Raytheon to Demonstrate New System to Increase Pedestrian Safety

NEW YORK , Nov. 17, 2008 /PRNewswire/ -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) will unveil its new intelligent traffic system Nov. 17 , which alerts both pedestrian and driver to probable pedestrian-vehicle collisions.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20081117/NE46379 )

The system, called the Cooperative Pedestrian Warning System, will significantly reduce the number of pedestrian traffic accidents. It will be demonstrated during the 15th World Congress on Intelligent Transport Systems in New York City at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, Nov. 16 - 20, 2008 .

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, 8,569 people died and more than 1.4 million suffered injuries as a result of intersection-related crashes in 2003. Intelligent systems offer a significant opportunity to improve safety.

"We are applying our expertise in sensor technology that we deploy to protect troops on the battlefield and using it in this application to increase pedestrian safety in urban traffic areas," said Brian Hickey , Raytheon Network Centric Systems' strategic management systems director.

The Vehicle Infrastructure Integration demonstration will be held on a closed section of New York's 11th Avenue during each day of the ITS Congress. It will use intelligent video processing, audio and visual warning alerts and Dedicated Short Range Communications, a tool approved for licensing by the Federal Communications Commission in 2003 for vehicle-to-roadside communications, to detect probable pedestrian-vehicle collisions. It gives the pedestrian and the driver sufficient time to take evasive action to avoid an accident.

"Pedestrian fatalities account for a significantly higher number of overall urban traffic fatalities versus vehicle-to-vehicle collisions," said Hickey, "Our proof-of-concept demonstration is an industry first to focus on warning the endangered pedestrian, in addition to the driver, of an impending accident."

Raytheon Company, with 2007 sales of $21.3 billion, is a technology leader specializing in defense, homeland security and other government markets throughout the world. With a history of innovation spanning 86 years, Raytheon provides state-of-the-art electronics, mission systems integration and other capabilities in the areas of sensing; effects; and command, control, communications and intelligence systems, as well as a broad range of mission support services. With headquarters in Waltham, Mass. , Raytheon employs 72,000 people worldwide.

Note to Editors: To learn more about the CPWS demonstrations, as well as the company's innovative highway solutions, visit Raytheon in booth 1211 in the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center.

SOURCE Raytheon Company