Active Safety Systems in Cars
-Many semi-automated safety features are available today in new cars.
-Building blocks for automated cars in the future.
Eugene A. Petersen
Tire Program Manager-CR
For over 80 years, Consumer Reports has been
testing products and working to create a fairer,
safer, and healthier marketplace.
Title
Consumer Reports Nationwide Survey
1,097 Respondents likely to purchase a car in the next two years.
Safety Features of Interest
Key terms to know when buying a car.
There is a lot of new features for consumers to consider.
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Autonomous car: A car capable of sensing its environment and driving itself without driver input.
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Semi-autonomous car: Limited car capabilities to steer, accelerate, brake, change lanes, and park. But needs a
driver to cover the missteps.
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Forward-Collision Warning (FCW): Lasers, radar, or cameras to assess the possibility of impact with a vehicle
ahead and alert the driver. CR thinks all cars should have this.
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We asked 3,127 responding readers with 2014 model year cars equipped with FCW about the their
experience with this active safety system. According to our survey responses, the majority of people are
satisfied with the systems—and 36 percent said that the systems saved them from accidents.
Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB): Car senses imminent collision and hits the brake if the driver does not
react. CR thinks all cars should have this.
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FCW and AEB can reduce injury insurance claims by 30% and reduce rear-end crashes by about 40%
according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
Key terms to know when buying a car.
There is a lot of new features for consumers to consider.
•
Lane-Keeping Assist (LKA): Some steering input to keep the car in it’s lane. Advanced version
allows hands off the wheel.
•
Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC): Automatically adjusts your car’s speed to the vehicle ahead.
Some systems can bring your car to a full stop.
•
Blind-Spot Warning (BSW): Alerts of vehicles you can’t see near your rear side. A CR favorite
shared by consumers.
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Rear Cross Traffic Alert: Sense traffic that may cross your path as you reverse. Alert and some
vehicles may automatically brake.
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Backup cameras: To be standard on all 2018 models. CR pushed for the law.
•
Automatic High Beams: Many drivers don’t think about using high beams as often as they can.
More features being added
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Rear Collision Warning
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Crossroad Warning
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Lane Change Assist
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Evasion Aid
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Wrong-way Warning
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And more….
Still no uniform description of Electronic Stability Control
Title
Source: Wikipedia
FCW - Forward Collision What?
Forward-Collision Warning: Lasers, radar, cameras used to assess the possibility of impact with
a vehicle ahead and to alert the driver.
Manufacturer Warning
Acura
Forward Collision Warning
Active Braking
Collision Mitigation Braking System
Audi
Audi pre sense front
BMW
Collision Warning with Braking Function
Collision Warning with City Braking Function
Buick
Forward Collision Alert
Automatic Collision Preparation
Cadillac
Forward Collision Alert
Automatic Collision Preparation
Chevrolet
Forward Collision Alert
Collision Mitigation Braking
Manufacturer
Lexus
Warning
Active Braking
Advanced Pre-Collision System
Pedestrian Pre-Collision System
Pre-Collision System
Lincoln
Pre-Collision Assist with Pedestrian Protection
Mazda
Forward Obstruction Warning
Smart Brake Support
Smart City Brake Support
Mercedes
Collision Prevention Assist Plus
Distronic Plus
Pre-Safe Brake
Standard Collision Prevention Assist Plus
Chrysler
Full Speed Forward Collision Warning Plus
Full Speed Forward Collision Warning with Crash Mitigation
Mini
Collision Warning with City Braking Function
Dodge
Forward Collision Warning with Crash Mitigation
Full Speed Forward Collision Warning with Crash Mitigation
Mitsubishi
Forward Collision Mitigation System
Fiat
Full Speed Forward Collision Warning with Active Braking
Nissan
Honda
Collision Mitigation Braking System
Subaru
EyeSight
Pedestrian Pre-Collision System
Pre-Collision System
Hyundai
Forward Collision Warning
Automatic Emergency Braking
Autonomous Emergency Braking
Toyota
Infiniti
Forward Collision Warning
Forward Emergency Braking
Intelligent Brake Assist
Volkswagen
Full Speed Forward Collision Warning with Active Braking
Volvo
Jeep
Forward Collision Warning
Forward Collision Warning
Forward Emergency Braking
Autonomous Emergency Braking
Front Assist with Autonomous Emergency Braking
City Safety
Collision Warning with Full Auto Brake and Pedestrian Detection
IIHS
Safety Tech not Understood
Source: Toyota
Lane Departure Problems
“The LDW system is more of an
annoyance than a safety feature.
