3
NEWS
Volvo solves 'escape route' conundrum
Technology to steer a car around an obstacle is the next step in true autonomous motoringA four-year project has achieved its goal of developing an integrated system Volvo calls 'sensor fusion'.
As the sole car company involved in the Non-Hit Car and Truck project, safety pioneer Volvo has a large, vested interest in developing the technology, which will be a key element of future Volvo models designed to keep occupants and other road users safe from harm.
Sensor fusion effects an avoidance response when inputs from different feeds indicate a collision is about to occur. The different feeds are optical, radar, lidar and GPS facilities, to name the more common types.
Through the various sensors fixed to the car and aimed in different directions, the sensor fusion system monitors the environment around the car and reacts automatically – and appropriately – as threats become apparent. Volvo anticipates the new system will be commercially available in time for the company's goal of ending fatalities in its cars by 2020.
The primary aim of the Non-Hit Car and Truck project was to network the various sensors to be found in high-end cars, as the eyes and ears of an intelligent system that will avoid any obstacle in the car's path, without creating collateral damage.
While the sensors and the electronically-controlled power steering and brakes have been available for years, they haven't been linked together for the purpose of steering around a stalled car or a pedestrian before now. Many production cars now feature AEB (Autonomous Emergency Braking), but steering involves more processing power and spatial awareness, as motoring.com.au was told by Mercedes-Benz safety expert Jochen Hermann, during the global launch of the new S-Class last year.
Volvo, through the Non-Hit Car and Truck project, appears to have identified the silver bullet – and decades earlier than Benz foretold.
"Volvo Cars is definitely on the front line when it comes to innovative active safety research and development," says Anders Almevad (pictured), Project Manager for the Non-Hit Car Project at Volvo Cars.
"With the Non-Hit Car and Truck project, we've taken a significant step towards realising the vision that by 2020 no one should be killed or seriously injured in a new Volvo car. The technology is also imperative for the development of self-driving cars, which will be able to automatically steer and brake to avoid collision with any object in any situation. Our primary objective is to focus on preventing different types of accident scenarios. But going forward, we will also continue to work on developing cars that adapt to each individual driver's unique behaviour."
Two test vehicles have already been built featuring Sensor Fusion. The Non-Hit Car and Truck project commenced in September 2010 and has cost $12.7 million to date. Partners include Volvo, threat assessment specialist HiQ, sensor supplier Mecel and Chalmers University of Technology.
Share this article
Written byCarsales Staff
See all articlesOur team of independent expert car reviewers and journalistsMeet the team
Stay up to dateBecome a carsales member and get the latest news, reviews and advice straight to your inbox.
Subscribe todayRelated articles
Disclaimer
Please see our Editorial Guidelines & Code of Ethics (including for more information about sponsored content and paid events). The information published on this website is of a general nature only and doesn’t consider your particular circumstances or needs.
Please see our Editorial Guidelines & Code of Ethics (including for more information about sponsored content and paid events). The information published on this website is of a general nature only and doesn’t consider your particular circumstances or needs.
Contact
Advertise with us
Local marketplaces
International marketplaces
Scan to download the carsales app
Want more info? Here’s our app landing page
App Store and the Apple logo are trademarks of Apple Inc. Google Play and the Google Play logo
are trademarks of Google LLC.