No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

Most vehicle accidents are due to driver error or slow reaction time. To prevent or minimize the consequences of these accidents, Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) are introduced and lane detection is one of the most important building blocks of ADAS. Thus, the main focus of this thesis is lane detection. In this thesis, initially, lane detection algorithms based on a single camera as a sensor are investigated and proposed. First, an Inverse Perspective Mapping (IPM) based lane detection algorithm is proposed, where the global lane orientation and lane connectivity in this direction is exploited to increase the Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR). Using the initially estimated lane orientation, feature map is iteratively shifted and matched with itself to eliminate noise. Furthermore, based on the global lane orientation, an accurate, and linear Region of Interest (ROI) is efficiently formed using a I-D likelihood accumulator, where lane pairs are fitted to the feature points in estimated ROI. Later, an extension to the Symmetrical Local Threshold (SLT) is proposed for more accurate feature map extraction. Despite low computational complexity of the SLT, the algorithm outperformed all of the tested lane feature extractors in the Road Marking (ROMA) data sets. However, the main drawback of this algorithm is it cannot supply orientation information for the feature points. The proposed extension to the SLT, both reduced the noise (tested using ROMA data sets) , and outputs orientation information for the extracted feature points. Then, the extracted feature map and feature point orientations, are exploited for an efficient lane detection, where lane categorization is achieved by using a mask in the Hough domain. Although, single camera can be used for lane detection, single camera cannot supply depth information. Thus, many lane detection algorithms using single camera input are based on assumptions such as flat road assumption. However, 3D input can be utilized for lane detection application on non-flat roads.

Transportation is likely to be the greatest source of noise and local air pollution in urban centres and one of the major contributors to carbon dioxid,e emissions, which is the predominant greenhouse gas. A promising option for the decarbonisation ofthis sector, and for reducing local pollution, is the use of hydrogen as a transport fuel. In order to introduce hydrogen fuel in the transport sector the development of an infrastructure is an essential prerequisite. However, the design of a hydrogen delivery system is a complex venture that includes considerable uncertainties and numerous parameters that have to be considered in order to achieve its implementation. This thesis examines the potential of supplying hydrogen fuel produced exclusively from renewable energy resources to urban centres. The issue of the least-cost hydrogen infrastructure design is addressed by developing an original model able to assess the performance of different hydrogen pathways in terms of both economic and technical criteria while taking into account the evolution of the infrastructure over time, meeting increasing demand, and the renewaple resource potential of the geographical region under study in order to perform resource optimisation. The model is designed by means of mixed integer linear programming and developed in MATLAB®. It is built in such a way so as to provide a generic framework for modelling several hydrogen fuel chains for establishing a hydrogen infrastructure that could be readily extended to different infrastructure patterns and geographical areas. The model is applied to the case of London examining the potential for delivering hydrogen fuel to such a large urban centre. The case study investigates the possibilities of developing a renewable hydrogen infrastructure able to deliver sufficient hydrogen in order to cover London's road transport fuel demand within a 50-year time horizon. The results include the description of a cost-effective infrastructure development scenario along with its corresponding overall cost. The case study illustrates that the hydrogen infrastructure development modelling approach developed in this study assists the identification of least-cost renewable hydrogen supply chain options.

No description available.

Roll-Over Protective Structures (ROPS, safety cabs or frames) are required by law on agricultural tractors in the UK and many other countries to prevent drivers being crushed in overturning accidents. The research reported was aimed to help in the development of ROPS design and strength test criteria through a better understanding of the dynamics of overturning and estimation of the energy absorbed in the ROPS. A survey of overturning accidents showed the types likely to result in the greatest ROPS damage: (i) an overturn down a steep bank more than 2m high; and (ii) a multiple roll accident. A mathematical model of sideways overturning was developed. Equations describing the relationships between the forces and deflections at each point of contact between the tractor and the ground allowed the same model to cover tyre behaviour during overturning, and ROPS, wheel and soil behaviour during impact. A computer program based on the model was able to simulate both bank and multiple roll overturns.

This thesis describes the theoretical work completed in an investigation into the computer modelling of heavy vehicle power train systems and the associated experimental validation techniques used to verify the developed models. The theoretical work includes the development of computer models of individual driveline components and various techniques used to link the separate models to form a complete power train program. Both the steady state and transient performance of all components are considered: in particular the simulation of power train gearshifts are made which include the prediciton of diesel engine and fluid coupling performance during the brake band slipping mode. The experimental work has included the establishment of a complete vehicle driveline test facility for both steady state and transient performance measurements; in particular, driveline performance during gearshifts and the application of step loads.

Part of this work deals with the differential compound engine, developed at Bath University. The engine is designed to provide an integrated engine-transmission system providing high unit output, combined with outstanding torque characteristics for traction application. Therefore, the engine will have a probable future use for earth-moving and heavy machineries, and possibly in the agricultural field. The computer modelling of this engine has been carried out, with a view to determining the conditions for optimum performance. This has involved the employment of the iteration methods already developed for earlier versions of the computer model, to obtain the balance between each pair of adjacent components of the system. In the course of the work, the computer program was completely redeveloped for the specific task of performance optimization. The other part of this thesis is concerned with the dynamic modelling of the turbocharged diesel engine-fluid coupling-planetary gearbox system. The investigation is related to a special type of heavy engine-transmission components, which is employed by the British Leyland Company. An extensive contribution has been made to the development of a dynamic model for the analysis of the Wilson 5-speed gearbox. This gearbox, with a fluid coupling, constitutes the basis of the transmission. The possibility of adding or refining constructing blocks for different components has been explored. Accordingly, a new method for linking the various sub-models was established by using the energy storage reservoir concept, which was considered as a basic tool for such integration procedures. Furthermore, a computer model was developed to increase the understanding of the dynamic behaviour of heavy vehicles. The objective was to provide a rational basic approach for the analysis of engine-transmission features, which could be utilized for these types of vehicles so that important variable, particularly the fuel economy which is based on engine operating conditions defined by the dynamics of vehicle motion, could be computed. While the work described is predominently theoretical, experimental work has nevertheless been conducted on both systems, using existing test rigs and instrumentation, and working in association with other research students.