Overview

We have heretofore reviewed IV systems focused separately on lateral and longitudinal driver support. It is logical for these systems to converge into integrated systems so that surround sensing and more robust driver support is accomplished.

Inevitably, 360-degree sensing will evolve as part of the total crash avoidance package of the future. Surround sensing is obviously superior to human sensing, since we only have two eyes and they are only on one side of our head with even the best peripheral vision, our total view is less than 180 degrees. Imagine an obstacle, such as a disabled vehicle, stopped in the middle lane at a point on a high-speed motorway in which you are traveling. As you approach this point while driving your vehicle in traffic, you cannot see it because the vehicle just ahead of you is large enough to block the forward view. The large-vehicle driver sees the obstacle and swerves to another lane, suddenly presenting you with a dead-stopped vehicle just a few meters ahead. What do you do? Stop? Swerve? If you swerve to another lane, is it clear? In the miniscule time you have available for the decision, there is no time to check all of your options, and you hope your choice is a good one.

With surround sensing, it s a different story. The vicinity around your vehicle is constantly being monitored. In the scenario above, not only will the object ahead be detected, but the best avoidance maneuver can be indicated to guide...