New Volvo safety feature locates collision-free escape route

New Volvo safety feature locates collision-free escape route

Volvo has developed a new safety feature that locates collision-free escape routes. The Swedish car manufacturer say this is one of the final steps towards realising its vision that no one should be killed or seriously injured in a new Volvo car by 2020.

The Non-Hit Car and Truck project will draw to a close in December, leaving as its crowning achievement the development of next-generation sensor fusion technologies that provide a seamless 360� view around a car.

Volvo has explained that one of the project's major challenges has been building a cohesive detection system out of a number of discrete sensors installed around the car, something that has never been done before. This required the development of a centralised Sensor Fusion framework to enable the various technologies - including cameras, radar, GPS and more - to share information efficiently.

Through this framework, the system is able to provide a complete 360� view of the environment and perceive any potentially threatening objects that drivers would otherwise not be able to see. By focusing on viable automotive sensors, the project has taken a big step in making this new technology a reality in the near future.

The 360� view is enhanced by the 'manoeuvre generator', a new safety feature that uses software to identify collision-free escape routes in all traffic scenarios. The system, which works by constantly analysing threats around the car, can even assist drivers with auto-braking and steering. To illustrate how the 360� view and manoeuvre generator work together, the project has built two test vehicles.

Anders Almevad, project manager for the Non-Hit Car Project at Volvo Cars said: "Volvo Cars is definitely on the front line when it comes to innovative active safety research and development. And 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 behavior."

by: Rebecca Chaplin