Locata Positioning Used for World’s First Fully-autonomous Robotic Testing in Vehicle Collision Avoidance Systems

Paul Perrone, Geoff Hoekstra, David Zuby, Russ Rader

Abstract:	America’s influential Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) is currently working with Perrone Robotics, Inc. (PRI) and Locata Corporation to implement a $30 million upgrade at their world-famous Vehicle Research Center (VRC) in Ruckersville, VA. PRI’s innovative robotics delivers an enhanced capability suitable for automated testing of next-generation vehicle safety technologies, and Locata’s non-GPS-based positioning system provides the vitally important high-precision positioning required by the VRC to perform rigorous, consistent and repeatable automated testing. Together, these innovations promise to revolutionize the evaluation of new vehicle crash avoidance systems. VRC crash tests have historically produced the automobile industry’s well-known TOP SAFETY PICK ratings, which have helped consumers make informed decisions about buying safer cars for years. Now, research into new technology systems which allow cars to “avoid” crashes in the first place will elevate the value of the Institute’s safety ratings to new levels. Carrying out these new tests is not a trivial exercise. The robotics used for crash-avoidance testing need to operate at realistic speed and acceleration dynamics while also being able to survive an actual crash. Additionally, the newly expanded VRC facility includes a continuous vehicle test track that transverses not only open-air roadway areas, but also a vast 300 foot by 700 foot (almost 5 acre) fully covered “indoor” testing area where GPS is unreliable. To meet the VRC’s testing requirements, PRI applied their automation expertise to develop improved robotics, and a Locata positioning network is being installed in stages over the entire VRC test area. Locata’s unique ability to provide seamless locally controlled centimeter-accurate positioning across both the outdoor and indoor environments gives the IIHS the flexibility to design a test system to meet their vital safety-of-life requirements, while also allowing easy upgrade and expansion in the future.
Published in:	Proceedings of the 27th International Technical Meeting of the Satellite Division of The Institute of Navigation (ION GNSS+ 2014) September 8 - 12, 2014 Tampa Convention Center Tampa, Florida
Pages:	947 - 953
Cite this article:	Perrone, Paul, Hoekstra, Geoff, Zuby, David, Rader, Russ, "Locata Positioning Used for World’s First Fully-autonomous Robotic Testing in Vehicle Collision Avoidance Systems," Proceedings of the 27th International Technical Meeting of the Satellite Division of The Institute of Navigation (ION GNSS+ 2014), Tampa, Florida, September 2014, pp. 947-953.
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