Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[BMW and Volkswagen demonstrating safety technology for AKTIV project in Germany]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/06/25/bmw-and-volkswagen-demonstrating-safety-technology-for-aktiv-pro/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/06/25/bmw-and-volkswagen-demonstrating-safety-technology-for-aktiv-pro/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/06/25/bmw-and-volkswagen-demonstrating-safety-technology-for-aktiv-pro/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,




This week BMW and Volkswagen are demonstrating the results of their work on the four-year German government funded Adaptive and Cooperative Technologies for Intelligent Traffic (AKTIV) project. AKTIV includes a group of German automakers, suppliers and communications companies to develop and test systems that will improve traffic flow, safety and fuel efficiency.

The various sub-projects within AKTIV utilize car-to-car, car-to-infrastructure and in-vehicle technologies to help inform the driver of what's transpiring around the vehicle and, in some cases, the vehicle will respond autonomously. Among the technologies in use are cameras, radar and laser sensors all developed to automatically brake the vehicle to prevent collisions, along with messaging systems that can warn of pedestrians or vehicles coming from around a corner.

Volkswagen has also incorporated communications messages about road work and other congestion into the adaptive cruise control (ACC) to help improve the traffic flow by adjusting the control strategy for the ACC. Cars are taken through the narrower section of road at constant speed and a safe distance and then accelerated out on the other side to keep things moving along. BMW has even incorporated the communications systems into motorcycles to allow riders to be more aware. Get the full details in the press release after the break.


Gallery: BMW AKTIV Technology


Gallery: Volkswagen AKTIV technology


[Source: Volkswagen, BMW]

Continue reading BMW and Volkswagen demonstrating safety technology for AKTIV project in Germany

BMW and Volkswagen demonstrating safety technology for AKTIV project in Germany originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 25 Jun 2010 18:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>active safetyActiveSafetyAdaptive and Cooperative Technologies for Intelligent TrafficAdaptiveAndCooperativeTechnologiesForIntelligentTrafficaktivbmwcar to carcar to car communicationscar to infrastructurecar2xCarToCarCarToCarCommunicationsCarToInfrastructurevehicle to grid communicationsvehicle to infrastructure technologyvehicle to vehicle communicationsVehicleToGridCommunicationsVehicleToInfrastructureTechnologyVehicleToVehicleCommunicationsvolkswagenFri, 25 Jun 2010 18:26:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19527691/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/06/25/bmw-and-volkswagen-demonstrating-safety-technology-for-aktiv-pro/19527691/article-detail.xml 19527691 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/06/p90046093highres-copy_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/06/p90046093highres-copy.jpg <![CDATA[VIDEO: Next-gen Volvo S60 takes Active Safety to next level with people sensing?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/09/video-next-gen-volvo-s60-takes-active-safety-to-next-level-with/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/09/video-next-gen-volvo-s60-takes-active-safety-to-next-level-with/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/09/video-next-gen-volvo-s60-takes-active-safety-to-next-level-with/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Click above to view video after the jump

For decades now, Volvo has been staking its claim in the automotive landscape by being the safety brand. And honestly, that's smart marketing. When a family (especially a young family) goes car shopping and safety is high on their list of concerns, tying your product to their desire to see their children live is a good way to move metal. Problem is, the car world has changed considerably since Volvo first started making bones about being four-wheeled life preservers 25 years ago. All cars are pretty safe these days. Some are even safer than Volvos. So how do you stand out from the pack? Keep innovating.

Which is precisely what Volvo's doing with their new City Safety system. Essentially, using some fairly sophisticated radar technology (see above) Volvo is able to pick out pedestrians from other objects like cars and trees. Nifty, huh? And quite similar (and ironic) to how the the Terminator viewed his surroundings. Sadly, it would seem when the system encounters a mother pushing a baby carriage, it identifies the mother as more important. Though that's probably win-win as long as the car doesn't hit either. Point is, should the Volvo get too close to a human, on clamp the brakes for a full, computer-controlled stop.

This radar tech is actually very closely related to the system Ford is using for active cruise control, blind spot warning and parking lot avoidance alerts on the new 2010 Taurus (which, coincidentally, is based on a Volvo platform). We got to see a behind the scenes peak at the Taurus's radar system on the launch and what you're looking at is essentially what Ford showed us, though cranked up a notch. There's a video of the next S60 running the system after the jump, as well as a machine-translated story explaining it all (kinda). Tip of the hard hat to Joakim.

[Source: Teknikensvarld]

Continue reading VIDEO: Next-gen Volvo S60 takes Active Safety to next level with people sensing?

