Safety systems in autocars are based on a long tradition, whereby an evolution over time can be described in this area as well as in others: Starting from the decrease of a car crash's effects by means of passive safety supplies, over the avoidance of accidents through active safety supplies, to the prevention of potential car accidents by means of driver assistant systems.The latter have increasingly been integrated in series-production vehicles throughout the past years. Their development highly challenges interdisciplinary developing teams of engineers, ergonomists, and psychologists. In order to fulfill the new demands, the professorships of Communications Engineering, Human Factors and Ergonomics, as well as Cognitive and Engineering Psychology at Chemnitz University of Technology have allied to form the Interdisciplinary Center for Advanced Driver Assistant Systems, I-FAS in short. This way, a research facility emerges, which is able to live up to the high demands of this thematic area.

For more safety and comfort on the road

Interdisciplinary Center for Advanced Driver Assistant Systems at Chemnitz University of Technology unites communication engineers, ergonomists, and psychologists

When it comes to the competent research of driver assistant systems, they are on-route together: the ergonomist Prof. Dr. Birgit Spanner-Ulmer, Cognitive Psychologist Prof. Dr. Josef F. Krems and Communication Engineer Prof. Dr. Gerd Wanielik (from left to right) of Chemnitz University of Technology. Picture: Christine Kornack

Anti-lock brake system (ABS), electronical stability program (ESP), speed control, park distance control system, tire pressure control - the list of driver assistant systems to be applied in cars is growing constantly. Hardly any series-production vehicle is nowadays leaving the factory without being equipped with such devices. Generator of these developments is the client, for whom automotive safety and comfort are constantly gaining relevance. This trend challenges developing teams which ideally consist of engineers, ergonomists, and psychologists. For this reason, the professorships of Communications Engineering (Prof. Dr. Gerd Wanielik), Human Factors and Ergonomics (Prof. Dr. Birgit Spanner-Ulmer) as well as Cognitive and Enginnering Psychology (Prof. Dr. Josef F. Krems) at Chemnitz University of Technology are closely working together. On May 30, 2006, the Interdisciplinary Center for Advanced Driver Assistant Systems (I-FAS) came to life during a foundation symposium. It enables the three professorships to do multidisciplinary research in different fundamental areas concerning driver assistant devices. Currently, themes like the recognition of the vehicle's surroundings, the ergonomic configuration of displays and control elements as well as systems for improved visibility at night are of special relevance.

Keyword: Driver Assistant Systems

Driver assistant systems are additional electronical devices in vehicles which support the driver in certain driving situations. In the center of interest is thereby either the augmentation of safety in order to decrease number and effects of car accidents or an increased comfort while driving. An assistant system could for instance warn the drver just before or during critical situations. Other devices actively intervene into the vehicle's steering or drive.