Volvo is testing a new pedestrian-crash-prevention system that automatically brakes for pedestrians. The New York Times gives a nice review of the system and explains some of Volvo’s motivation.
In 2008, 4,378 pedestrians were killed, and some 69,000 were injured, in traffic accidents in the United States, according to the National Highway Traffics Safety Administration. That has provided a strong incentive for researchers to explore ideas like warning systems, external air bags and softer crumple zones that might lessen the consequences of cars striking people.
This ‘Pedestrian Safety System’ identifies cyclists and pedestrians and brakes not only when a pedestrian strays in front of the car, but also tries to anticipate when a person might jump into the lane of traffic. The technology is impressive and no doubt expensive.
The camera sits at the top edge of the windshield, in front of the rearview mirror. It scans up to 160 feet ahead with a 45-degree-wide viewing angle, enabling it to pick out as many as 64 people. Coupled with a radar unit mounted behind the grille that looks ahead as far as 650 feet (with a 60-degree field of view) and software fine-tuned over 330,000 miles of testing, the system assesses the collision probability based on the direction of the car and expected path of the pedestrians.
The new technology is expected to roll-out in 2011. Skip Kinford is the chief executive of Mobileye, Volvo’s development partner on this feature. If you are a reader of this blog you will enjoy his refreshingly not-so-famous-last-words, “It’s not absolute prevention.”
The radar is concealed behind the grill.
The camera is mounted behind the rear-view mirror.
Tags: Pedestrian, Volvo