VIDEO: Next-gen Volvo S60 takes Active Safety to next level with people sensing? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 09 Oct 2009 18:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>active safetyActiveSafetyauto stopAutoStopCity SafetyCitySafetyFord TaurusFordTaurusRadarVolvoVolvo City SafetyVolvoCitySafetyFri, 09 Oct 2009 18:28:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19190885/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2009/10/09/video-next-gen-volvo-s60-takes-active-safety-to-next-level-with/19190885/article-detail.xml 19190885 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/10/volvohud_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/10/volvohud.jpg <![CDATA[Ford's new active safety initiative hits the street (signs) [w/VIDEO]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/13/fords-new-active-safety-initiative-hits-the-street-signs-w-v/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/13/fords-new-active-safety-initiative-hits-the-street-signs-w-v/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/13/fords-new-active-safety-initiative-hits-the-street-signs-w-v/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Follow the jump for a video demonstrating the Smart Intersection

Newer technology like GPS and Wi-Fi have given us easy access to directions, and soon, in-car Internet. Ford is working with the federal government and other automakers to use that same technology to improve safety on our roadways as well. Since 40% of all accidents and 20% of automotive fatalities occur at intersections, stop signs and stop lights were the smart place to start.

The new "Smart Intersection" uses Wi-Fi and GPS to find the exact location of your vehicle and determine if a warning is needed to help you stop. When driving through an intersection, an on-site black box and two wireless antennae communicate with your vehicle. If the light is red and it's determined that your vehicle isn't stopping, a wireless signal will be sent to your car, alerting you with a visual and audible warning signal in a fraction of a second. A series of red LEDs will flash, a noise will sound, and a voice will say "stop sign" or "stop light". With drivers preoccupied with cell phones, in-car eating and sipping on java, the warning quickly refocuses his or her attention back to the road. We tried it ourselves, and we can tell you firsthand that the warnings quickly got us to stop the car.

The move toward active safety comes as most automakers are getting four or five stars in NHTSA crash testing, making the next focus of their efforts the avoidance of accidents altogether. The Smart Intersection could help save thousands of lives per year, while also cutting back the three billion gallons of fuel wasted each year in accident-related traffic jams. Honda, Toyota, GM, and Daimler are also working on smart intersections, and Ford collaborated with Michigan's Oakland County to set up a couple of real-world techno-intersections for testing. Unfortunately, it could take 20 years to get smart intersection technology in every traffic stop and vehicle, but at least much of the technology needed to accomplish this goal is already here. Follow the jump to see a video of the Smart Intersection in action.

Continue reading Ford's new active safety initiative hits the street (signs) [w/VIDEO]

Ford's new active safety initiative hits the street (signs) [w/VIDEO] originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 13 Jul 2008 16:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>active safetyActiveSafetyfordford motor companyFordMotorCompanysmart intersectionSmartIntersectionSun, 13 Jul 2008 16:33:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/1253958/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2008/07/13/fords-new-active-safety-initiative-hits-the-street-signs-w-v/1253958/article-detail.xml 1253958 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/07/smart-int-1_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/07/smart-int-1.jpg <![CDATA[Stability control could become required by law]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/09/11/stability-control-could-become-required-by-law/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/09/11/stability-control-could-become-required-by-law/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/09/11/stability-control-could-become-required-by-law/#commentsFiled under: , ,

This week lawmakers will be proposing that stability-control systems be federally mandated for all new vehicles sold in the U.S. USA Today reports that comments will be taken for 90 days on the proposal and if approved a final rule could be issued as early as next year with a phase-in period to allow automakers enough time to disseminate the technology across their entire line ups.

Currently stability control is available on about half of all new models sold, but in some instances can cost up to $900 as an option. Studies have shown, however, that stability control can save a lot of lives, somewhere in the order of 10,000 per year. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, if the technology were made standard, then fatal single-vehicle crashes would fall by 56% and the risk of single-vehicles crashes would drop 40%.

Since anti-lock brakes are an integral component in stability-control systems, the new rule would also make that technology standard across the board for the first time. Though it has never been federally mandated as standard equipment, ABS is now standard on 80% of all new vehicles sold.

[Source: USA Today]

Stability control could become required by law originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 11 Sep 2006 16:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>active safetyActiveSafetyfederal lawFederalLawIIHSmandateNHTSApassive safetyPassiveSafetysafetystability controlStabilityControltraction controlTractionControlMon, 11 Sep 2006 16:38:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/667035/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2006/09/11/stability-control-could-become-required-by-law/667035/article-detail.xml 667035 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2006/09/car-disaster6_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2006/09/car-disaster6.jpg <![CDATA[New York Auto Show: Manufacturers flaunt their safety features]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/04/15/new-york-auto-show-manufacturers-flaunt-their-safety-features/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/04/15/new-york-auto-show-manufacturers-flaunt-their-safety-features/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/04/15/new-york-auto-show-manufacturers-flaunt-their-safety-features/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

With safety features being quite high on the list of features that manufacturers like to show off, we noticed a number of displays centered on occupant protection at this year's New York International Auto Show. Volvo, Hyundai, and Volkswagen gave us a chance to peek under the sheetmetal to see what automakers do to keep passengers safe during violent impacts.

Continue reading New York Auto Show: Manufacturers flaunt their safety features

New York Auto Show: Manufacturers flaunt their safety features originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 15 Apr 2006 19:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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