Special Issue on Cybernetic City Transport Systems and Technologies
Authors: Vlacic Ljubo , Fukuda Toshio , Hasegawa Yasuhisa , Parent Michel 
Published: April 2016

The publication of this issue was driven by the vision that, in the not too distant future, Cybernetic Transport Systems (CTS) will be seen on city roads and dedicated infrastructures. TheWorld Council for Sustainability has projected that CTS will be seen in cities in as early as 2030 (Mobility 2030: Meeting the Challenges to Sustainability; World Business Council for Sustainable Mobility, July 2004). CTS are based on fully automated driverless urban road vehicles (CyberCars). They can also be based on Dual-Mode Vehicles (DMV) - conventional vehicles with Advanced Driver Assistance Technology (ADAT) and capable of driverless driving, on request by a driver. ADAT covers electronic and software products that assist drivers in driving. DMV assumes that a driver is not in control of the vehicle at all times but is fully responsible for vehicle operation throughout. Both CyberCars and DMVs co-operate through vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure communication links thus enabling cybernetic transport to achieve higher traffic flows and improve network efficiency. Main CTS building blocks are CyberCars and/or Dual Mode Vehicles, Road Infrastructure Elements and CTS Traffic Management & Control Centre. These four blocks are interconnected, integrated and made interoperable through Communication Architecture and Protocols, and Operational Safety & Reliability Certification Procedures. A variety of CTS concepts have been prototyped and evaluated within the scope of projects such as: (i) Toyota’s Intelligent Multimode Transportation System (http://www.expo2005.or.jp/en/technology/imts.html); (ii) the CyberCars (http://www.cybercars.org); CyberMove (http://www.cybermove.org); (iii) CityMobil (http://www.citymobil-project.eu/); (iv) Safespot (http://www.safespot-eu.org/); (v) CVIS (http://www.cvisproject.org); (vi) Group Rapid Transit (http://www.2getthere.eu/Group Transit). The figure above shows a CTS prototyped by the CyberCars-2 Project Consortium. An extensive infield, i.e., on-road testing of operational performance of co-operative cybernetic transport solutions was conducted at several road tracks, the last being held at La Rochelle, France, in September 2008. This issue addresses a broad spectrum of theoretical and implementational topics related to CTS development and deployment including: • Cooperative Cybernetic Transport System Architecture • Real-time Decision Making by driverless vehicles • On-road testing of operational performance of CTS • Road-Crossing Landmarks Detection algorithm • Landmark Shape Detection algorithm • Road Shape Estimation algorithm, and • Vehicle-to-road infrastructure (traffic lights) communication solutions. In addition, this issue presents papers that deal with ADAT and analyses: • Acceptability and Usability of a Parking Assistance System for Elderly Drivers • Relationships between Car Accidents and a Driver’s Physiology and Psychology • 2D Localization in Urban Environment, and • Sustainability and Reusability aspects of Common Robotic Technology components. We hope you enjoy the issue!