Unless you drive perfectly & never
drift within your lane, it beeps at
you.” - ‘14 Honda Odyssey
Lane Keeping Assist Problems
Steering assist to stay in a lane, but it is not autonomous driving.
Advanced Driver Assist Systems (ADAS)
•
Combining ADAS systems moves driving into a new era.
• Lane assist, steering
• Active braking
• Blind spot
• Adaptive cruise
•
These (ADAS) systems are essentially convenience features. They are
partial automated systems requiring a driver for safe operation of the
vehicle.
•
Nomenclature examples – Autopilot (Tesla), Drive Pilot (Mercedes), Pilot
Assist (Volvo)
Tesla’s Autopilot- Is this autopilot?
ADAS: Who is driving? Driver with system oversight, or system with driver
oversight?
Source: Airplane, Movie
Tesla’s Autopilot
15
Semi-autonomous systems
BMW/MERCEDES/TESLA/VOLVO – and more
16
Why self-driving cars?
•What would you do in a self-driving
car?
•Eating – 48 percent
•Reading texts – 45 percent
•Sending texts – 43 percent
•Taking pictures – 36 percent
•Accessing the internet – 36 percent
•Tending to children – 32 percent
•Recording videos – 26 percent
•Watching movies – 21 percent
•Reading a book – 19 percent
•Source: Statefarm.com
Ready or not autonomous cars are coming.
Cars with partial or full autonomous
driving may will be common place in
the next decade.
How will government regulation
impact the evolution of self-driving
cars?
What is the vision of autonomous car movement?
Disruptive technology or consumer safety feature?
•
Autonomous cars for fleets
– Gain experience before selling to the public?
– Incentive to replace the paid driver in livery service (taxi, Uber, etc.).
– Long-haul trucking may be impacted.
•
Public acceptance?
– Safety or convenience feature.
– Will the public want to drive…
•
Impact on the car industry?
– Replacement tire market?
Critical reasons for considering autonomous driving.
Critical reasons are not suggestive of the direct cause of crashes.
Driver error includes recognition, decision,
performance (sleep or agility), and misc.
Source: NHTSA Report DOT HS 812 115
Tire considerations in the world of driverless cars.
--The car becomes a transportation module and the driver is no longer an active member.
Maintenance and serviceability are issues to be addressed.
•
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Smart tires will be needed
– TPMS: pressure (and temperature)
– Treadwear sensors
– Weather-related sensors
– Ride and handling feedback (road
conditions)
Handling (Tailoring tires to vehicle dynamics)
– Controlled speed limits and predictive
steering rates.
Source: Continental. The
software deduces tread depth
from gradual changes in tire
rolling characteristics
Concept tires for autonomous cars
Tires may become a integral part of the self-driving car
Goodyear Eagle 360
Maneuverability
Connectivity
Source: Goodyear Tire
Goodyear IntelliGrip
Road condition sensors
Active wear sensors
Safety in CR’s Overall Score
Standard Safety Features
• Points Add to CR Overall Score
•
•
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Forward Collision Warning
Low Speed Automatic Emergency Braking <= 55 mph
High Speed Automatic Emergency Braking > 55 mph
What can we do?
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Standard Names for Systems
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Tune to eliminate false alerts
Allow drivers to adjust sensitivity
Make effective safety systems standard
Confirmation of driver engagement for semi-autonomous systems
Thank you!