Preventing truck-based intentional attacks
On 14 July 2016, 86 people were killed, and 458 injured, during a terrorist attack in Nice, France. The weapon used: a 19-tonne cargo truck. Unfortunately, this was no isolated incident, as similar vehicle-based attacks have occurred throughout Europe, including in Berlin, London, Stockholm, Paris and Barcelona. Such attacks have highlighted how easy it is to transform a cargo truck into a deadly device and how even the newest high-tech vehicle safety systems are helpless at preventing such attacks. “As a consequence, road transport safety must be supplemented by road transport security,” says Michael Berner, a researcher at Daimler Trucks, a globally leading vehicle manufacturer. Although the latest truck safety systems are already capable of preventing serious road accidents, they fail when the collision is intentionally caused by the driver. But the EU-funded TransSec project aims to change this. “Bringing together the auto and tech sectors, along with members from academia, our mission is to develop what we call a security truck,” adds Berner, who took over managing the project upon the retirement of Roland Trauter.
Using technology to improve collision prevention
At the core of the project is a comprehensive analysis of available options and the technical constraints in developing supplemental security models. “This is done by developing and evaluating systems – both built in trucks and to be used by trucks – with the goal of securing road transport and preventing trucks from being used in terrorist attacks,” explains Berner. Much of the project’s focus has been on the use of vehicle positioning. This includes, for example, getting positioning quality to decimetre- or even centimetre-level accuracy, building detailed digital maps, enhancing GNSS correction services and adding new sensors. Together, such technological improvements could allow one to quickly detect when a truck goes off-road, the wrong way or into a restricted area. “Using fused measurements from Lidar and camera sensors, our environment perception modules significantly improve detection, tracking and prevention of collision with road users and vulnerable targets,” notes Berner. Berner also highlights the project’s autonomous emergency manoeuvring functions and its use of vehicle-to-everything communication for disseminating pre-crash detection, including eCall. “All of these developments contribute to safer truck operations and mitigating the risk of intentional collisions,” he adds.
Saving lives
The knowledge gained and the state-of-the-art technology developed during the TransSec project represents a step change in preventing truck-based intentional attacks. “We are proud that some of our developments could play a vital role in saving lives,” concludes Berner. Researchers are currently working to integrate this knowledge and technology into prototype soft- and hardware solutions. They are also investigating how to cost-effectively integrate such solutions into actual vehicles.
Keywords
TransSec, auto, tech, road transport, cargo trucks, terrorist attacks, vehicle safety systems, positioning, GNSS, eCall
