One of the more useful bits of technology we encountered at the Chrysler What's New for 2009 event last week was "Rear Cross Path Detection," a byproduct of the new blind spot monitoring system on 2009 minivans that employs two radar sensors mounted on the corners of the rear bumper. Blind spot monitoring has become increasingly common on luxury vehicles in recent years, but Chrysler is claiming that the 2009 Caravan and Town & Country are the first minivans to be equipped with the technology.
If you've found yourself in a parking space flanked by two mondo SUVs, you've found it difficult, if not damn near impossible, to back out safely, and all too often drivers trolling parking lots are too busy looking for an empty slot to pay attention to cars backing out. When in reverse, the cross path detection uses the radar sensors to look to the sides for oncoming vehicles. If someone is in your path of travel the system audibly warns you of impending disaster. Check out the videos after the jump to see how both systems work.
[Source: Chrysler]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
David @ Jul 2nd 2008 6:47PM
They should just cut to the chase and create the self driving vehicle already.
We not that far off anymore with the self-braking, back up sensors, blind spot detectors, and GPS devices.
Joce03 @ Jul 2nd 2008 7:05PM
... lane departure warnings, adaptive cruise control, night vision, pedestrian sensors, automatic parking... But, we still can't make an electric car for the masses.
Joce03 @ Jul 2nd 2008 6:59PM
I'm sorry to be such a Neanderthal, but this is just an other piece of technology that a) Makes cars more expensive, b) Makes cars heavier, and c) Makes it OK for us to be inattentive drivers.
Jrejre @ Jul 2nd 2008 8:08PM
Did you read the example? There are situations where it's nearly impossible to see cars speeding through parking lots and this could be a lot of help. No amount of attentiveness can allow you to see around corners or through objects.
I doubt it's standard so if you don't want it don't buy it.
FThorn @ Jul 2nd 2008 7:17PM
Can you guys get a wireless mic and mic your subjects, please?
xboxlivemonkey @ Jul 2nd 2008 7:54PM
well mazda had this standerd on there cx7 , and to david , do you own a car ? beucase if you do and want a self driving car why not call a taxi
mk @ Jul 2nd 2008 8:04PM
Ok...
as someone who nearly got their trunk torn off the other day, due to someone speeding through the lot, and a giant topper-equipped F250 parked next to me...
I don't see a whole lot of problem with lateral sonar sensors.
Some cars, especially with limited low-rearward visibility like SUVs, Minivans, and the like, have sonar rear parking assistance, four little round sensors in the rear bumper.
Add two more to the lateral sides of the rear bumper, and bump up their range and response time, perhaps with a differential tone indicator for the driver, and you have this system.
Hardly more than a couple of OUNCES more weight, a few lines of software code, and it is done. Probably won't even cost that much more , once it is widely adopted.
If it prevents a fender bender, it pays for itself.
Brent @ Jul 2nd 2008 8:40PM
I am glad to see there wasn't an idiot saying "Make better cars before you put more stuff into you current ones." That actually makes my day! Chrysler knows what they are doing.
mroverlord @ Jul 2nd 2008 8:52PM
I know gee-wiz tech sells cars, but really I think more is less. More people will be keeping their vehicles longer with the ever increasing cost of vehicles and fuel. People will learn the hard way that all these electronic gizmos do not last, and are expensive to fix.
Just give me a good drivetrain, nice stereo, with power windows and locks and I'm happy.
Chris @ Jul 2nd 2008 9:06PM
What happens when you borrow someone else's car and try to back out of a spot without this technology?
rooshfive.blogspot.com @ Jul 2nd 2008 9:44PM
Slow week in Carland huh?
zzzzz
Gargamello @ Jul 2nd 2008 11:23PM
Yup I was thinking the same thing.
Another feature I don't care about on a car I don't want and will never buy. Yay Detroit, for still being clueless after all these years.
Bill @ Jul 2nd 2008 11:54PM
Blind spot warning is nothing new... volvo came out with it 4 years ago. The rear cross path detection could be useful.
http://www.autoblog.com/2004/08/04/volvo-invents-blis-blind-spot-info-system-actual-happiness/
Gerald @ Jul 3rd 2008 1:34AM
Now they need a robotic arm that will force people to get off their cellphones and actually check their mirrors and use their signals.
J M C 3 @ Jul 3rd 2008 7:55AM
great invention.I'm suprised co.s like Mercedes and BMW don't employ this tech for their autobahn scorchers.Those high speed lane changes with their blind spots have great application imo.
frado @ Jul 3rd 2008 9:55AM
On the autobahn there's far less need for this than in the US.
People drive with discipline, slower traffic keeps right, there is no passing on the right and people actually use their turn signals.
Yes, you may get caught off guard from time to time when you come out of the slow lane at 160 to pass somebody doing 150 and you've got a Porsche coming at 220 from behind you over the hill ... but there's nothing that Chrysler's little radar is going to do there.
But educated drivers don't hang in people's blind spots. There is no parallel driving on the highway unless it rush hour or congested. Unlike the US, where there can be two cars on the road and they parallel each other for miles over two lanes.
Traffic moves at different speeds and drivers practice far more situational awareness than the US the car bubble driving (king of the road, eating, drinking, smoking, calling, texting, watching movies ...)
And if you think the Autobahn is people's public racetrack. Sorry, there's zero tolerance for aggressive driving and endangering other drivers.
inteller @ Jul 3rd 2008 9:33AM
too bad Chrysler doesn't have blind side detection to help them avoid the economic mess they are in now.
Jeff @ Jul 3rd 2008 9:35AM
I'm glad to wake up this morning and see that the typical drum beat of autoblog responses is still being published.
Let's see if I can predict how this (and every other story) will go:
It's Chrysler, they're dead
it has to be a piece of junk coming from an American car company
it's not performance oriented
it's going to make the car too heavy
people who know how to drive won't need it
it'll throw off the balance of the car to turn it into an ill handling beast
it will reduce gas milage
make an electric car
it burns gasoline therefore it's bad
did I miss any?
you guys are pretty predictable
fd @ Jul 3rd 2008 9:42AM
I don't mind extra technology and certainly not the parking lot radar as I've found myself boxed in plenty of times between SUVs and huge trucks, often with pitch black windows preventing me to see through them to see if I can back out safely.
But, lateral blind spot radar for safe lane changes?!
Do we really need to re-invent the wheel with $500-1000 electronic systems for what two $5 - 10 extra convex side mirrors do? I can't imagine the manufacturing cost being much higher.
I have seen convex mirrors rear view mirrors that eliminate blind spots (no radar, no electronics to fail, no gimmicks, no chimes) standard / factory default on several brands and models of vehicles I drove in Europe. So, why not in the US?? Why do vehicles in the US still have the old flat side mirrors when newer and proven safer convex ones are available?
And please let's start enforcing keeping right on the highway and illegal passing on the right. That will eliminate of near accidents and accidents on the road.
fd @ Jul 3rd 2008 9:55AM
PS: Just watched the second video.
That little triangle lighting up in the side mirror for lateral alert is going to do squat for safety.
Who backs up in the mall / shopping center looking at their side mirrors?
I certainly don't because it is a recipe for an accident. I look back through the center of the car through the rear windshield and rear side windows for pedestrians, kids, cars in the opposite row backing up, ...