efficiency on our roads in future. This places the UK at the commercial forefront of driving technology that will benefit all of society.

 

Find out how we got on with our final demonstration here

 

Note to Editors

 

Cost of congestion to the UK can be found in the Inrix Traffic core card:

https://inrix.com/press-releases/scorecard-2018-uk/

[1] DfT Annual Report 2018

 

 

Additional Quotes from MuCCA Consortium

 

Guillermo Tejera, Lead Project Manager and Senior Engineer, Applus IDIADA said:

“From concept definition to the final trials and demonstrations, the MuCCA project has successfully combined the joint effort of an outstanding consortium to develop a next-generation driver aid. After two and a half years of development and testing, a genuine concept that integrates the latest technologies has proven the principle of reducing car accidents using automated and leaderless cooperation between vehicles.”

 

Nicola Yates OBE, Connected Places Catapult CEO said:

“The MuCCA project has realised one of the most talked about aspects of connected and automated vehicle technology, safety. Connected Places Catapult is proud to have used our extensive experience with autonomous technology, to support the world leading consortium incorporating large organisations, SMEs and academia, to develop a ground-breaking system and establish the UK as a global leader of vehicle-to-vehicle connected safety solutions.”

 

Ross Walker, Research Fellow/Engineer in Autonomous Cars in the Signals and Autonomy Group in the Centre for Electronic Warfare Information and Cyber at Cranfield University, said:

“The scope of MuCCA is vital for safe future transportation systems and so we’re thrilled to be part of the project. The University is a pioneer in connected and autonomous vehicle engineering, and we were able to develop computer algorithms that help the cars to react in a more human-like way when avoiding collisions. This can allow any potential accidents to be recognised in advance, and consequently avoided before they have chance to begin developing.”

 

Icaro Bezerra-Viana, Research Fellow in Autonomous Cars in the Signals and Autonomy Group in the Centre for Electronic Warfare Information and Cyber at Cranfield University, said:

“Computer simulations enabled us to model how human drivers behave on motorways, and how the proximity of surrounding cars influences their behaviour. The movement of the cars that surround a vehicle over the next few seconds can then be predicted in order to avoid a collision. Being part of the MuCCA consortium and working with partners has enabled us to learn more technically and work together to find the most appropriate solutions.”

 

Tom Buckler, Managing Director, Cosworth Electronics said:

“We are proud to be a partner in the pioneering MuCCA project, which has provided the opportunity for Cosworth to extend our advanced electronics and data analytics technologies into the LiDAR and machine vision systems space for autonomous vehicles. It is great to see how the project has come together to lay out the roadmap for the future of mobility.”

 

Julian Turner, CEO, Westfield Sports Cars said:

‘The MuCCA project provides a unique perspective into the importance of emerging technologies, such as vehicle to vehicle communication, role in the future of Connected Autonomous Vehicles motorway deployments.’’

 

Luigi Bisbiglia, Business Development Manager, SBD Automotive said:

“In a project like MuCCA, it is important to think about the cyber threats. For example, how to prevent malicious spoofing interfering with vehicle controls, whilst allowing genuine co-operating “stranger” vehicles to influence control. SBD identified the “bad actors” who may have an interest in attacking V2X systems, and the elements of the system they might try to attack, allowing us to propose a number of cyber security features that will make the system more secure. As experts in connected and autonomous vehicles, our involvement in MuCCA allows us to further differentiate our services from the mass market of generic pen testing companies.

 

Consortium Partners Overview & Communications Contact 

 

Media Enquiries

Stephen Lynn
Connected Places Catapult

Stephen.Lynn@cp.catapult.org.uk

+44 7496 437907

Natasha Moore

Connected Places Catapult

Natasha.moore@cp.catapult.org.uk

+44 7741 165015

 

About Applus+ IDIADA

Applus IDIADA is a global partner to the automotive industry with over 30 years’ experience supporting its clients in product development activities by providing design, engineering, testing and homologation services. IDIADA’s success in product development is built on a unique blend of highly experienced engineers, state-of-the-art test and development facilities and the constant drive towards innovation. The company has more than 2.750 professionals and an international network of subsidiaries and branch offices in 24 countries, ensuring its clients receive customized added-value solutions.

