技术报告样本英文版

Reporton

THEVIDEOALERTANDCONTROLDASHBOARDSYSTEM

Writtenby:

BOLI

June6,2006

TABLEOFCONTENTS

I.INTRODUCTION..................1

II.DESCRIPTIONANDFUNCTIONOFCOMPONENTS......2

InfraredDetector................2

RadarSenderandReceiver............3

X-raySenderandReceiver............4

On-BoardComputer................5

MapDiscs................5

ReceptionsfromtheDetectors........5

VideoScreen..................6

Keyboard....................7

CarPositioning...............7

IntersectionStatements...........8

BrakeApplicator................8

III.OPERATINGCYCLEOFTHEVACSYSTEM........9

IV.ECONOMICFEASIBILITYOFTHEVACSYSTEM......11

V.ADVANTAGESOFTHEVACSYSTEM..........12

VI.CONCLUSION...................13

ListofReferences...............14

LISTOFFIGURES

Figure Page

1.ComponentPlacementinCar...........2

2.DetectionRange................3

3.MountingofDetectionUnits...........4

4.ComponentsMountedonDash...........6

5.GraphicProjectiononVideoScreen.......6

6.Keyboard...................7

7.CoordinateProjectiononVideoScreen......7

LISTOFTABLES

Table Page

1.U.S.AutoAccidents,Injuries,DeathsbyYear..12

KEYWORDS

Reporton

VIDEOALERTANDCONTROLDASHBOARDSYSTEM

I.INTRODUCTION

Automobilesafetyisbecomingoneofthemajorconcernsofautomanufacturerstoday.Theengineersinthisindustryhavesavedmanylivesbydevelopinginjury-protectingdevices,suchasstrengthenedmetalpartsandinflatablepillowstocushionagainstphysicalinjury,buthavenotdevelopedanythingtopreventaccidentsbyforeseeingandavoidingthem[5].Forthisreason,theVideoAlertandControl(VAC)dashboardsystemhasbeendevelopedbyM&MEnterprises.Thissystemhastheabilityto"visualize"theroadaheadanditsdangersandtodisplaythisinformationgraphicallytothedriveronavideoscreenonthedashboard.Thus,thedriverhasaviewofdangerousobjectsinorneartheroadaheadandhastimetoslowdowntoavoidthem.Thepurposeofthisreportistoinformproduct-planningexecutivesatXYZCorporationofthebasicfunctionsandoperationoftheVACdashboardsystemandtoexploretheadvantagesitoffersintermsofsavinghumanlivesandautomobiledamage.

ThisreportdoesnotprovidedesignormanufacturingdetailandisintendedonlytoprovideexecutivesbasicinformationwithwhichtoassessthefeasibilityofinstallingthesesystemsinXYZcars.

II.DESCRIPTIONANDFUNCTIONOFCOMPONENTS

Themainunitsofthesystemarethreeinformationgatheringdevicesmountedonthefrontofthecar,acomputerwhichanalyzestheincominginformation,andavideoscreeninthedashwhichgraphicallyshowsabird's-eyeviewoftheroadaheadwithanyupcomingdangerplottedasadotonthescreen.Inall,thesevencomponentswhichworktogethertogivethedriveracompleteknowledgeoftheunseenroadaheadare(1)theinfrareddetector,(2)theradarsenderandreceiver,(3)thex-raysenderandreceiver,(4)thecomputer,(5)thevideoscreen,(6)thekeyboard,and(7)thebrakeapplicator.SeeFigure1.

Figure1.ComponentPlacementinCar

InfraredDetector

Theinfrareddetectoristhekeydetectingdeviceinthatitisconstantlysearchingforwarmobjectsinornearthepathaheadofthecar.LocatingtheseobjectsisnecessarybecauseinmanyareasoftheUnitedStates,loosewildlifeisamajorcauseofnighttimeandsomedaytimeaccidents.Therefore,theinfrareddetector"sees"the

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upcomingtrouble(beforethedriver)bysensingitswarm-bloodednessandthenalertsthedriver.Thedetectorwillsensethewarmthofanywarm-bloodedanimallargerthanarabbit,whichincludesdeerandcattle--thetwomaincausesofwildlife-relatedaccidents.

