Ducati makes motorcycling safer

In 2020, Ducati became the world's first motorcycle manufacturer to bring radar technology to motorcycles, introducing adaptive cruise control and a blind spot warning system. As a member of the Connected Motorcycle Consortium, the brand has now unveiled its next steps on a prototype. Together with Lamborghini, also part of the Audi Group, the focus is on accident scenarios for two-wheelers in which the motorcycle is not detected by oncoming cars or in which the motorcyclist has no view of what is happening ahead. In both cases, vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication in conjunction with in-vehicle sensors can help reduce the number of accidents.

Ducati is working with various suppliers to develop the technology. The prototype at this stage of development has an additional screen in the cockpit that displays warning signals that can alert the motorcyclist to a potential hazard. The focus is on IMA (Intersection Movement Assist) for when a motorcycle on a busy road approaches an intersection with limited visibility where a car is coming from a side street at the same time. This is a situation in which a collision or critical evasive action by the motorcyclist often occurs because the car driver either overlooks the two-wheeler or underestimates its speed. To further exacerbate the scenario, Ducati has installed a fixed obstacle during a demonstration ride that completely obscures the view of the motorcycle for both the rider and the car's auxiliary systems. In this case, the danger sign is displayed in the car's cockpit, announcing the arrival of the motorcycle and asking the motorist to approach the intersection with great caution.

Left Turn Assist (LTA), on the other hand, is used when the motorcycle and car are traveling in opposite directions on a road and the car driver wants to turn left at an intersection. In this situation, the motorcycle is less visible compared to a car, even with assist systems. Also in this case, as soon as the car driver activates the turn signal when approaching the intersection, the traffic warning signal for the oncoming motorcycle is displayed.

The third system Ducati and Lamborghini are developing is DNPW (Do Not Pass Warning): It is used to warn the motorcyclist when he is about to overtake a large vehicle in a queue, which in turn is preceded by a car that the motorcyclist cannot see and that wants to turn left. In this case, it is the motorcyclist who activates the warning system as soon as the system detects that both the car and the motorcycle have set their turn signals. (aum)