If you’ve ever used a backup camera or lane departure monitoring, you have leveraged ADAS to make driving easier and safer. Advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) refer to automotive technologies that assist the driver in steering, navigation, parking, and hazard monitoring. ADAS aims to increase a driver’s capacity to operate the vehicle, and better react to road hazards.
What Is ADAS?
Advanced driver-assistance systems are electronic technologies that assist in driving and parking functions, prevent collisions, and increase safety. ADAS use automated technology to detect obstacles or errors made by the driver and respond accordingly. ADAS can assign different levels of autonomous driving features based on what’s installed on the car.
An advanced driver assistance system uses cameras and sensors that actively collect data and interface with the driver. These systems serve to minimize human error and distraction. An ADAS can detect obstacles and driver errors before the driver does, even taking control of the vehicle at times to make corrections.
ADAS technology is a safety system that mitigates critical incidents that are avoidable. ADAS devices give important data on traffic and road closures, congestion levels, routes to avoid traffic and other measurements for driver performance. It gathers information about driver distraction and fatigue, analyzes driving performance, and provides suggestions at the appropriate time.
ADAS vs ADS
An automated driving system (ADS) is what we refer to as a ‘self-driving car’. So while ADAS provides support to human drivers, an ADS can operate the vehicle without a human at all.
The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) has identified six levels of ADAS. As the levels progress, the ADAS has increased control over vehicle functionality. By level 5, the vehicle is fully autonomous. Of course, advanced ADAS has not yet been fully embedded into vehicles, but much research and development are being done to achieve safe and reliable automated driving systems.
Tech Used in ADAS
ADAS receives inputs from external data sources. These components include a camera, LiDAR, radar, computer vision, and in-car networking. ADAS organizes inputs to immediately execute certain high-priority tasks, such as automatic braking.
These abilities are achieved through the use of a front camera on either a single device or with a stereo camera. Data collected from other sensors, such as LIDAR and RADAR, may be used to fill in data gaps. Using these combinations of inputs allows the ADAS to access a 360 view of its surroundings.
V2V, V2I & V2X
V2X (vehicle to everything) is a vehicular communication system between a vehicle and other entities that have an impact on it, such as traffic or infrastructure. It encompasses other more specific types of communication, such as V2I (vehicle to infrastructure) and V2V (vehicle to vehicle).
V2V systems allow vehicles to exchange information with each other about their current position and upcoming hazards. V2I systems allow vehicles exchanges information with nearby infrastructure elements, like street signs. In a V2X system, the vehicle monitors for possible hazards in its path.
The NHTSA estimates that widespread implementation of V2V technology would reduce the rate of traffic accidents by 13%.
ADAS Applications
- Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) automatically adjusts the speed of a vehicle to stay under the speed limit and keep a safe distance from vehicles in front of them.
- Alcohol Ignition Interlock Devices are breathalyzer-like devices connected to the car’s ignition system that prevents someone from driving if they have consumed alcohol. Alcohol ignition interlocks measure the blood alcohol content (BAC) of the driver and prevent the car from starting if the BAC exceeds a certain limit.
- Anti-Lock Braking Systems (ABS) helps you maintain traction to your tires while braking. An ABS allows the driver to continue steering when intense braking is required.
- Automatic Parking is an autonomous car-initiated parking technique designed to improve the convenience and safety of driving in restrictive environments. The automatic parking system allocates space for each side of the car, and provides intuitive and elegant control, assisting with parallel, perpendicular, or angle parking.
- An Automotive Heads-Up Display (Auto-Hud) is a transparent display that projects information for drivers to see directly in their line of sight, without requiring them to look elsewhere.
- An Automotive Navigation System allows the driver to easily find directions. Today this is typically done through the driver’s smartphone and a third-party app like Apple Maps or Google Maps. Satellite navigation is used for global locating to calculate routing directions. Real-time traffic data (road closures, congestion) can be used to adjust the routes in progress.
- Automotive Night Vision: An automotive camera system that uses thermographic technology to create a greater sense of sight in darkness, or fog, and improve visibility beyond the reach of headlights.
- Backup Camera: One of the most popular ADAS applications. Can you still back up using just your mirrors?
- Blind Spot Monitor alerts drivers to vehicles driving in their blind spots before they enter them. BSM uses radar or ultrasonic sensors in the bumpers and cameras in the side-view mirror to detect vehicles.
