Advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) are rapidly evolving safety technologies designed to assist drivers, potentially improving road safety. By enhancing vehicle control, object detection, navigation and more, leading automakers are aiming to reduce accidents and save lives. Here’s a look at some of the key ADAS currently in development and deployment.
Forward Collision Warning and Automatic Emergency Braking
One of the most common causes of accidents is rear-end collisions from drivers failing to brake in time. Forward collision warning (FCW) systems aim to prevent such crashes by alerting drivers when the vehicle ahead slows suddenly. If the driver does not react, automatic emergency braking (AEB) will automatically engage the brakes to avoid or mitigate an impact. Some AEB systems can reduce speed by up to 30 km/h and bring the vehicle to a complete stop if needed. Research indicates FCW and AEB have the potential to reduce rear-end crashes by as much as 30 percent.
Blind Spot Monitoring and Lane Change/Merge Assist
Blind spots where other Advance Driver Assistance System are not visible in mirrors are a major risk factor for accidents during lane changes. Blind spot monitoring (BSM) uses sensors to detect when another vehicle enters the blind spot and warn drivers. Some advanced BSM systems will even automatically apply opposite lock to help guide the vehicle safely away from a collision. Lane change/merge assist takes it a step further by actually controlling steering for a limited time to avoid an impact if a driver attempts an unsafe lane change. These technologies can make blind spots effectively “visible” and reduce accidents resulting from unintentional lane departures.
Driver Drowsiness/Fatigue Detection
Driver fatigue is known to be a contributing factor in around 20% of fatal road accidents. New drowsiness detection systems aim to prevent fatigue-related crashes through monitoring of multiple driver parameters including steering inputs, lane position variance, eye blink rate and closing. Cameras can track eye movement and blinking to determine alertness level while sensors detect poorly controlled steering. Visual and audible alerts are given to remind drivers to take a break before they become too drowsy, potentially saving many lives each year.
Autonomous Emergency Braking in Intersections
Traveling through intersections poses unique dangers, with left turns often resulting in angle collisions if oncoming traffic is misjudged. Autonomous emergency braking (AEB) for intersections uses cameras and sensors to detect if a turn into oncoming traffic could result in an impact. If the driver does not react to a potential collision, AEB intervenes with braking or even acceleration on some vehicle models to avoid or mitigate the crash. Studies show intersection AEB could reduce left turn crashes by as much as 40% in some scenarios and is an important advance driver assistance systems for improving safety at high-risk junctions.
Advanced Cruise Control and Traffic Jam Assist
Originally developed as a long-distance driving convenience, adaptive cruise control (ACC) has expanded to improve safety as well. Newer ACC systems not only maintain a set speed but also adjust it based on traffic flow, slowing for curves, toll booths and congestion. Traffic jam assist goes a step further and can actually control both speed and steering at low speeds below 60 km/h in heavy traffic situations, virtually eliminating driver stress during bumper-to-bumper conditions. Both ACC and traffic jam assist make driving in traffic safer and help prevent the rear-end collisions that are common during stops and starts on busy roadways.
360-Degree Surround View and Parking Assistance
Parking lot accidents are very prevalent, largely due to poor visibility around vehicles and blind spots that make judging space difficult. Surround view camera systems that provide a virtual birds-eye or fish-eye view of the entire vehicle eliminate blind spots and make maneuvering much safer. Active parking assistance systems go even further, using ultrasonic sensors and computer control to actually steer the vehicle into parallel or perpendicular spots autonomously. Both greatly reduce parking accidents through enhanced visibility and automated control, yielding significant benefits especially for large trucks and commercial fleets which often have obstructed views.
Lane Departure Warning and Lane Keeping Assist
Unintentional lane departures are a common factor in accidents caused by driver distraction or drowsiness. Lane departure warning (LDW) systems sound alerts if a vehicle begins to drift out of its lane marked by road lines, prompting the driver to correct course. Lane keeping assist (LKA) systems take a more active approach, using steering inputs to actually guide the vehicle back towards the center of the lane if an unintentional departure is detected. Studies indicate such systems may reduce run-off-road accidents by as much as 20-30%. With distracted and fatigued driving an increasing problem, lane keeping advance driver assistance systems play an important role in enhancing road safety.
Traffic Sign Recognition and Speed Limit Assist
Exceeding posted speed limits substantially increases accident risk. Traffic sign recognition (TSR) cameras identify current speed limits and other road signs, displaying them on the instrument cluster. Speed limit assist builds upon this by using GPS data and traffic sign information to automatically enforce advisory and regulatory speed limits. If the driver exceeds the limit, audible and visual alerts are given to prompt slowing down. These advance driver assistance systems not only prevent speeding fines but more importantly encourage safer speeds and driving habits that reduce the potential and severity of collisions on all roads.
Adaptive Driving Beams and Pedestrian/Cyclist Detection
Nighttime driving presents unique visibility challenges impacting safety. Adaptive driving beams (ADB) automatically adjust high and low beams based on preceding/oncoming traffic to maximize forward visibility while avoiding glare for other drivers. ADB systems also expand coverage for areas beyond the beams, greatly enhancing visibility compared to standard lights. Many now detect pedestrians and cyclists at the roadside, highlighting them automatically for added awareness of vulnerable road users. Some advanced ADB systems even feature curve lighting that aims beams around turns before the input steering occurs, expanding driver vision. Pedestrian and cyclist detection take it a step further, actively warning drivers if detected to help avoid often tragic impacts involving non-motorists.
Advance driver assistance technologies have tremendous potential to enhance safety and save lives on roads worldwide. As capabilities continue advancing rapidly through computer vision, advanced sensors, connectivity and vehicle control, autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring and other advance driver assistance systems are becoming standard features able to avoid or mitigate accidents in countless scenarios. If vehicle fleets upgrade as new technologies develop and drivers properly utilize available systems, the accessibility of advanced driver assistance could significantly reduce crashes, related injuries and road fatalities in coming years. Continuous innovation will drive the progress of emerging ADAS set to transform vehicle safety and transportation.
*Note:
1.Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public sources, Desk research
2.We have leveraged AI tools to mine information and compile it