The HEADSTART (Harmonised European Solutions for Testing Automated Road Transport) project will define testing and validation procedures of Connected and Automated Driving (CAD) functions including its key enabling technologies (i.e. communications, cyber-security, positioning) by cross-linking of all test instances such as simulation, proving ground and real world field tests to validate safety and security performance according to the needs of key user groups (technology developers, consumer testing groups and type approval authorities). Five (5) objectives encompass the HEADSTART project: 1) Create a dynamic catalogue of existing methodologies, procedures, tools for testing, validation and certification considering multi-stakeholder requirements 2) Harmonisation of existing testing and validation approaches taking into account other industries and domains 3) Define and develop test, validation and certification methodologies and procedures for CAD functions building upon existing initiatives. 4) Demonstrate the developed methodologies, procedures and tools through the testing of 4 CAD use cases. 5) Reach consensus by creating and managing an expert network of CAD testing to promote adoption of the project results considering multi-stakeholder needs HEADSTART brings together a large representation of stakeholders across the value chain leveraging the knowledge from European and national activities on CAD testing. The consortium and associated stakeholders will cluster the most relevant initiatives, develop the specific procedures and tools missing and harmonise the whole approach to reach a harmonised European solution for testing, validating and certifying automated road vehicles. This will be achieved through international cooperation with industry, academia and policy makers participating in dedicated working groups of a managed expert network during the whole project duration.

The past decade has seen significant progress on active pedestrian safety, as a result of advances in video and radar technology. In the intelligent vehicle domain, this has recently culminated in the market introduction of first-generation active pedestrian safety systems, which can perform autonomous emergency braking (AEB-PED) in case of critical traffic situations. PROSPECT will significantly improve the effectiveness of active VRU safety systems compared to those currently on the market. This will be achieved in two complementary ways: (a) by expanded scope of VRU scenarios addressed and (b) by improved overall system performance (earlier and more robust detection of VRUs, proactive situation analysis, and fast actuators combined with new intervention strategies for collision avoidance). PROSPECT targets five key objectives: i. Better understanding of relevant VRU scenarios ii. Improved VRU sensing and situational analysis iii. Advanced HMI and vehicle control strategies iv. Four vehicle demonstrators, a mobile driving simulator and a realistic bicycle dummy demonstrator v. Testing in realistic traffic scenarios and user acceptance study The consortium includes the majority of European OEMs (Audi, BMW, DAIMLER, TME and Volvo Cars) currently offering AEB systems for VRU. They are keen to introduce the next generation systems into the market. BOSCH and CONTI will contribute with next generation components and intervention concepts. Video algorithms will be developed by UoA and DAIMLER. Driver interaction aspects (HMI) are considered by UoN and IFSTTAR. Euro NCAP test labs (IDIADA, BAST, TNO) will define and validate test procedures and propose standardization to Euro NCAP and UN-ECE. Accident research will be performed by Chalmers, VTI and BME, based on major in-depth accident databases (GIDAS and IGLAD) and complemented by East Europe data. The work will be done in cooperation with experts in Japan (JARI, NTSEL) and the US (VTTI, UMTRI, NHTSA).