What is Advanced Driver Assist Systems (ADAS)?
Over the years, vehicle safety has become one of the most important areas the automotive industry has invested in. It’s now more commonplace for vehicles to come equipped with technologies that help make drivers more aware of their surroundings and drive more safely and easily.
Advanced Driver Assist Systems (ADAS) are technological features designed to help increase safety in driving. These systems incorporate the latest standards and algorithms to support real-time vision processing and sensors.
Here is a list of a few common advanced active safety features and what they do:
Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)
ACC helps a driver control and maintain their speed. It works with the driver setting the speed and distance to be maintained between the vehicle and the one in front of it. ACC can automatically accelerate, slow down and even stop the vehicle, depending on the actions of other objects in its immediate area.
Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB)
AEB uses sensors to detect whether the driver is about to hit another vehicle or object on the road. It can measure the distance of nearby traffic and will alert the driver to any dangers. If it senses the driver has not taken action, and a collision is imminent, it will brake for the driver.
Adaptive Light Control
Adaptive Light Control adapts the car’s headlights to external lighting conditions. It can change the strength, direction and rotation of the headlights depending on the car’s environment and darkness.
Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM)
BSM detects vehicles that may be in the driver’s blind spot to the rear or side of the car. Alerts can be audible, visual, or haptic (vibrations in the steering wheel or seat cushion).
Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA)
This function works in conjunction with BSM and warns the driver of approaching cross-traffic when reversing out of a parking spot.
Driver Drowsiness Detection
Driver Drowsiness Detection tracks the eyesight or movement of the steering wheel to detect sleepy, distracted, or inattentive behaviour. Many systems use an icon that lights up in the instrumental panel to get the driver’s attention. Others use a bright light accompanied by a tone.
Lane Departure Warning (LDW)
This application monitors the car’s position within the lane and provides a warning if the car starts moving out of the lane without any driver input. Like the alert for BSM, it can be audible, visual, or haptic.
Lane Keep Assist (LKA)
This is similar to LDW but it also applies corrective steering and/or braking to keep the car in its lane.
Park Assist
Park Assist helps inform the driver if a parking space is large enough through visible or audible warnings. It also alerts the driver to the proximity of other vehicles. It can also control the car’s steering while the driver controls the accelerator and brakes, although some systems can control everything.
Traffic Sign Recognition (TSR)
TSR uses a camera that can recognise traffic signs on the road, so the driver becomes aware of them, even if they haven’t noticed them. Signs it can read include speed limits and ‘school ahead’. The information is only informative and does not take corrective action to reduce the speed of the vehicle.
As technology advances, so do ADAS features, creating a safer driving environment for the driver and others on the road. It’s important to remember that, despite the safety features available in cars, drivers still have full control. Therefore, they shouldn’t rely on these systems alone and should always stay alert to their surroundings.