Error processing SSI file
Leigh Ann Swims of Japanese supplier Aisin Seiki Co. shows Marty Smith of Telematrix Digital Media the intelligent transportation system, which includes a parking system, surround monitor and intersection obstacle notification.SAE World Congress
Smart cars keep drivers safe
Executives say auto safety will rely on electronics, including computers, sensors.
Safety experts predict an increased emphasis on preventing crashes, rather than reducing injuries.
Comment on this story
Get ready for a brave new world of cars that can save you from yourself -- or at least correct some of your dumber driving errors.
In coming years, automakers are increasingly going to build intelligent cars that can keep drivers out of accidents, a panel of automotive executives told the Society of Automotive Engineers World Congress on Monday.
Safety experts from top automakers and parts suppliers said advanced electronics, including computers and sensors, would offer the greatest benefits in coming years.
The executives predicted increased emphasis on preventing crashes, rather than reducing injuries when a crash had already occurred.
"There's going to be a fusion of technologies to assist the driver and eventually avoid crashes altogether," said Andrew Brown, executive director of engineering competency at Troy-based supplier Delphi Corp.
For manufacturers that have earned five-star ratings in the current array of crash tests from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, there is little more to be gained from improvement in body structures, said Josef Haberl, BMW's director of vehicle safety.
It would be expensive to eke out further gains on crash protections, and the money would be better spent on new ways to help drivers avoid crashes.
"The time for crash tests is over," Haberl said. "Times have changed. Government must allow industry to shift the focus to crash avoidance."
The industry executives' comments coincided with a new emphasis by federal regulators on crash avoidance technologies.
NHTSA officials have asked for more research money to study the benefits of new technologies such as electronic stability control, collision warning systems and intelligent cruise control.
New devices would allow automakers to help cut down on driver errors, which are responsible for the overwhelming majority of crashes, said Robert Lange, executive director of structure and safety integration at General Motors Corp.
"We have tended to focus on vehicles," Lange said. "Now technologies have evolved to allow us to focus on the other parts of the equation."
Some experts envision a day where the technology exists to take over many functions from the driver. But the executives told SAE members that they had to face the realities of the marketplace, where consumers do not want to give up control to a computer.
And what if your car is not only smart, but capable of spying on you?
The executives admitted that the technology for "black box" data recorders is already well established.
The crash data from such black boxes is invaluable for safety investigators to monitor what's happening in real-world crashes, but civil libertarians are concerned about how such data will be used by regulators or in the courts.
Today's black boxes are limited to collecting a few seconds of data on steering, braking and acceleration before and after a crash. Future cars could monitor driving and enable insurance companies to give different rates based on particular habits.
"There's a fine line to walk," said Christopher Cook, a vice president with Infineon Technologies. "There are privacy concerns. Convincing drivers that these recorders are there to help them is a real challenge."
The exhibit floor at Cobo Center is rich with examples of the technologies the safety executives were talking about.
Japanese supplier Aisin Seiki Co. is displaying a suite of warning systems known collectively as a "vehicle surroundings monitor" that are now only available on Toyota vehicles sold in Japan, but could migrate to products sold by the Japanese automaker in North America.
The system employs four cameras mounted on the front, rear and both sides of the car.
The cameras trigger an alert on the front-mounted video screen if the vehicle crosses lane markers, and associated electronics prevent the vehicle from drifting into another lane.
The technology can also cut down on the likelihood of a crash in an intersection -- one of the most common trouble spots on the roads.
Detroit News Staff Writer Ed Garsten contributed to this story. You can reach Jeff Plungis at (202) 906-8204 or jplungis@detnews.com.
Members of the 143rd and 16th Ordinance Battalions unveil the MP Hybrid vehicle at SAE World Congress.
Copyright © 2005
The Detroit News.
Use of this site indicates your agreement to the Terms of Service (updated 12/19/2002).