Collaboration with Universities

Collaboration with Universities: V2X for Safer Transport

Herman has long focused on research and development of innovative technologies in the field of intelligent transport. Our goal is to deliver solutions that connect modern technologies with practical applications and contribute to increased safety and efficiency of transport systems. A key part of our activities is active cooperation with universities and professional institutions, enabling us to effectively link academic and scientific know-how with industrial practice.

One example of this collaboration is a project carried out jointly with VŠB – Technical University of Ostrava (VŠB-TUO). Within this project, we developed solutions in the field of C-ITS (Cooperative Intelligent Transport Systems) using V2X (Vehicle-to-Everything) technology, which enables real-time communication between vehicles, transport infrastructure, and other road users. The project focused on improving the safety of urban transport, particularly in critical situations where a tram stops at a platform and passengers disembark directly into the roadway.

System Operating Principle

The system developed within the project uses two OBU (On-Board Unit) devices, with each vehicle equipped with its own onboard unit supplied by our company—one installed in a tram and the other in a passenger car. The tram remains stationary at the stop, while the vehicle moves along a predefined route. Communication between the units takes place via DENM (Decentralized Environmental Notification Message) messages, which are a standard component of C-ITS.

• Tram OBU: When the doors open at the stop, the unit begins transmitting a DENM message informing surrounding vehicles of a stationary public transport vehicle. This is standard behavior of OBU units used in vehicles of the Ostrava Public Transport Company.
• Vehicle OBU: Receives DENM messages and, based on the vehicle’s distance and speed, evaluates the appropriate level of response:
  • Informational message: “There is a vehicle stopped at a stop ahead”
  • Warning: “Slow down!”
  • Automatic response: Activation of emergency braking with the message “Brake immediately!”

Technical Solution

Communication between the OBU and the vehicle’s control systems takes place via the CAN bus, to which the OBU transmits system status messages every 100 ms. These messages enable driver warnings to be displayed, braking requests to be transmitted, or direct activation of automatic emergency braking. Processing of CAM messages and the vehicle’s response logic were handled by a team of VSB experts.

Project Benefits

The system demonstrates the potential use of V2X technology to enhance public transport safety. Today, transport operators typically install OBU units primarily to ensure vehicle priority at intersections. Our project showed that such installed units can deliver significantly broader benefits for operators.

The cooperation between Herman and VŠB-TUO confirms that connecting industry and academia is key to innovations that move urban transport toward an intelligent and safer future.