Safety - where to from here?

   March-15-2001

SAFETY IS HIGH-TECH COOL

 
Safety has traditionally been viewed by most as the important, albeit dull, technical, and even boring part of the auto industry. That is until safety met the high-tech world of the computer age. Suddenly, safety is cool and it’s out of this world. Much of the latest mind-blowing safety technology was on display at this year’s New York International Automobile Show.

“You just can’t believe some of the technological advances that have been made in the auto industry over the last few years, even the last six months,” said Auto Show Committee Chair, John LaSorsa. “Technology is about to make the most profound difference ever seen in automotive safety. And it’s doing it in some surprisingly cool ways.”

Here are some of the amazing features available today, or coming soon to a car near you:

Adaptive Cruise Control: Already a reality on a number of cars. It’s primary purpose is to eventually allow vehicles to ‘wagon train’ on highways-each car being kept a safe distance from the car in front, via automatic braking.

Steer-by-Wire: The system operates along the same principles as aircraft that fly-by-wire. There are no mechanical connections between the steering wheel and the steering gear. Ultimately active steering will allow cars to communicate their position to each other and be able to automatically take preventative action to avoid collisions.

Lane Departure Warning Systems: A sensitive camera detects the position and direction of a vehicle within a lane. From the information received the system can determine whether an unintended lane departure is imminent, and give a warning.

Adjustable Engine Management: Modified engine management software can be automatically downloaded via the satellite navigation system. This interaction can be used to remotely diagnosis and correct engine malfunction.

Brake-by-Wire: This braking system uses electronic signals from the brake pedal to communicate with the ‘high-pressure’ brake reservoir.

Occupant Detection: Ultrasonic occupant detection ensures that if passengers are positioned too close to the airbag, it will be automatically be disabled, or if the passenger seat is empty, it won’t deploy. Eye detection systems which automatically adjust the seat and rear mirror for the best view could also soon be available.

Rain Sensor: The rain sensor was originally introduced to provide automatically adjustable intermittent wipers. The development of the system could enable the rain sensors to give instructions to the brake-by-wire system to continuously apply the brakes during wet weather conditions so that the discs stay as dry as possible.

Exterior Cameras: ‘Blind spots’ can be a thing of the past with the integration of tiny cameras into doors and mirrors on the sides and rear of the car.

Stability Controls: The key to the ‘intelligent car’ is the numerous sensors integral to systems such as the ABS, Dynamic Stability Control, tire pressure monitor, auto cruise control and even automatic wipers.

Heartbeat Sensor: Registering both human and animal heartbeats when the car is parked, the sensor is activated if anyone breaks into the car and hides inside it – or if a child or pet is left inside by mistake.

Advanced feature rear-view mirror: Integrated LED lighting, compass and temperature displays, tire-pressure warnings, voice recognition or TRIP functions are a blink of an eye away.

“These amazing safety developments are real and on their way to production. Last year, we showed the concepts of infrared “eyes”, voice activated controls, power adjustable pedals, and vehicle skid control systems. All of them are available today on production vehicles,” continued Mr. LaSorsa.