The History of the High-Tech Safety Features in Your Car

• The most important selling points of vehicles today are the advanced driver assistance systems.
• We often take safety features for granted.
• This article will explain the workings of the most popular high-tech safety devices on the market.

 

In the past few decades, technology in cars has improved dramatically. The integration of mobile devices with vehicles to stream music and provide navigation is a very cool feature. However, most people would agree that the safety of drivers and passengers are the most important. Safety features have been around almost as long as driving, and the earliest ones were introduced shortly after the advent of driving.

Duesenberg introduced the hydraulic four-wheel brake system in 1922, replacing mechanical brakes. This was one of the first innovations that revolutionized car safety.

The dawn of ADAS Technology

Fast forward nearly 100 years and today’s vehicles are packed with safety features. Some of us can recall a time when airbags and seatbelts were not required for new cars. However, these features are outdated compared to the ones that are being introduced in today’s models. The latest safety features rely on computerized controls and radars, as well as advanced electronics. In the last decade, the number of advanced driver assist systems (ADASs) has increased so much that the AAA recommended standardizing the names of these systems. Manufacturers currently use different names for features that perform the same function.

How did we arrive at this point? Let’s look at the history of the popular safety features to understand how they became standard.

Mercedes-Benz developed the first generation anti-lock braking systems in 1970 with TELDIX. Mercedes-Benz, in August 1978, presented to the press a new generation ABS system developed by Bosch. The test car with ABS remained on track through the turns when the brakes were applied. Test cars without ABS tended to slide off course when braking too suddenly. Photo: Daimler AG.

Forward Collision Warning and Automatic Emergency Braking

AAA says that this technology is standard on about 30% of vehicles of 2018 model year. It is easy to believe this, since these features are featured in many car commercials. They save the distracted teenager from a fender bender or take over when the truck pulls in front of a mom driving her children to soccer practice.

Radar is used in these safety features to alert the driver to an imminent collision, or to brake the car autonomously. Cadillac tried a primitive version of an automatic collision warning system back in the 1950s. However, it was scrapped because of high manufacturing costs. These systems were not seen again until 1995 when a team of engineers from California developed radar-based technology, which was then showcased at North American International Auto Show.

It took nearly 20 years before this technology became mainstream. However, some early adopters of automatic braking were Honda in 2003 (on its Japanese-market Inspire model) with their CMBS (Collision Mitigation System) and Mercedes-Benz in 2003 also with the “Pre-Safe”, brake assist sensors, on their S-Class.

This feature will not disappear, even if we never use it. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety announced in 2016 that 99 percent all new U.S. cars will have emergency braking included as a standard feature.

Infiniti’s Predictive Front Collision warning monitors both the vehicle directly in front and the one behind it. This means that the system is able to see two cars ahead. If the system detects sudden or unexpected movement by other vehicles, it will give both audio and visual alerts. Photo: Infiniti Motor Company Ltd.

 

Blind Spot Warnings

Mirrors have been around for over 100 years and could be considered to be the first blind spot monitors. The first rearviews were originally inside the car, and provided a clear view of the rear, but little to no help in observing the side or adjacent lanes. As the U.S. grew, outside rearview mirrors – sometimes called “side” mirrors – became more popular. In the 1950s, and 1960s, highway systems expanded. Side-view mirrors created a “blind spot” that was dangerous, especially when changing lanes while on the interstate.

This led to the development of blind-spot monitoring and warning system. In recent years, more technical solutions are becoming common and available with a variety functionalities. These systems, which rely on cameras or sonar to alert you when a car or object enters your blind spot, are not an excuse for stopping to observe the surroundings before changing lanes. Depending on the vehicle, this can be done by a warning sound, vibration or light. Some advanced systems include “cross-traffic alerts”, which warn the driver when someone or a vehicle approaches beyond his or her line of vision, for example while backing up.

Blind spot monitoring was first introduced in 2005 with the Volvo S80. Many vehicles now have a version of this technology, some more advanced than others. Infiniti, for example, introduced a system called “blind-spot intervention”, which applies the brakes in order to steer your vehicle away from changing lanes when someone is in its blind-spot.

Volvo’s City Safety Technology detects other vehicles and pedestrians as well as large animals such a moose or deer. It can then engage auto-braking in order to reduce collisions. City Safety can also be used to avoid or reduce collisions at intersections. Photo: Volvo Car USA, LLC.

 

Adaptive Cruise Control

It is often found in conjunction with the forward collision warning systems. Most modern cars have both. ACC uses the same radar sensor or laser sensor in the front to control the brakes and throttle in order to maintain a predetermined distance between the car in front and yours.

