The first Japanese AHS operational test using the actual expressway before practical use in the world has been carried out in September 1996. The purpose of the experiment was to examine existing technology to evaluate feasibility of AHS development and to integrate technology. With this study, it became clear that there is sufficient basic technology and feasibility to develop a practical system. In this paper, the authors provide an overview of the examination and results. Various technical approaches ranging from a test vehicle to infrastructure were included in this experiment. Results from the following experiments are reported: (1) experiment associated with vehicle control maneuvering corresponding to the roadway geographic alignment; (2) experiment on the impact of on-board devices by various external factors; and (3) experiment for integrated technology.
Abstract