Volkswagen Group Research helps drivers see the city lights
An active safety system warn drivers of visible and unseen hazards ahead
AE in Technology.
- Published in Technology.
Volkswagen Group Research has developed an active safety system to help drivers at busy junctions. Sensors in the vehicle combined with car-to-infrastructure data warn drivers of visible and unseen hazards ahead.
People often misjudge speed and distance, especially in busy cities, which contributes to accidents at junctions. The technology will help drivers to make better decisions by offering visual, audible and haptic warnings.
Head of VW Research, Dr Jürgen Leohold, said: “The ongoing growth of urban mobility, plus social trends such as the increasing age of society means the importance of assistance systems of this kind will become ever greater.”
Prototype systems in Passat coupes have five junction functions: left and right turn, intersection crossing and red light and stop sign assistants. Laser scanners, infrared sensors and wireless LAN to detect and transmit data on vehicles and pedestrians have been installed at one junction in Wolfsburg.
If drivers break rules of the road, such as running a red light, the vehicle gives audible, then visual, and finally a haptic warning by jerking the brake pedal.
The systems are being developed as part of the €6.5 million European Intersafe-2 research project, which runs for three years.