Equallyimportantisthefactthatothercarsontheroadgiveoffdetectableheat.Bydetectingtheseothercars,thedriverisinformedofupcomingtraffic,arecentaccidentblockingtheroadahead,orastalledcar,ifsomeheatisstillpresentinthatcar[6].

Thedriverisinformedgraphicallybythevideoscreeninhiscar,andtodifferentiatethewildlifefromanothercar,thex-rayunitisusedtocheckformetalinthedetectedobject.So,ifawarmobjectisdetectedwithmetalinit,thecomputerreadsitasacarandshowsitonthescreenasayellowdot.Contrastingly,ifnometalisdetectedinthewarmobject,ananimalisassumedandplottedasareddot.

RadarSenderandReceiverInordertofindtheexactlocationofthedetectedtrouble,aradarsenderandreceiverisused.Itisoneofthethreedetectingdevicesmountedonthefrontofthecarwhichconstantlyscanstheroadaheadfortrouble.Iftheinfrareddetectordetectsheatfromanupcomingobject,theradarsenderisactivatedimmediatelyandradarwavesaresenttotheobject.Whenthewavesbounceoff,theyreturntoaparabolicmirrorwhichcontainstheradarreceiver.Here,theobject'sdistanceandpositionarecalculatedbythecomputerfromthetimeofwavetravel,andcoordinatesarefoundandplottedonthescreenasadot.Thisentireprocesstakeslessthan1/10thofasecondoncetheheatisdetected[1].SeeFigure2forthedetectionrangeofthedetectingdevices.

Figure2.DetectionRange

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X-RaySenderandReceiver

Thex-raysender,usedtodetectmetalintheupcomingobject,isactivatedsimultaneouslywiththeradarsender.Workingsimilarlytotheradar,thex-raysaresentoutandbouncedbackifmetalispresent.Ifnometalispresentthewaveisnotreturnedtothereceiverandthecomputerreadstheinformationasananimalsincenearlyanythingwhichiswarmanddoesnotcontainmetalisusuallyananimal.So,theinstantatwhichheatisdetected,theradarandx-raysendersareactivatedtoacquirepositionandmetalcontentknowledgeoftheobject.

Thethreeunitsmountedonthefrontofthecararetheparabolicmirror(whichcontainstheinfrared,radar,andx-rayreceivers),theradarsender,andthex-raysender.TheseunitsareshowninmountedpositioninFigure3.Theunitsrotateinunisonthrougha90degreeangleevery1/2second.Thisrotationgivesadetectionrangeof150yardsinfrontofthecarand105yardsoneachside.SeeFigure2.Theyarealsoenclosedinaplexiglassboxforprotectionfromstonesandinsects.(Theplexiglassisaveryhighgradesothatrefractionofthedetectingwavesisminimal.)

Figure3.MountingofDetectionUnits

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On-BoardComputer

Thecomputerismountedunderthedashandpreprogrammedtoreadandanalyzetwothings:(1)themapdiscsand(2)thereceptionsfromthedetectors.

MapDiscs.TherearethreemapdiscseachofwhichcontainsasectionoftheUnitedStates'highwaysandroads.Thecomputerreadsthediscsandprojectsabird's-eyeviewoftheroadthedriverisonontothevideoscreen.(Thedriverdeterminestheroadbyplottingcoordinatesonthekeyboardaswillbediscussedlaterinthereport.)Asthecartravelsdowntheroad,themapflowsalongrespectivelytothecar.Thegraphicprojectionisverysimilartothepopularroad-racevideogames.Thecarappearsatthebottomofthescreenasabluedot.Sincethecomputerknowswhenanintersectionintheroadisapproaching,itnotifiesthedriverbyastatementatthetopofthescreen.Thedriverthenpushesacertainbuttontoletthecomputerknowifhewantstoturnattheintersection,andifso,inwhichdirection.Themapthenfollowsthatdirectiononthenewroadorstaysonthesameone,whicheverwasindicated.

