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

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]

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New Volvo S60 - first test skiing

Hans Hedberg was one of very few selected people who had to travel with the final test of the new Volvo S60 and the new Collision Warning with Full Auto Brake which can detect pedestrians and slow down fully on a collision would be close.

The art world has previously had a taste of the new Volvo S60 then we had to drive the Volvo S60 Concept on a avlyst orbit. Now the technology world in the form of Hans Hedberg also had a taste of a pre-series of production-ready version. He was with Volvo on a field test in which the final test of the new Volvo S60 and Collision Warning with Auto Brake Full (abbreviated remain Auto Brake in the article) took place. Auto Brake is the system that will complement the XC60 was launched with City Safety, which detects the vehicle in front and thus can help the driver avoid or reduce the effects of collisions at low speeds, for example in town or in bilkön. Auto Brake differ on this point that it is aware of the people instead of vehicles using a radar and a camera. The radar works at distances up to 150 meters while the camera is working within a closer range - 50 meters. The system detects and verifies that it is a person such as is going over the crossing point, while the driver may not notice this in front of him. Then step into the system and can slow down with full force to prevent contact with the person who passes the crossing point. There is a charge a mother with her baby carriage, it is the mother that the system identifies, not the pram.

Another better example is a ball that rolls out on the road or street with a small child running after. The driver did not have time to react, but it makes the system. In speeds up to 25 km / h is the system entirely able to avoid collisions, at speeds over it, it is rather that the system slowing down as much as possible. Volvo says the system in most cases can reduce the collision force by 75 percent.
For the system to register the "object" in front of the car as a man, this is at least 80 centimeters long. This corresponds to children aged around 15 months, about when children start to learn to walk.

But enough about Auto Brake now, we beat Hans Hedberg rapid signal after a full day with the new S60. What is his experience of the car that many are waiting for?

Hey Hans, you have therefore been in Copenhagen and got a little closer look at the new S60. What is it?
- Unfortunately, this car is heavily disguised, but call it the closer you will see that several features and lines hanging from the popular concept that was shown last spring.

But you've got to go with it?
- Yes, we have been out and tested Auto Brake and from the back seat I saw a lot of interior although it also was partially masked. From what I saw, I saw a lot of XC60-influences. Same features, same feeling and a new steering wheel - a three-spoke, which is very similar to the one shown in S60 Concept.

And back then?
- Good entry-level and spacious, especially in width. Better than new Saab 9-5 despite Volvo lirar in the class below. Head height seems okay, thanks to low slung seat cushion. Better than the old S60, but it also provides a higher lateral line seen from the inside.

How did you feel it when it rolled?
- Since this is a pre-series may be prepared on the creaking and gnekande, but not here. Solid and well built it seemed. It was a great pressure in the engine, it was in a car. Automatic transmission and dual exhaust rear. If you have pictures can of course check out what kind of engine under the hood.

According to the registration certificate, this is a strong 272 horsepower engine. A figure old S80 T6 had at one time. Feels like the figure is not really true. Anyway, it was much force in it. We can well conclude?
- Yes, really. Must run now to catch the flight to Munich. We heard.