 

In the early 1990s, Mitsubishi introduced a Japanese version of adaptive cruise control that relied on the use of laser technology. The system used the gas pedal and the transmission to reduce the speed and assess the distance. In 1999, Mercedes-Benz launched the radar-assisted system on its S-Class and CL-Class. From there, the technology evolved and started to integrate with collision-avoidance systems. You’ll love cruise control if you are like me! You can appreciate that ACC allows you to drive on the highway without touching the brake or accelerator as traffic ebbs.

It can improve the overall comfort of the driver.

While not fully autonomous, these safety features are an important part of intelligent cars. A vehicle equipped with ACC is considered to be “Level 1 Autonomous,” since it can help the driver, but cannot drive itself or assess other road factors like traffic lights. Most manufacturers offer some version of ACC in their product line. BMW is one of the few manufacturers that can stop completely and continue moving if in stop-and go traffic.

Cadillac’s Super Cruise, as seen in the CT6, uses a driver-attention system and LiDAR maps. These systems add to the CT6’s network of cameras, radar sensors and other features. Super Cruise will automatically brake, steer and position the vehicle on the highway under certain conditions. Photo: Cadillac.

 

Back & Surround View Cameras

The majority of drivers have at least heard about backup cameras. Many vehicles come with them as standard equipment, but they are also popular aftermarket accessories. The technology is made possible by a small camera mounted on the back of the vehicle, which transmits live video footage when the vehicle is in reverse. The video is projected either on the dashboard or the rear view mirror to give the driver an even better view of the obstacles behind the vehicle. The majority of these cameras are equipped with a radar sensor which will sound an alarm when the vehicle is too close to something.

Toyota Soarer Limited was the first production vehicle to feature a backup camera in 1991. These products were only sold in Japan, and they were discontinued in 1997. Infiniti introduced the RearView Monitor on the Q45 sedan in 2000 at the New York Intentional Automobile Show. Infiniti pioneered a more comprehensive camera system with the “Around View Monitor” in 2007. This system provided the driver with an aerial view of the vehicle by using four cameras.

Due to the dominance of SUVs on the market, with their large D-pillars and tall haunches, backing up has become a challenge. It’s no surprise that the benefits of backup cameras are a major factor in manufacturers adopting them. In 2014, NHTSA announced that following an aggressive consumer safety program, it would require backup cameras on all cars sold in the U.S. after May 2018.

The Trailer Reverse Guide, a feature new to the 2020 Ford Super Duty shows the angle and direction of the trailer and gives steering suggestions for backing. The system is compatible with all trailer types, including gooseneck and fifth-wheel applications. Ford Motor Company.

 

Lane-Departure Warning & Lane-Keep Assistance

 

These systems are designed to prevent drivers from accidentally veering into another lane. These systems are intended for high-capacity freeways, and other roads with clear lane markings. The front-facing cameras record the road live, while edge detection software detects if the vehicle is in the lines.

Different manufacturers offer different levels of passive or active alerts. A departure warning system emits a sound or vibrates to alert the drivers that they may be drifting outside of their lane. An assistance system can react and turn the vehicle back into its proper lane, if the driver does not take action. This feature is often paired with adaptive cruise and can be considered semi-autonomous.

In Europe, lane departure warning systems were first introduced on trucks in 2000. Nissan Cima, Toyota Caldina, and other passenger cars began appearing in Japan between 2001 and 2002. Infiniti’s FX and M models were the first to feature these warning systems in North America. Toyota followed suit, adding lane-keeping assist to Crown Majesta that same year. These features gained popularity over the next decade. They have not been without controversy. In 2017, the IIHS expressed concerns that drivers would become less attentive behind the wheel if they relied on these systems, and other safety features like forward collision warnings and adaptive cruise controls.

Nils Bohlin, a Volvo engineer from 1959, demonstrating the 3-point safety belt. Volvo Cars’ decision to waive its patent rights has saved over one million people from harm since then. Photo: Volvo Car Corporation.

Future Considerations

The Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1966 was a major step forward for the automotive industry. Initially, the emphasis was on preventing injury in an accident. (Seat belts and padded dashboards, collapsible columns, airbags etc.) After these passive safety systems became a standard, as technology improved, automakers, government agencies and safety advocates began to focus on active safety, that is, preventing accidents from happening in the first instance.

In the last decade, we have seen how automotive technology is changing. It’s safe say that driver assist systems will be around for a long time, based on the consumer demand and wide adoption. Will the next generation of drivers, who are the youngest in the industry today, feel the same way about forward collision warning systems as they do now that seatbelts have been around for so long?

Like the rest of the industry I will be watching to see what happens.