Vehicle Safety Tech & Self-Driving Cars

Vehicle Safety Technology and Self-Driving Vehicles

• This chapter covers current and future technologies in vehicles
• It offers guidance on how to use them effectively and safely.
• The chapter also explores the benefits and limitations of self-driving vehicles.

Introduction

• The automotive industry has evolved significantly from basic cars with tillers and levers.
• Modern vehicles are safer, more comfortable, and easier to use thanks to safety technologies and advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS).
• Future automotive advancements include autonomous self-driving vehicles.
• Newer vehicles have increasing amounts of technology like ADAS.
• One must fully understand and know how to safely operate onboard systems.
• You must still drive in a reduced-risk manner, even with advanced systems.
• Incorrect use of vehicle technology can increase risk, so understanding its capabilities and limitations is crucial.
• Vehicle technologies are most effective when used by an alert, engaged driver who understands the systems.

Appropriate Use of Vehicle Technology

• Advanced driver assistance technology is becoming more widely available.
• It has the potential to shorten trips, save fuel, reduce pollution, and mitigate the severity of crashes.
• Real benefits are achieved through appropriate use, and following a "PLAN" is helpful

PLAN Framework

• Purpose: Learn what each technology is intended to do by reading the vehicle's owner's manual.
• Limitations: Understand what each technology cannot do, avoiding inaccurate assumptions.
• Allow time for testing: Safely test systems on the road to understand how they work in real-world conditions.
• Never rely on it: Drive as if the car doesn't have the technology and use it only as a backup.
• Driver assistance systems vary by vehicle, so it's important to go through the PLAN process for each car.
• Modern technologies can't overcome the laws of physics.
• Activations of safety or driver assistance technology can indicate significant driving errors.
• An engaged and attentive driver is the most effective safety system in any vehicle.

Miscellaneous Driving Aids

• Driving aids enhance convenience, navigation, alertness, and visibility
• Aids include automatic high beam headlights and adaptive headlights.

Automatic High Beam Headlights

• High beams offer additional vision and safety, but drivers often fail to use them.
• Automatic high beams activate when a windshield-mounted camera detects no oncoming traffic or vehicles ahead.
• Most systems switch to low beams below a certain speed and can be deactivated.

Adaptive Headlights

• Traditional headlights project light directly ahead.
• Adaptive headlights turn slightly in the steering direction to illuminate the driver's intended path.
• They also adjust to the vehicle's speed, increasing beam height on highways and lowering it in traffic.
• Adaptive headlights are useful on dark, curved roads.

Driver Monitoring: Alertness

• Alertness systems are designed to alert drivers when they may be too tired to drive safely.
• Some systems use cameras to monitor facial features (blink rate, head movement), while others monitor steering inputs and driving behaviors.
• The system displays a warning on the instrument panel if a driver shows signs of being tired, prompting them to stop and take a break.

Navigation Systems and Notifications

• Newer vehicles have built-in GPS-based navigation to help drivers identify efficient routes with audio and/or visual instructions.
• Some systems project the driver's smartphone display onto the infotainment system, enabling hands-free use of their phone's navigation.
• Navigation systems may provide advance notifications about crashes, road construction, traffic congestion, road closures, and poor weather conditions.
• The navigation system is safest if programmed before driving to avoid distractions.

Parking Assistance

• Parking assistance is categorized in semi-automated and fully automated systems.

Semi-Automated Parking Assistance

• Semi-automated systems control steering during parking with the driver controlling accelerating, braking, and gear position.
• These assist with parallel parking, and some aid in perpendicular parking as well.

Fully Automated Parking Assistance

• Fully automated systems take charge of acceleration, braking, steering, and shifting during parking.
• Like semi-automated systems, these perform parallel parking
• Some can handle perpendicular parking, and the most advanced can even back the vehicle into a perpendicular spot.

Collision Alerts

• Collision alerts provide warnings for lane departures, forward collisions, and object detection.
• These identify the need for driver action to prevent collisions.
• Alerts vary and may include sounds, vibrating seats or steering wheels, and visual warnings.

Forward Collision Warning and Object Detection

• These systems help prevent rear-end collisions.
• Systems warn drivers when their vehicle is approaching an object too quickly for a collision to be avoided.
• The driver must still apply brakes and/or steering to avoid the collision
• Some systems may pre-charge the brakes to shorten stopping distance.
• Newer vehicles prepare the cabin for potential collisions by pre-tensioning seatbelts, adjusting seats, closing windows/sunroof, and repositioning head restraints.
• Forward collision warning systems detect possible collisions with other vehicles.
• Newer systems use high-resolution cameras with sophisticated imaging software to identify smaller objects and vulnerable road users like pedestrians, bicyclists, motorcycles and animals.

Lane Departure Warning

• Lane departure warning systems help prevent drivers from drifting into adjacent lanes.
• Cameras and computers determine the vehicle's position within the lane.
• The driver receives an audible, visual, or haptic alert when the vehicle begins to drift into another lane.
• Most systems consider a lane departure unintentional if the driver has not activated the turn signal.

Blind Spot Warning

• Blind spot warning systems detect vehicles off the rear corners of the vehicle.
• Systems use cameras and/or radar.
• The driver is alerted by an LED indicator light located in the side mirror or windshield pillar.
• Some systems provide an audible alert if the driver signals a lane change with a vehicle in the blind spot.
• Some systems will steer the vehicle back into the lane if the driver is unsafely changing lanes.

