Calspan Tests Automated Collision Notification (ACN) System
20 May 1998
Calspan Successfully Tests Automated Collision Notification (ACN) System In Two Vehicles Simultaneously BUFFALO, N.Y., May 19 -- Recently, a successful full-scale
test involving two vehicles, both equipped with ACN devices, was conducted at
Veridian's Calspan Operations crash test facility in Buffalo, New York. In
the test, one vehicle was stationary and the other traveled down the test
track at 32 miles per hour. The ACN systems worked as intended and both units
automatically sensed the crash and delivered messages to the 911 station
within 45 seconds of the collision.
Dr. Ricardo Martinez Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration (NHTSA), and representatives from Cellular One Buffalo,
Datumtech Corporation, the Erie County Sheriff's Office, and the Erie County
Medical Center, gathered on Friday May 8th at the Buffalo Calspan Facilities
to personally witness this full-scale crash test of the ACN system.
The ACN Program is a public private partnership sponsored by NHTSA,
involving Calspan, Cellular One Buffalo, Datumtech, Erie County Medical
Center, Erie County EMS Division, and the Erie County Sheriff Department. The
purpose of the partnership is to design, develop, and field test a functional
system that combines cellular communications and Global Positioning Systems
with a unique crash-sensing technology developed by Calspan. The purpose of
the system is not only to shorten the time it takes to notify authorities of
the crash event, but to improve the quality of the response.
As part of the total ACN program, 500 privately owned vehicles in Erie
County, New York have had ACN systems installed by Cellular One Buffalo with
another 500 to be installed in the next few months. The ACN system uses on-
board sensors to identify that a crash has taken place. It then uses the
Government's Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) System and conventional
cellular phone system to deliver a data message directly to 911 operators.
After the data message is delivered, a voice line is opened up between the
dispatcher and the vehicle. The ACN data message includes a history of the
crash event itself, the direction of force, and a measure of the severity of
the crash. It also indicates the final resting position of the vehicle. All
of this information is displayed simultaneously at the Erie County Sheriff
Department's Cellular 911 Message Center and the Erie County Medical Center's
Level I trauma center. It takes less than a minute after the crash for the
message to arrive.
Mr. Ed Starosielec, Calspan's Vice President for Transportation,
commented, "The in-vehicle technology associated with providing automated
mayday systems, builds upon Calspan's fifty years of leadership in
transportation safety research. It is here today and can have a beneficial
and direct effect on saving lives and reducing injuries from crashes. But
this is only part of the equation..."
Mr. Starosielec also pointed out, "In order to fully realize the potential
of this system to save lives and reduce injuries, we also need to focus on
upgrading the end-to-end systems including 911 capability." Calspan is
managing two different partnership programs: the ACN program and the Minnesota
Mayday Plus Project. "We need to ensure 911 call centers have the necessary
communications infrastructure to accept and interpret data generated from the
vehicle describing the crash event and to support the delivery of the right
emergency response. When the equipment we are developing and testing today is
in place around the country, 911 operators will be able to make quicker and
more informed decisions, saving lives, saving time, and more effectively using
their own resources. These kinds of systems represent a solid win for
drivers, public safety agencies, and the taxpayers. "
Calspan is also partner with AirIQ, a consortium of companies, dedicated
to providing end-to-end solutions for managing and protecting vehicle fleets.
"Through this AirIQ partnership we are moving the in-vehicle technology into
fleet applications. We will continue to seek other opportunities to introduce
this product into as many types and classes of vehicles as possible."
Veridian provides technical solutions and systems engineering to defense,
federal, commercial, and international customers in the areas of Aeronautics,
Transportation, Information, Life Sciences, and Space. Veridian employs more
than 2,400 scientists, engineers, computer scientists, test pilots and other
professionals and operates in more than 30 locations in the U.S. and overseas.
With corporate offices in Washington, DC, Veridian's annual revenue is more
than $270 million. Calspan Operations is located in Buffalo, New York.
