SUAB project (2003 to 2006):

The SUAB project (System for the Safety of Users and Bus Accessibility) is a research / development project that was launched in 2003 by the SMTC of Clermont-Ferrand, the LIMOS and a group of industrials. The objective of this project was to developed a platform allowing a bus driver to visualize in advance the situation he will have to face during his next stop. The idea was to improve both the safety of people waiting for a bus and the accessibility of buses for people with reduced mobility (PMR). Thanks to the platform for example, the bus driver is warned in advance of the presence of a PMR. He can therefore make sure to get closer to the dock.

The developed platform consists of two subsystems connected via a wireless network. The first subsystem is installed on the bus dock (see img. 1): it consists of two cameras (one films the platform, the other the buses in the approach phase), a computer and a wireless device allowing to exchange information with a bus. The second is installed in the bus (see img. 2): it consists of a screen and an onboard device to communicate with the bus dock. The dock calculator analyzes the images of the camera filming the dock to try to determine the presence of PMR, suspicious packets, annoying vehicles or people in the bus operating area. In parallel, this calculator analyzes the images of the second camera to try to determine the trajectory of the buses in approach. All this informations are transmitted to the bus driver via the wireless link and then displayed on his screen.

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The SMIR group was responsible for the realization of the wireless communication modules allowing the dock and the bus to exchange information. This platform was tested under real conditions on March 15, 16 and 17, 2005 in Clermont-Ferrand (see img. 1 and img. 2).