Project description :
Summary (MAX of 2100 characters with spaces)
This project aims to establish new design methods for robust and efficient automotive navigation and optimal management of a fleet of vehicles in harsh environments. In addition, the project also aims to develop innovative metrics for real-time analysis of dangerous driving behaviour as well as real-time analysis of car accidents in order to significantly improve global safety of Canadian drivers. In general, this research proposes to combine measurements from a high sensitivity GPS receiver with data coming from a self-contained inertial navigation system and other complementary autonomous sensors such as odometers and magnetometers. Moreover, in order to provide an affordable solution, the targeted system will be based exclusively on the use of very low cost sensors. It is expected that this project will help reduce the environmental footprint of motor vehicles in addition to having a significant positive impact on overall vehicle safety. For example, improving vehicle localisation accuracy and robustness in harsh environments can significantly reduce the time to find a stolen or misplaced vehicle, which can have an important impact on Canadian companies’ finances. Furthermore, having a robust and precise solution for monitoring vehicle behaviour can lead to the implementation of a new taxation system based on car usage or on driving behaviour, which according to recent studies, can help reduce vehicle greenhouse gas emissions by up to 10%. In addition, accurate reconstruction of car accidents in real-time allow prediction of specific parameters of an accident scene thus improving reaction time and vehicle safety. The proof-of-concept demonstrator will be evaluated in-laboratory and on-road using simulation equipment and a car test platform under real operating conditions in order to characterize protocols and system performance. The project will contribute to international initiatives for the definition of new standards and contribute to Canadian efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and create new employment opportunities for the team of highly qualified personnel.
Responsibilities of the candidate:
According to the schedule, this trainee student will be in charge of the following tasks:
1) 1-15 Technical study on AC1120S rate table
2) 1-41 Inertial data acquisition and comprehensive analysis
3) 1-43 Test / validation of the initial calibration procedure
4) 1-44 Study of temperature effect on inertial measurements
The main objective of this training is to assist the master degree student in the implementation, testing and validation of a temperature dependant calibration procedure for very low-cost inertial sensors. During this training, the student will first do extensive testing using a high precision rate table (i.e. the ACUTRONIC model AC1120S) with its associated temperature controlled chamber in order to record specific measurements from the inertial sensors (i.e. accelerometers and gyroscopes) in different predefined orientations and ambient temperatures. Folowing this acquisition step, the student will analyze the recorded data in order to characterize the effect of temperature variations on the sensor measurements. Finally, he must carry out extensive testing with various sensors in order to validate the calibration procedure developed by the master degree student and to evaluate its reproducibility.
