Abstract
Subject of this presentation will be the development of Driver Assistance Systems in Road Vehicles, with an outlook for future potential, placing some emphasis on Commercial Vehicle applications. An analysis of basic data on accidents in Europe will be shown, highlighting the vital necessity for Driver Assistance Systems. Current and future requirements will be discussed together with the current status of the 2001 European Union Traffic SafetyWhite Paper and its interim reviews during 2009 and 2010.
The evolution of Driver Assistance Systems will be highlighted, with its early stages in the late 80’s of last Century. Those initial developments form the platform of today’s systems and it is important to understand the rational for some of those developments like Electronically Networked Vehicles to Road Systems or the basic Electronic Braking System.
Integration of Retarders, Coupling Force Control, Tractor/Trailer Compatibility or Braking Assistant Functions have served as important safety improvements for Commercial Vehicles. Dynamic Vehicle Stability Control has been a further safety relevant feature, already progressively in use in modern cars and trucks.
Various features of Driver Assistance Systems already in series production will be discussed, like Intelligent Cruise Control, Lane Keeping Assistant, Emergency Braking Control, Tire Control or Wireless Warning through Navigation Systems.
Short and medium term development objectives for Future Driver Assistance Systems will be highlighted. Some of those subjects are Pedestrian,-Cyclist- and Traffic Sign Detection, Lost Cargo Detection, Communication between Approaching Vehicles, initial combination of Active and Passive Safety Features, Control of Driver Drowsiness and Physical Capabilities, just to name a few.
Longer term objectives will include Vehicle Dynamics Control with Smart Lane Assistance, Intelligent Surveillance of the Vehicles Vicinity, and Autonomous Braking/Steering Intervention for Accident Mitigation.
Finally some advanced development activities will be shown on the subject of X-by-Wire Systems, which will include various important facets of Predictive Driver Assistance with Combined Active and Passive Safety Features and relevant impact on increased future traffic density and mobility. It is envisioned, that gradually Predictive Safety Systems will become mandatory Life Saving Installations in future road vehicles.
Keywords: Driver Assistance Systems Commercial Vehicles, 2001-2010 EU White Paper, Global Safety Activities Road Vehicles, Active Safety Systems