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The objective of this study is to determine the ability of a two-point steering control model to account for the influence of a haptic guidance system in different visibility conditions. For this purpose, the lateral control of the vehicle was characterized in terms of driving performance as well as through the identification of anticipation and compensation parameters of the driver model. The hypothesis is that if the structure of the model is valid in the considered conditions, the value of the parameters will change in coherence with the observed behavior. The results of an experiment conducted on a driving simulator demonstrate that the identified model can account for the cumulative influence of the haptic guidance system and degraded visibility. The anticipatory gain is sensitive to changes in driving conditions that have a direct influence on the produced trajectory, and the compensatory gain is sensitive to a decrease in the variability of the lateral position. However, a model with only the steering wheel angle as output is not able to determine whether the change in lateral position variability is due to the driver’s lack of anticipation or to the assistance provided by the haptic guidance system.

Work zones are commonly deployed within or near the traveled way during roadway maintenance, repair, and construction works. Work zones could translate into hazardous spots requiring higher driver attention and possibly leading to increased crash rates and crash severity. This research addresses the effects of various design elements on drivers' behavior through work zones. Chekka diversion, currently implemented along the main Coastal Highway M-51 in Lebanon, is analyzed as it currently presents numerous non-standard design elements. A proposed standard diversion design is compared to the current non-standard diversion layout. A driving simulator has been used to model the current and the proposed diversions. Four driving scenarios involving the combination of the two diversion designs under different visibility conditions are used to evaluate drivers' behavior and responses through the diversion zones. The simulator study results showed that the proposed work zone geometry significantly improved the drivers' behavior compared to the exiting diversion. The visibility conditions have proven to have a more profound effect on driver behavior through the current non-standard diversion design. The pavement markings used along the proposed diversion reduce the vehicles' lateral fluctuations by 50% compared to the current design. The recorded driving patterns prove useful for work zone design to minimize the Lebanese drivers' risky behavior and enhance road safety.

The objective of this study is to determine the ability of a two-point steering control model to account for the influence of a haptic guidance system in different visibility conditions. For this purpose, the lateral control of the vehicle was characterized in terms of driving performance as well as through the identification of anticipation and compensation parameters of the driver model. The hypothesis is that if the structure of the model is valid in the considered conditions, the value of the parameters will change in coherence with the observed behavior. The results of an experiment conducted on a driving simulator demonstrate that the identified model can account for the cumulative influence of the haptic guidance system and degraded visibility. The anticipatory gain is sensitive to changes in driving conditions that have a direct influence on the produced trajectory, and the compensatory gain is sensitive to a decrease in the variability of the lateral position. However, a model with only the steering wheel angle as output is not able to determine whether the change in lateral position variability is due to the driver's lack of anticipation or to the assistance provided by the haptic guidance system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ship domain is one of navigational safety assessment criteria. Its shape and size depend on many factors, including visibility. This article examines the influence of visibility on the shape and dimensions of ship domain in restricted waters. The research was conducted using a simulator of the ECDIS system with the participation of experts' navigators. The domains of ships in good and restricted visibility have been compared. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present work is devoted to a study of motion of near-Earth asteroids (NEA) 2002 VE68 and 2013 ND15 moving in the vicinity of the 1:1 resonance with Venus. To construct the probability domain of these NEA, 10 thousand clones covering the initial probability domain of the object were used. The investigation time intervals chosen individually are 4500 and 1520 years, respectively. The orbit of asteroid 2013 ND15 is illdefined that allows no conclusion to be made on its capture in a resonance. The given object regularly approaches to Mercury, Venus, and the Earth thereby causing a substantial growth of the probability domain. Our study shows that new observations of the asteroid from the Earth surface are impossible till 2021. An analysis of the evolution of the average MEGNO parameter demonstrates that the predictability time of motion of the given object is about 250 years. Asteroid 2002 VE68 behaves differently. A study of perturbation structure demonstrates that for this object it is necessary to take into account the influence of major planets, the Moon, the Sun oblateness, and relativistic effects of the Sun. On the entire investigation time interval the asteroid moves in the vicinity of stable resonance and its critical argument librates. Asteroid 2002 VE68 approaches to Mercury and Venus, but not very close. The predictability time of motion is about 800 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]