Volvo’s new cars to get pedestrian and cyclist detection

By tracking moving objects, a new system from Volvo could help prevent accidents. The system uses a camera embedded in a car’s rear view mirror, combined with a radar instrument in the grill to scan the road ahead. If it sees an object, an onboard computer will determine whether it is a cyclist or a pedestrian, and prepare to apply the brakes if someone swerves out into traffic or darts across road. Many cars already come with safety systems that will brake if a collision with another vehicle or a pedestria
March 28, 2013 Read time: 2 mins
By tracking moving objects, a new system from 609 Volvo could help prevent accidents.

The system uses a camera embedded in a car’s rear view mirror, combined with a radar instrument in the grill to scan the road ahead. If it sees an object, an onboard computer will determine whether it is a cyclist or a pedestrian, and prepare to apply the brakes if someone swerves out into traffic or darts across road. Many cars already come with safety systems that will brake if a collision with another vehicle or a pedestrian seems imminent. By tracking nearby moving objects, the Volvo system could prevent further accidents.

The system is said to enhance a driver’s awareness of his or her surroundings. If a driver doesn’t see a cyclist, a warning flashed on the windscreen will serve as a reminder to drive more cautiously. Augmenting drivers’ ability to monitor the road is increasingly common and it can be preferable to a system that tries to take over completely.

Volvo will demonstrate the system at this year’s New York Auto Show and says it will appear in virtually all its models from mid-2013.
Urban Traffic Control Location Based Systems

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Making cars safer for vulnerable road users
    June 2, 2016
    Richard Cuerden considers measures to improve the safety of vulnerable road users. The competitive nature of the car market has seen an increase in protection for those travelling inside the vehicle and this is reflected in the casualty statistics -but the same does not apply to those outside the vehicle. And with current societal trends such as ageing populations, an increasing number of pedestrians and cyclists encouraged by environmental policies, this is an area that authorities such as the European Uni
    Read More
  • Volvo Group developing safety systems at new test track
    August 22, 2014
    AstaZero, the world’s first full-scale test track for active automotive safety located in Borås, Sweden has officially opened. The 2000,000 square meters testing area simulates cities as well as multilane motorways and rural roads with intersections. It is here that the Volvo Group will test and develop future safety solutions for heavy vehicles. The Volvo Group claims its vision is to have no Group vehicles involved in traffic accidents and the Group’s safety experts have studied data from traffic acci
    Read More
  • US automakers commit to making AEB standard on new vehicles
    March 18, 2016
    Twenty US automakers, representing more than 90 per cent of the US auto market have committed to automatic emergency braking (AEB) a standard feature on virtually all new cars no later than 2022. Making the announcement, the US Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) said that the commitment means that this important safety technology will be available to more consumers more quickly than would be possible
    Read More
  • TfL to trial new bus sensor technology
    August 1, 2014
    Transport for London (TfL) is to trial detection software to enhance bus driver awareness of pedestrians and cyclists. The six-week trial will start later this month as part of a continued drive to improve road safety in the capital. Four buses will be fitted with brand new pedestrian and cyclist detection software which directly alerts bus drivers when pedestrians and cyclists are moving close to their vehicles, helping to reduce collisions. TfL is trialling two systems, CycleEye from Fusion Processi
    Read More

Highlighted Content