Receptionsfromthedetectors.Thereceptions,asmentionedearlier,areanalyzedbythecomputertogivetheexactlocationoftheobjectinreferencetothecar,andtodeterminewhattheobjectis.Tocalculatethelocation,thecomputerusesatrigonometricmethodfromwhichinitialinformationissuppliedbytheradarwaves.Todeterminewhattheobjectis,thecomputeranalyzesinformationfromtheinfraredandx-raydetectors.Ashasbeensaid,ifheat

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andmetalarebothdetectedinthesameobject,thecomputeranalyzesitasanothercarandproducesayellowdotonthescreen.Butifonlyheatisdetected,ananimalisassumedandareddotappears.

VideoScreen

Thevideoscreenisthecomponentmountedonthefaceofthedashboard.AsshowninFigure4,itisineasyviewofthedriverjusttotherightofthesteeringwheel.Itsgraphicprojectionisverysimilarlookingtothatofavideogamescreen.Itsfunctionsaretodisplaytheflowingmapandtoshowthedriverexactlywhereanytroubleisaheadsohecanmakeadjustmentsinspeed.AnexampleofthegraphicprojectionisshowninFigure5.

Figure4.ComponentsMountedonDash

Figure5.GraphicProjectiononVideoScreen

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Keyboard

Thekeyboard,whichismountednexttothevideoscreenonthedash,isacollectionof19keyswhichtransferscommandsfromthedrivertothecomputer.SeeFigure6.Thekeyboard'stwobasicfunctionsareto(1)positionthecar(bluedot)attheexactlocationoftheactualcarand(2)respondtotheupcomingintersectionstatements.

Figure6.Keyboard

PositioningCar.Whenadiscisinsertedintotheslotabovethekeyboard,amapofthechosensectionofthecountryappearswithcoordinatesonthevideoscreen.Thenumbersandletterswhichcorrespondtothesecoordinatesarepunchedinthekeyboardsothatthescreenwillzoominonasmallerarea.SeeFigure7.Thedriverkeepszoomingtoasmallerareauntiltheexactareawherehiscarsitsappears.(Thisprocessisdonebypushingthe"number/letter"keythenthe"zoom"key.)Next,oneofthefourdirectionkeysarepushedtotellthecomputerwhichdirectionthecarwillbetraveling.Thenthe""keyisusedtopositionthebluedotevenmoreexactly.The"start"keyisthelastkeyinthepositioningprocessandistobepushedimmediatelybeforethecarstartsinmotion.

Figure7.CoordinateProjectiononVideoScreen

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IntersectionStatements.Whenanintersectionapproaches,thecomputerwillneedtoknowifthemapshouldfollowanotherroad.Therefore,whentheintersectionisabout250yardsinfrontofthecar,thetopofthevideoscreenreads:HIGHWAY260AHEADThestatementstaysonthescreenfor10secondsandifthedriverdoesnotwanttoturnhepushesnokeys.Butifhewantstogoweston260,hepushesthe"w"directionkey.ThecomputerthenfollowsHighway260Westinsteadofthepreviousroad.

BrakeApplicator

Thebrakeapplicatoristheonlyautomatedcontroldeviceofthecar'ssafetysystem.Itiswiredtothecomputerwhichtellsitiftheinfrareddetectorhasdetectedsomethingnotmovinganddirectlyinfrontofthecar.Thiscouldbe,forexample,arecentcarwreckoradeerinthecar'slane.Ifanobjectisdetectedinthisarea,thebrakeapplicatorslowlystartsapplyingthebrakeincasethedriver'sreflexesarenotquickenough.Theapplicatorwillnotstopthecarcompletely,butwillapplythebrakeforfiveseconds.Iftheobjectisnotdirectlyinfrontofthecar,thebrakeisnotappliedautomatically.Thisdeviceisusedsimplybecauseitisverylikelythatthecarwillcollidewiththeobjectifnotslowedimmediately.

III.OPERATINGCYCLEOFTHEVACSYSTEM

ThenormaloperatingcycleoftheVACdashisdescribedbythefollowingstepsandprocedures:

Insertthemapdiscintheslot,andpresstheONkeytoturnuniton.AmapofsectionofU.S.withcoordinateswilldisplay.

