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Automotive Computer Safety Technology ...continued
Smart Cruise ControlMercedes-Benz will introduce the first North American example of ‘smart’ cruise control, which it calls Distronic on its S-Class cars in the second half of 1999.
This cruise control utilizes a compact radar unit mounted behind the grille to calculate the distance to the vehicle ahead of you and help decide if you are approaching too quickly. If this is the case, the system will back off on the throttle, and even apply up to 20% of the maximum braking force to correct the situation. A red alarm light and audible alarm sound, if more braking (applied by you) is required. You pre-determine cruising speed and gap distance to the next vehicle.
In the future, this system may be coupled with the seat belt and airbag systems to proactively activate them at the correct level before a collision occurs. Development is also being carried out on systems which can observe the behavior of the car two vehicles ahead and deploy warnings, safety devices and brakes to avert a collision before you are even aware of the circumstances.
Smart Air BagsFord has recently announced its intention to produce a smart airbag system on its redesigned 2000 model year vehicles. The system will analyze the driver’s seat position, front passenger weight, seat belt usage and impact severity to determine the best deployment of safety devices. For example, the passenger seat airbag will not be deployed if no weight is sensed in the passenger seat. The airbag may not deploy in a low speed collision, if the seat belt is used, or inflate slowly if the belt isn’t buckled. Even more sophisticated systems which can determine the occupant’s position on the seat to decide whether or not to deploy side airbags are on the horizon.
The free-falling cost of applied computer technology is being used to totally redefine the experience of ‘driving’ a car, including what happens in emergency situations. The down side to this safety technology is that it may encourage poor driving habits. For example, a driver can now be more fully distracted by his cell phone (or laptop PC), as his smart cruise control will alert him to an impending crash, or daredevils will speed down dimly lit roads, pushing the limits of their adaptive light control and night vision. We must remember that no electronic system, no matter how sophisticated will replace our time-tested sensors called eyes and ears, and our smart control system called a brain.
A newspaper story out of Germany highlights this point clearly. A couple was erroneously instructed to proceed over a bridge, which was actually a ferry crossing. You guessed it. The car ended up in the river and the couple ended up all wet, as any person who believes everything their computer tells them will eventually be.
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