PROSPECT · Project

Next-Gen Vehicle Safety Systems That Detect and Protect Pedestrians and Cyclists

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You know how some newer cars can slam the brakes if a pedestrian steps into the road? The first versions of that technology were pretty limited — they mostly worked for adults walking straight across. PROSPECT brought together 5 major car brands (Audi, BMW, Daimler, Toyota, Volvo) to make these systems much smarter, covering tricky situations like cyclists turning or kids darting out from behind parked cars. They built 4 working vehicle prototypes and tested them in real traffic scenarios to prove the technology works before it hits the market.

By the numbers

Vehicle demonstrators built and tested

Major European OEMs in consortium (Audi, BMW, Daimler, TME, Volvo Cars)

Consortium partners across 9 countries

Industry partners (58% of consortium)

Total project deliverables produced

The business problem

What needed solving

Current pedestrian and cyclist detection systems in vehicles only handle simple scenarios — an adult crossing a straight road in good visibility. Real accidents happen in complex situations: cyclists turning, children running from behind obstacles, poor lighting. Thousands of vulnerable road users are killed in European traffic each year because vehicle safety systems cannot detect and react fast enough in these critical moments.

The solution

What was built

The project delivered 4 vehicle demonstrators with improved autonomous emergency braking and steering for pedestrians and cyclists, a mobile driving simulator for testing driver interaction, and a realistic bicycle dummy demonstrator for standardized testing. These were backed by 20 deliverables including advanced video and radar detection algorithms, new intervention strategies, and validated Euro NCAP test procedures.

Audience

Who needs this

Automotive OEMs developing next-generation ADAS and active safety systemsTier 1 suppliers of radar, camera, and braking components for vehicle safetyVehicle testing laboratories and Euro NCAP-accredited certification bodiesCity transport authorities and urban mobility planners focused on VRU safetyInsurance companies assessing vehicle safety ratings and risk models

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Automotive OEMs

enterprise

Target: Car manufacturers developing ADAS and active safety features

If you are a car manufacturer working on the next generation of pedestrian and cyclist detection — this project developed 4 vehicle demonstrators with improved sensing, faster actuators, and new intervention strategies for collision avoidance. The consortium included 5 major European OEMs and 2 leading Tier 1 suppliers, and the results were validated against proposed Euro NCAP and UN-ECE test procedures.

Automotive Tier 1 Suppliers

enterprise

Target: Sensor and component manufacturers for ADAS systems

If you are a component supplier building radar, video, or braking systems for active safety — this project advanced VRU detection algorithms and next-generation intervention concepts. Bosch and Continental contributed next-generation components, and the project produced improved video algorithms and proactive situation analysis tools that can be integrated into your product roadmap.

Vehicle Testing and Certification

any

Target: Test laboratories and certification bodies for vehicle safety

If you are a test lab or certification body needing standardized procedures for VRU safety systems — this project developed realistic test methods including a bicycle dummy demonstrator and validated test procedures proposed for Euro NCAP and UN-ECE standardization. Three Euro NCAP test labs (IDIADA, BAST, TNO) led this work across 9 countries.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would it cost to license or access this technology?

The project was a Research and Innovation Action with 19 consortium partners including major OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers. Licensing terms would need to be negotiated with the coordinator IDIADA or individual technology-owning partners. Given the involvement of 5 OEMs (Audi, BMW, Daimler, TME, Volvo Cars), some results may already be integrated into commercial vehicle platforms.

Is this proven at industrial scale or still lab-stage?

This is well beyond lab stage. The project built 4 vehicle demonstrators and tested them in realistic traffic scenarios with user acceptance studies. The consortium's 11 industry partners, including 5 major car manufacturers, were specifically motivated to bring next-generation systems to market.

What is the IP situation — can we use this freely?

As an EU-funded RIA project, certain results may be available under fair terms, but core IP likely belongs to the industrial partners who developed it. Contact IDIADA (coordinator) to discuss access to specific deliverables or licensing of the 20 project deliverables.

Does this meet current regulatory requirements?

The project directly engaged Euro NCAP test labs (IDIADA, BAST, TNO) to define and validate test procedures and propose standardization to both Euro NCAP and UN-ECE. This means the technology was developed with regulatory compliance as a core goal.

How quickly could we integrate this into our products?

The project ended in October 2018, and consortium members including Audi, BMW, Daimler, TME, and Volvo Cars were keen to introduce next-generation systems into the market. Many of the sensing and braking improvements have likely influenced current commercial ADAS offerings. Integration timelines depend on your existing platform architecture.

What specific scenarios does this cover beyond current systems?

PROSPECT expanded the scope beyond basic pedestrian crossing scenarios to include more complex VRU situations — cyclists, children, and various crossing patterns. The project used major accident databases (GIDAS and IGLAD) plus East European data to identify the most critical real-world scenarios that current systems miss.

Consortium

Who built it

This is a heavyweight automotive safety consortium with 19 partners across 9 countries and an impressive 58% industry ratio. The 5 major European OEMs (Audi, BMW, Daimler, Toyota Motor Europe, and Volvo Cars) represent the bulk of the European car market, while Bosch and Continental bring Tier 1 component expertise. Three Euro NCAP-accredited test labs (IDIADA, BAST, TNO) ensure the results translate directly into regulatory standards. The academic partners (University of Amsterdam, University of Nottingham, Chalmers, and others) provided accident research and algorithm development. This composition signals high commercial intent — these are not research-only organizations but companies with direct paths to market deployment.

IDIADA AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY SACoordinator · ES
ROBERT BOSCH GMBHparticipant · DE
VOLVO PERSONVAGNAR ABparticipant · SE
4ACTIVESYSTEMS GMBHparticipant · AT
NEDERLANDSE ORGANISATIE VOOR TOEGEPAST NATUURWETENSCHAPPELIJK ONDERZOEK TNOparticipant · NL
TOYOTA MOTOR EUROPE NVparticipant · BE
BUDAPESTI MUSZAKI ES GAZDASAGTUDOMANYI EGYETEMparticipant · HU
STATENS VAG- OCH TRANSPORTFORSKNINGSINSTITUTparticipant · SE
MERCEDES-BENZ GROUP AGparticipant · DE
CONTINENTAL TEVES AG & CO OHGparticipant · DE
AUDI AKTIENGESELLSCHAFTparticipant · DE
THE UNIVERSITY OF NOTTINGHAMparticipant · UK
UNIVERSITE GUSTAVE EIFFELparticipant · FR
BUNDESANSTALT FUER STRASSEN-UND VERKEHRSWESENparticipant · DE
BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFTparticipant · DE
UNIVERSITEIT VAN AMSTERDAMparticipant · NL
CHALMERS TEKNISKA HOGSKOLA ABparticipant · SE

How to reach the team

IDIADA Automotive Technology SA (Spain) — a leading vehicle testing and engineering company. SciTransfer can facilitate an introduction to discuss technology access and licensing.

Order a report on this consortium See IDIADA AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY SA profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to access PROSPECT's VRU safety technology or connect with consortium partners? SciTransfer can arrange introductions to the right people — contact us for a detailed briefing.

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