Volvo wins with BusinessCar
Volvo’s Pedestrian Detection, with Full Auto Brake technology, has won the Car Safety category at the annual BusinessCar Techies awards.
This world-first technology can detect pedestrians in front of the car, warn if anyone walks out into its path and then automatically activate the car’s full braking power if the driver fails to respond in time.
It consists of a newly developed radar unit integrated into the car’s grille, a camera fitted in front of the interior rear-view mirror, and a central control unit. The radar detects any object in front of the car and determines the distance to it, while the camera determines what type of object it is.
In an emergency situation, the driver initially receives an audible warning combined with a flashing light in the windscreen’s head-up display, resembling a brake light. At the same time, the car’s brakes are pre-charged. If the driver does not react to the warning and an accident is deemed as imminent, full braking power is automatically applied to bring the car to a stop.
Half of all pedestrian accidents occur at speeds below 15 mph. Volvo says this technology can avoid a collision with a pedestrian at speeds up to 21 mph if the driver does not react in time. At higher speeds, the focus is on reducing the car’s speed as much as possible prior to the impact.
A lower speed of impact means that the risk of serious injury is significantly reduced. For instance, if speed is cut from 31 mph to 15 mph, Pedestrian Detection with Full Auto Brake is expected to reduce the fatality risk as much as 20 per cent and, in some cases, up to 85 per cent.
Related news, events and information
Euro NCAP puts Autonomous Pedestrian Detection to the test
10 November 2015 – European safety organisation Euro NCAP is introducing a new test that will check how well vehicles autonomously...
UN Regulation on Advanced Emergency Braking Systems for cars to significantly reduce crashes
13 February 2019 – Some 40 Countries have agreed on a draft United Nations Regulation for Advanced Emergency Braking Systems...
Ford launches first legal hands-off motorway driving aid
14 April 2023 – Ford has introduced the first hands-off driver assistance system that can be used on motorways. BlueCruise...
Make safety a deal breaker
24 January 2018 – In announcing The Volvo XC60 as the winners of the UK What Car? Safety Award Thatcham Research points out that...
Cutting rear end crashes by a quarter.
1 November 2013 – Real world claims data suggest that Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) systems can reduce rear-end crashes by...
'New EyeSight' safety device
11 June 2010 – Subaru has completed development of its 'New EyeSight' driving assist system - a unique active safety device...
Volvo launches world-first technology
29 August 2007 – Driver Alert Control - world first technology to monitor driver behaviour. Full details here Collision...
MB launches speed limit warnings
4 December 2008 – Mercedes-Benz has unveiled two new driver warning systems, Speed Limit Assist and Lane Keeping Assist, which...
New anti-braking speed cameras
26 September 2023 – Spain rolls out new anti-braking speed cameras target drivers trying to avoid fines. New devices will penalise...