- A Collision Avoidance System is an ADAS that can alert, warn, or assist drivers in avoiding collisions and reducing the risk of incidents. These generally use radar, lasers, cameras, GPS, and AI technology to detect collisions before they happen. Some systems provide warnings or alerts only while others will take control over one or more vehicle functionalities.
- Crosswind Stabilization supports drivers in controlling the vehicle through strong wind conditions. Using data from brake sensors, differentials, and suspensions, CWS can assist the driver in maintaining vehicle control at different speeds and while turning.
- Cruise Control is an ADAS that automatically controls the speed of a vehicle without having to manipulate the gas pedal. Advanced cruise control systems can change speed based on external data.
- Driver Drowsiness Detection systems identify driver fatigue by analyzing driver behavior data.
- Driver Monitoring System assesses the driver’s alertness and displays warnings when needed. If proper action is not taken by the driver, the brakes will be applied automatically.
- Electric Vehicle Warning Sounds are sounds that alert pedestrians to the presence of electric drive vehicles that produce little noise.
- Electronic Stability Control (ESC): with this auto-braking feature, if the inputs on your vehicle become unclear or unresponsive, the ESP proactively applies braking force to prevent accidents. This can be done to individual wheels, such as in the case of oversteer or understeer.
- Emergency Driver Assistant is designed to monitor how drivers use their accelerator and brakes. If no driver input has been made for long enough, the system will automatically bring the vehicle to a safe stop.
- Forward Collision Warning detects a vehicle’s speed and the speed of the vehicle in front of it so that a warning is produced if the two are getting too close.
- Intersection Assistants: collisions at intersections are mostly due to driver distraction or misjudgment. Intersection assistant systems monitor cross traffic to warn of potential collisions, Brakes can be automatically engaged if necessary.
- Glare-Free High Beam uses cameras and laser sensors mounted inside the windshield. This high beam system is capable of detecting other vehicles up to 800m away. The system uses this data to adjust the angle of the light, so as not to blind other road users.
- Hill Descent Control: when descending a hill, if the driver does not brake, the vehicle will automatically apply brakes to slow it down. If the car is accelerating without the input of a brake, the system will apply them.
- Hill-Start Assist can prevent rollback on inclines or declines by holding the brakes while you switch between the brake and accelerator pedals, or while shifting gears.
- Intelligent Speed Adaptation (ISA) is an alerting system designed to prevent vehicles from exceeding the speed limit. These systems can also automatically slow a vehicle down when it’s reaching the speed limit threshold.
- Lane Centering makes driving easier by continuously keeping a vehicle in the center of a lane, relieving the driver of having to make these constant micro corrections.
- Lane Departure Warning Systems (LDW) are designed to warn the driver when the vehicle begins leaving its current lane (unless a turn signal is on in that direction)
- Lane Change Assistance refers to a variety of sensor-enabled technology that prevents accidents and helps drivers change lanes safely. LCA may have wide-ranging impacts on driving safety, especially in the areas of intersections and grey zones.
- Parking Sensors create audible alerts when your vehicle gets too close to another vehicle or object.
- Pedestrian Protection Systems make split-second adjustments to lessen damage in the event of a pedestrian collision.
- Rain Sensors detect rainfall to automatically activate vehicle windshield wipers or control speed in advanced systems.
- Omniview Technology gives the driver a ‘bird’s eye’ 360 view of the vehicle and its surroundings, from an above perspective. This is typically used to aid in parking.
- A Tire Pressure Monitoring System, or TPMS, monitors tire pressure and alerts the driver when it falls below a certain threshold.
- Traction Control System is a secondary function of electronic stability control. It’s activated when a throttle input and torque transfer do not align with road surface conditions.
- Traffic Sign Recognition (TSR) recognizes traffic signs put on the road, such as speed limits, and displays this information directly to the driver.
- Vibrating Seat Warnings also provide collision warnings to drivers, designed to give an alternative to auditory alerts.
- Wrong-Way Driving Warning warns drivers when they travel against traffic. Visual and acoustic warnings prevent accidents caused by a wrong-way driver.
Conclusion
Sometimes, we humans can use some extra assistance. ADAS systems are making the roads a safer place for everyone. Leveraging this technology in your business means a safer and more efficient fleet.
Morey brings smart, connected solutions to life through collaborative design, world-class production, and off-the-shelf hardware platforms. To learn more about partnering with us for your fleet management solution, contact us today.