Potential benefits of MAEB in real-world motorcycle crashes

ABRAM project will perform a new evaluation of the potential benefits of motorcycle autonomous emergency braking (MAEB) using Australian real-world crashes.

For this study, the latest and most elaborate triggering algorithms for MAEB will be tested. This version of MAEB addresses all sorts of motorcycle-to-car crashes including nasty DCA 121 configuration.

DCA 121 - Definition for Classifying Accidents, VicRoads

ABRAM will use in-depth crash investigation data to estimate the applicability of MAEB and the impact speed reduction that MAEB would have produced in real-world motorcycle crashes. In this study, typical uncertainties of crash reconstructions will be addressed adopting a statistical approach.

Example of DCA 121 (credits: InSAFE - University of Florence)

Test rig of the ABRAM motorcycle riding simulator

The motorcycle test rig for the riding simulation experiments is now ready for validation.

Good news from Bosch - Two-wheeler safety systems

ABS, MSC, Traction control & more in this video showing the potential of motorcycle safety technologies. MAEB is not included in this list, not yet.

I found this quote from the video particularly interesting:

"Bosch provides riders with a reassured feeling of safety
by creating motorcycle system technologies that remain  unnoticed until
the moment it is needed so that the thrill of motorcycling remains just
as unique and exciting as it's meant to be"

Should autonomous emergency braking become mandatory on motorcycles?

At this stage, I cannot make recommendations about a future introduction of MAEB on the market.

But a controversial statement was reported in an interesting article about autonomous emergency braking for motorcycles (also known as MAEB). We read that:

"A MELBOURNE university doctor has called for automatic emergency braking technology to become compulsory on motorcycles as figures show riders continue to be over-represented in fatal crashes."

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/technology/monash-universitys-giovanni-savino-wants-automatic-motorcycle-braking-to-cut-road-deaths/story-fnjwpv39-1227104010687?nk=685385775bb118aead2367c2cbb45113

I was contacted by the journalist Joshua Dowling who interviewed me over the phone on 13th October 2014. This interview was done in the occasion of the presentation of one of my recent studies about the effectiveness of autonomous emergency braking for motorcycle at the AAAM annual meeting (link to the paper).

I must clarify that I did not say "autonomous emergency braking should become compulsory on motorcycles". This safety functionality is promising, and that is why I believe it should be further investigated. However, its potential effectiveness in terms of crash injury reduction for riders is currently unclear.

I have expressed my opinion about MAEB also in a recent radio interview by Red Symons on ABC Melbourne.

[last update: 10 November 2014]

Autonomous emergency braking - Testing motorcyclist reaction to unexpected automatic deceleration

This video shows a typical test run of the experiments conducted within ABRAM WP3 - Automatic deceleration for MAEB. 

Participants were asked to accelerate till a target speed of 40 km/h and travel at that speed along a straight. In some of the test runs, at random time, the automatic deceleration could kick in, producing a deceleration of 0.2 g. 

A total of 16 participants sustained 12 deceleration events each and reported on their experience.

The results showed that minimum effort is needed to control the motorcycle during automatic deceleration. Furthermore, mild aversion or anxiety for the system typically reduced after being exposed to a number of autonomous braking events in a safe environment.

Autonomous emergency braking - First details about the field study

The tests of automatic deceleration events simulating the activation of motorcycle autonomous emergency braking (MAEB) were completed last week at the low speed test facility at Bosch Australia, Clayton, VIC.

The tests involved 15 participants (including one female rider) between 21 and 55 years old. Each participant was asked to ride the test vehicle along a stretch. While cruising at a constant speed of 40 km/h, the participants could experience unexpected decelerations of the motorcycle, designed to produce the effects of an autonomous emergency braking event. At the end of their test session, the participants were asked to report on their experience with the automatic decelerations via questionnaire and recorded interview.

Follow the link for a short video of the tests.

Participant ready for a test run at the low speed test area

Bikeme.tv addressed ABRAM research

I acknowledge the community of Bikeme for posting a notice of the ABRAM project and also for the colourful discussion about autonomous emergency braking for motorcycles.

To read more, you need to register on the forum and look for this subject:

Won't Brake? We can do it for you...

This topic was posted with opinions showing a variety of perspectives.

ABRAM project can benefit from the involvement of those who love and ride motorcycles. Any constructive contribution is precious for this research.