Rear Cross Traffic Warning

• Rear cross traffic warning systems use ultrasonic and/or radar sensors at the back of the car to detect vehicles approaching from either side when the driver is in reverse.
• They are useful when backing out of parking spaces with obstructed views.

Collision Mitigation

• Systems include forward automatic emergency braking and forward automatic emergency braking.

Forward Automatic Emergency Braking

• It builds upon forward collision warning by automatically applying the brakes to avoid a collision or lessen the severity of an impact.
• Not all systems work the same; some slow the vehicle and require the driver to complete the braking, while others bring the vehicle to a complete stop.
• The system will typically override any acceleration input from the driver to quickly bring the vehicle to a stop.

Left Turn Crash Avoidance

• Left turn crash avoidance systems monitor oncoming traffic and alert if the driver attempts to turn left in front of an oncoming vehicle that is too close.
• The system may provide an audible and/or visual alert and automatically apply the brakes to avoid the collision or lessen the severity of impact.
• The system overrides any acceleration input from the driver to bring the vehicle to a stop, which can be overridden by pressing further down on the accelerator.

Reverse Automatic Emergency Braking

• These systems use the same sensors as rear cross traffic warning systems.
• They apply the brakes automatically when backing at low speeds to avoid or lessen the impact if the driver fails to heed warnings.

Automatic Emergency Steering

• Automatic emergency steering is an enhancement in some forward collision avoidance systems.
• It is active if the driver does not respond adequately to a collision warning, and the car will use both automatic emergency braking and steering to avoid a collision or lessen its severity.
• Some systems activate only after the driver initiates a swerving maneuver.
• Based on vehicle sensor data, the system will not steer into areas where it might come into contact with another vehicle.

Automatic Crash Notification

• Automatic crash notification (ACN) is a common function of vehicle telematics systems
• Onboard vehicle sensors detect a collision, the system uses a cellular wireless connection to contact an operator for help.
• The system provides the operator with vehicle location and other information.

Automated Driving Tasks

• Automated driving tasks include adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, and dynamic driving assistance.

Adaptive Cruise Control

• An adaptive cruise control (ACC) system automatically applies the brakes and accelerator as needed to maintain a preset distance from the vehicle ahead.
• The driver selects the desired travel speed and distance.
• The system automatically reduces speed to maintain distance if the vehicle approaches a slower car.
• The ACC will automatically increase speed if the car accelerates and the road ahead is clear.

Additional Cruise Control Information

• Advanced ACC systems can work with automatic braking system
• "stop and go" capability like traffic jam assist.
• In this mode, the brakes and accelerator are controlled automatically in congested traffic.
• Some systems require the driver to initiate movement after stops, while others accelerate automatically with sufficient space.
• Some ACC systems disengage and alert the driver if the vehicle ahead slows below a certain speed.
• The system may also disengage if debris or weather conditions affect the ability of its sensors to provide accurate information.
• ACC should never be used on slippery roads.

Lane Keeping Assistance

• Lane keeping assistance systems build on lane departure warning systems.
• The system uses cameras to monitor lane markers and provides steering input to actively center the vehicle.
• This is done by applying steering force or braking on one side of the vehicle to pull it back toward the lane's center.
• Like lane departure warning systems, LKA considers a lane departure unintentional if the driver has not activated the turn signal.
• The driver can override the system's turning force by steering normally.
• Systems vary, and more advanced ones constantly work to keep the vehicle centered.

Dynamic Driving Assistance

• Dynamic driving assistance is a combination of vehicle systems that can control acceleration, braking, and steering under limited conditions with minimal driver input.
• The driver must remain fully engaged and be prepared to take control of the vehicle at any moment.
• Dynamic driving assistance is not full autonomous driving but rather a Level 2 vehicle autonomy.

Self-Driving Vehicles

• An autonomous vehicle that can navigate and drive to a destination without human intervention.
• People potentially freed from driving, while others are concerned about safety.
• Significant attention is given to how these vehicles will navigate using sensors, map information, GPS data, and computing power.

Benefits of Autonomous Vehicles

• Fewer Collisions: Over 90% of collisions are due to human error, which autonomous vehicles could eliminate.
• Improved Traffic Flow: V2V communication would manage traffic pace and maintain smooth flow.
• Reduced Fuel Use: Shorter commute times and reduced braking/acceleration would equal less fuel use.
• Lower Environmental Impact: Less fuel used equals less pollution.
• Road Use Efficiency: Autonomous vehicles are expected to support more widespread use of car sharing.
• Enhanced Mobility: Self-driving vehicles expand transportation options for those unable to drive themselves.

Remaining Issues for Self-Driving Vehicles

• Numerous factors are to be consdered like achieving critical mass, efficient communication of vehicles and consumer trust.
• Adapt safety, licensing, and liability laws and regulations to accommodate self-driving vehicles
• Ensure the security and protection of the vehicles and the communication systems that allow them to operate
• Address motion sickness and disorientation that can accompany riding in a self-driving vehicle
• Adapt to a driver's readiness to retake control of a vehicle, if necessary
• Ensure that traditional and self-driving vehicles mix safely on existing roadways