Enternumbercoordinatesbypressingthenumbercorrespondingtothemap.EnterlettercoordinatesbypressingtheSHIFTkeyandthenappropriateletters.

PresstheZOOMkeytoenlargethechosenarea.

Repeattheprecedingstepsuntiltheexactlocationisreached.

Pressoneofthedirectionkeystoindicatedirectionoftravel.Press""keyifnecessarytofurtherpositionbluedot.

Press"start"key,andbegindrivingthecar.Asthecarmoves,acontinuousmapgoesbythescreen.

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Asthedriverproceeds:

Ifareddot(ananimal)appearsonthescreen,abeepissoundedandthedrivershouldnoticethelocationofthetroubleandmakeadjustmentinspeed.

Ifayellowdot(anothercar)appearsonthescreen,nobeepissounded,butthedrivershouldstillnoticeitslocation.

Ifeithertheyelloworreddotisstationaryinthedriver'slaneahead,thebrakewillautomaticallybeapplied.

Ifanintersectionapproaches,anoticewillbedisplayedatthetopofthescreen.Thedrivershoulddooneoftwothings:

Pressthedirectionbuttondesiredifhewillbeturning.

PresstheNObuttonifhedoesnotchoosetoturn.

Thesestepswillberepeatedbythesystemwhenevernecessarythroughoutthetravelingprocessuntiltheunitisturnedoff.

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IV.ECONOMICFEASIBILITYOFTHEVACSYSTEM

TheprototypeoftheVACdashsystemwascompletedinMarch,1983,anditsfinalcostwas$3,050.Thispriceisdefinitelyunfeasibletoaddontothealreadyhighpriceofacar.Therefore,thekeytotheeconomicfeasibilityofthesystemistomassproducethissystem.Oneofthemaincausesfortheexpensiveprototypewastheprogrammingofmorethanfourmillionmilesofroadsandhighways[7]ontothethreecomputerdiscs.But,notthattheprototypediscshavebeenmade,thefollowingonescanbemassproducedoffoftheseintialonesatamuchlowerprice.Also,nowthattheprograminthecomputeritselfhasbeenwritten,itwillbemuchcheapertoduplicate.Theprojectedpriceoftheentiresysteminstalledintoanewcarwhilebeingmassproducedis$1,200to$1,300.Thesepricesmaystillsoundslightlyexpensive,butthelivesandcarsthatthissystemwillsavewillbewellworththecost.

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V.ADVANTAGESOFTHEVACSYSTEM

Eachyearthenumberofautoaccidentsincreasesbythethousands.SeeTable1.ThiscontinualincreaseisthefactorwhichspurredthedevelopmentoftheVACdashsystem.Obviously,notallaccidentscanbeavoidedbyinstallingaVACdashineveryAmerican'scar,butapercentageoftheaccidentsissuretobedecreased.

Table1.U.S.AutoAccidents,Injuries,andDeathsbyYear.

Year

Accidents

Injuries

Deaths

1975

16,500,000

1,800,000

44,500

1980

18,100,000

2,000,000

51,700

Source:StatisticalAbstractoftheU.S.(1981),74,75,78.

Mostautodeathsarecausedbysevereaccidentsinsmallcars.Agovernmentreportstatesthat"annualfatalitiesintheUnitedStatesareexpectedtoincreaseby10,000by1990duesolelytochangesinthesizeandweightofvehiclesontheroad...fatalitiesinsmallercarswillincreaseatarapidratewhilelargecarfatalitieswilldecline"[5].Thesesmallcarsaremuchlighterthanlargecarsandaremuchmoredangerous.But,withthehighgasolinepricestoday,driversprefertodrivetheseeconomicalcars.Becausethecontinualuseofthesesmallcars,M&MEnterpriseshasmadeitequallyaseasytoincorporatetheVACdashsystemintoanysizeofcar.Also,thesystemfunctionsequallyaswellandisnomoreexpensivethanifitwereinstalledinalargecar.