Acoustic Smart Highway

The fiber optic-based Smart Motorway Project aims to increase highway safety, provide quick solutions to potential accidents and adapt new technologies to the transportation sector. Accidents on highways with high-speed traffic cause both material losses and irreparable loss of life. The Acoustic Smart Motorway Project detects potential accident-causing factors early and determines the extent of potential accidents quickly and precisely.

The Fiber Optic Acoustic Incident Detection System (FOTAS), developed by TÜBİTAK BİLGEM and which technology transfer has been completed, detects the location of acoustic signals generated by accidents and other anomalies with high precision. FOTAS, which is used to detect facility security and border violations in the area where the laying is made, is integrated with autonomous UAVs in this project. UAVs, which perform flights with autonomous driving algorithms developed by the Robotics and Autonomous Systems unit, conduct an autonomous expedition to the area where the violation or accident occurred and determine the situation through the image of the area. The UAV system, which can reach the scene faster than the highway security teams, provides the safety and security of the highway at a high level. The project also has the potential to provide economic added value as the images obtained identify the infrastructure problems on the highway and create post-accident evidence.

The next phases of the project are planned to evolve to adapt to the latest technological developments. Within the scope of the project, an UAV was also developed in order to accelerate testing and integration studies. Having a unique design, the 6 rotary wing UAV (hexacopter) is equipped with light and durable parts using a polycarbonate body, carbon fiber arms and legs. This UAV has the ability to carry out package transportation within the campus and can perform autonomous take-off, navigation and landing between locations determined on the map.

The Fiber Optic Based Smart Highway Project was deemed worthy of the Industry Contribution Award within the scope of “SummITS'22: 3rd International AUS Summit” organized by AUSDER in 2022.