What if your car could prevent you from hitting a cyclist?
Today the answer is…it can.
That’s a question that Volvo has just answered by developing a new system that is aimed at dramatically reducing bicycle vs car accidents.
The Volvo Cyclist Detection with full auto brake system uses a combination of camera and radar to identify cyclist in the path of a car and perhaps most interesting of all the system can immediate apply the brakes when it believes the driver is about to hit a cyclist.
“Our solutions for avoiding collisions with unprotected road users are unique in the industry. By covering more and more objects and situations, we reinforce our world-leading position within automotive safety. We keep moving towards our long-term vision to design cars that do not crash,” said Doug Speck, Senior Vice President Marketing, Sales and Customer Service at Volvo Car Group.
According to Volvo, “Pedestrian and Cyclist Detection with full auto brake consists of a radar unit integrated into the car’s grille, a camera fitted in front of the interior rear-view mirror and a central control unit. The radar’s task is to detect objects in front of the car and to determine the distance to them. The camera determines the type of the objects. Thanks to the dual-mode radar’s wide field of vision, pedestrians and cyclists can be detected early on. The high-resolution camera makes it possible to spot the moving pattern of pedestrians and cyclists. The central control unit continuously monitors and evaluates the traffic situation.”
The system will be available in the Volvo V40, S60, V60, XC60, V70, XC70 and S80 models from mid-May in 2013.
Check out the video below to see the new Volvo Safety system in action and check out THIS VIDEO as we put Volvo’s pedestrian collision avoidance system to the test.