 

About Cranfield University

Cranfield is a specialist postgraduate university that is a global leader for education and transformational research in technology and management. Cranfield has over 60 years’ experience in transport, including the aviation, automotive, motorsport, military and marine sectors. Our Multi-User Environment for Autonomous Vehicle Innovation is a £9 million ‘smart’ roadway test environment for the development of intelligent and autonomous vehicles, the first of its kind in the UK next to an airport and within the controlled setting of a university campus. It includes the associated systems needed to integrate emerging technologies into our day-to-day lives. Cranfield University is working at the forefront of research and teaching in motorsport, automotive engineering and mechatronics. Courses include the Automotive Mechatronics MSc, the Automotive Engineering MSc, and the new Connected and Autonomous Vehicle Engineering (Automotive) MSc. https://www.cranfield.ac.uk/themes/transport-systems/courses

www.cranfield.ac.uk/transportsystems

@CranfieldUni

 

About Connected Places Catapult

The Connected Places Catapult accelerates smarter living and travelling in and between the places of tomorrow. We focus on growing businesses with innovations in mobility services and the built environment that enable new levels of physical, digital and social connectedness. The Connected Places Catapult operates at the intersection between public and private sectors and between local government and transport authorities. We convene the disparate parts of the market to help innovators navigate the complexity of doing business, creating new commercial opportunities and improving productivity, socio-economic and environmental benefits for places. Visit cp.catapult.org.uk for more information.

 

About Cosworth

Cosworth has used the rigours of motorsport to transform itself into a growing and profitable Tier 1 supplier to automotive manufacturers. The company’s unparalleled capabilities in powertrain and performance electronics have been honed from six decades at the very pinnacle of automotive engineering. In response to the significant advances in the automotive and motorsport landscape, Cosworth has always sought to develop technologies to meet ever-evolving demands from its customers. Whether it is through propulsion, hybridisation, connectivity or automation technology, Cosworth is ready to solve the new challenges on the road, racetrack and in the air with the mobility solutions of the future.

 

About SBD Automotive

SBD Automotive is a global consultancy firm specialising in automotive technologies. For over 20 years, our independent research, insight, and consultancy has been helping vehicle manufacturers and their partners to create smarter, more secure, better connected, and increasingly autonomous cars.  Having built a reputation for robust data and expert advice, as well as an ability to attract and retain the industry’s most talented specialists, SBD Automotive recently received the Queen’s Award for Enterprise – a much-coveted award for outstanding achievement by UK companies. If you would like to learn more, please visit www.sbdautomotive.com

 

About Westfield

Westfield Technology Group is the UK’s leading autonomous vehicle provider. Globally we are known for our niche sports cars with over 20,000 sold worldwide. Westfield were the first niche vehicle company in the UK to obtain European Small Series Type Approval for its vehicles, processes and premises. The Westfield POD is the UK’s first fully autonomous vehicle for first mile – last mile transportation. The POD has been developed in conjunction with Heathrow Airport and utilises the base technology platform from the work completed by ULTra PRT (Personal Rapid Transit).

 

About CCAV

The Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles is a joint BEIS and DfT unit that seeks to keep the UK at the forefront of the development and deployment of connected and self-driving vehicles through policy development, regulatory reform and joint investment with industry into R&D and testing facilities.

 

About Innovate UK

Innovate UK is part of UK Research and Innovation, a non-departmental public body funded by a grant-in-aid from the UK government

 

 

Is MuCCA leading the pack for collaborative, collision avoiding technology?

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By Stuart Rowell, Principal Technologist, Connected Places Catapult

 

The MuCCA (Multi-Car Collision Avoidance) project has a grand aim; using connectivity and autonomy to avoid (or minimise) damage in high speed, multi-vehicle traffic accidents. Our MuCCA-equipped cars will be able to sense danger, communicate that danger amongst themselves, collectively decide on a best course of action, take control of the vehicle, and then safely hand back to the driver at the appropriate time. Best of all, this technology will recognise all vehicles, not just those MuCCA-equipped, and so supporting the gradual roll-out of connected and autonomous vehicles (CAVs).

 

We are developing this next-generation driver aid through collaboration with world-leading industry partners. We are using advanced artificial intelligence, vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communications and sensor fusion to take a significant evolutionary step in automated vehicle development. But we’re not alone in looking into advanced driver aid connectivity and autonomy. With Toyota announcing their ‘Guardian’ system at CES 2019, let’s consider where MuCCA sits in the global race to deploy safe, reliable CAVs onto public roads.

