Collision Avoidance Technology Or Much More?

Sanjay Gupta- NXP Oct 15, 2020

The continuous evolution of automotive technology is soon expected to make the vision of autonomous vehicles a reality. In fact, automotive and technology companies have made progress by leaps and bounds when it comes to self-driving vehicles. But in this journey towards autonomous vehicles, the biggest role is being played by Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) that provides safe and increasingly autonomous experiences. ADAS is today one of the fastest-growing segments of automotive electronics in the advancing mobility value chain, fuelled by technology advancements and consumer interest in safety applications that protect drivers and reduce accidents.

According to a report, 92.7 percent of new vehicles available in the US already have at least one ADAS feature. In India too, the Union Ministry for Road Transport and Highways is working towards introducing a mandate which will bring Advanced Driver Assist Systems (ADAS) in all cars by 2022 as road mishaps cost India 3-5% of its gross domestic product every year and an enormous number of precious lives. Despite India accounting for only one percent of the vehicles across the world, we contribute almost 6% of the road fatalities on the road. What’s even more worrying is the fact that India’s young, productive population, aged 18-45 years, is involved in 70% of road accidents, as per a recent report by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. Therefore, the introduction of ADAS systems is the necessity of the hour for a safer & secure experience on the roads as human error accounts for 95% of all road accidents.

ADAS assists drivers behind the wheels in making a judgment to avoid mishaps. Furthermore, the combined power of sensors like Radar, Vision, Lidar and advanced data fusion technologies can contribute to improving ADAS functions preventing 90% of the crashes currently not addressed by it. ADAS coupled with Radar Sensor technology provides assistance to the unguarded drivers from accidents and collisions and interferes only when required and at times when it can predict a possible collision. Radar sensors coupled with short-range to high-resolution long-range radars give a full 360-degree view around the car, so as you are driving the car is aware of its surrounding.

The technology also exhibits a wide variety of features. From cruise control to lane changing assistance, blind-spot detection, and from engaging emergency brakes to parking assistance, ADAS can do it all. According to a report by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) of the United States, ADAS is responsible for not only keeping people in the car safe but also keep other vehicles on the road and the pedestrians safe too. NXP an already established market leader in the Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) segment, is continuously working towards empowering drivers and prevent mishaps, through various cutting-edge technologies like radar, vision, V2X, and LiDar to perform semi-autonomous functions

For India where driving is not so organized, autonomous vehicles can take a little longer and the transition to self-driving cars will happen in phases. But if road safety is the primary motivator for accepting self-driving vehicles, then ADAS is the first step.

There is a big buzz surrounding autonomous vehicles, with most of the enthusiasts and tech-lovers hoping for a fully automated future. Solutions such as Adaptive Cruise-Control and Lane-Keeping Assistance have already found their way into the automotive mainstream market-and the industry will only move forward in the next few years. In India, ADAS features are only made available in the top end cars. However, ADAS should be made mandatory in every car, like ABS (Anti-lock Braking System) is today. Moving beyond the hype of self-driving cars, the real purpose these automated systems serve is the fact that it makes driving safe. So, the next big innovation for the automotive segment in India should be focused on enhancing safety for the person inside the car and also for others on the road, and this can be only achieved if vehicles seamlessly Sense, Think, Connect and Act on real-time road situations.