 

What makes MuCCA different?

 

Tesla’s Autopilot system and notable German manufacturers (Mercedes’ Driving Assistance Plus, Audi’s Traffic Jam Pilot) are carrying out some exciting work when it comes to developing advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). Other manufacturers (for example Nissan and Jaguar Land Rover) are developing similar technologies – looking at anticipation, collision-avoidance control and vehicle-to-vehicle communication. But we believe MuCCA is the only collaborative project with the ambition of bringing all of these elements together into one system.

 

So what specific capabilities will MuCCA be developing?

 

  • Anticipation of the trajectories of other vehicles ahead, alongside and behind the primary vehicle
  • Communication with other MuCCA-equipped vehicles to communicate possible collision hazards and to receive information from other vehicles further ahead
  • Planning of a coordinated swarm-like response for all vehicles to best avoid the hazard
  • Execution of the necessary emergency collision-avoidance control decisions (braking, acceleration and steering)

MuCCA is addressing the immediate, close proximity emergency – it will not rely on previous highway or sat nav information to be alerted to potential hazards but will be responding to real-world, high-speed incidents on our fastest roads. And once the best course of action is decided by the MuCCA system, it will brake, accelerate and steer the vehicle to protect the passengers and other road users.

 

Evasive steering systems

 

When it comes to the moment of engagement – when the MuCCA system through V2V communication has determined collectively or singly that action needs to be taken – evasive steering will automatically kick-in. This is the real test of the MuCCA system.

 

Current evasive steering systems in the market are designed to assist the driver in performing an emergency lane change or swerve manoeuvre, but crucially only once the driver has applied aggressive steering inputs. They are designed to provide powered steering support to both help the driver to apply emergency steering, and to ensure that vehicle stability is maintained during the manoeuvre.

 

Mercedes and Ford have Evasive Steering Assist technology, but there is no sharing of information or location details, manoeuvre coordination or decision making by the vehicle prior to providing assisted steering – here MuCCA stands alone.

 

Suppliers like ZF Group are currently testing Automatic Emergency Steering technology but as far as we know this type of system is not currently close to production. What’s more, this type of system only performs on-board sensor-based detection – there is no connected element, either to infrastructure or between vehicles.

 

What makes MuCCA unique is its V2V communication and manoeuvre coordination between the vehicles once a hazard is detected. Most systems currently only perform longitudinal or lateral intervention, or some combination of both under the driver’s supervision, but none of the ADAS systems we know come close to what the MuCCA system is attempting in terms of functionality and complexity.

 

One final attribute is how the MuCCA-equipped vehicles will anticipate human drivers, thus function better than a human would in an overwhelmingly human environment. Cranfield University have been working on a neural network algorithm that helps a MuCCA vehicle predicts human driver behaviour – how they would react and behave to avoid a collision.

 

Additionally, a human may not have the quickest reaction times and there is room for fault in a situation like this – the MuCCA system has a better view of the world and is able to make more informed decisions helped by sensors to detect the position and movement of all surrounding cars. Additionally, by predicting how other drivers will behave, this allows MuCCA-equipped vehicles to avoid potential accidents as they are recognised in advance.

 

MuCCA deployment

 

Pretty ambitious stuff and as can be seen we’re exploring unchartered territories. But it should be remembered that MuCCA is a collaborative R&D project, and it is not within the scope of the project to test or release this technology into the public realm. Later this year as the project concludes we’ll be holding trials on a closed circuit, using real vehicles at high speeds to demonstrate the effectiveness and potential impact of this new system. Exciting times!

 

What comes next? Watch this space, but we soon hope that MuCCA can become an additional safety option for drivers when they are purchasing their vehicles, helping to make our roads safer and drives more comfortable.

 

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MuCCA is Research & Development project funded by CCAV (Centre for Connected & Autonomous Vehicles) and Innovate UK being delivered by a consortium consisting of AppIus IDIADA, Cosworth, Cranfield University, Westfield Sportscars, Secured By Design and the Connected Places Catapult. Keep up to date with the latest news on twitter @muccaproject