Wednesday 10th February 2010

Video: Volvo's Pedestrian Detection System

Latest generation 'Auto Brake' looks out for errant pedestrians

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The new Volvo S60 revealed yesterday features a ground-breaking Pedestrian Detection system that’s designed to help protect folk who stray into the road.

The upgrade to Volvo’s existing Auto Brake system consists of a newly developed 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 any object in front of the car and to determine the distance to it. The camera determines what type of object it is.

The newly developed dual-mode radar’s much wider field of vision ensures that pedestrians about to step into the roadway can be detected early on, says Volvo. The camera has higher resolution than the previous-generation Auto Brake which also makes it possible to detect the pedestrian’s pattern of movement.

"Detecting pedestrians with sufficiently high reliability has been a complex challenge. Our innovative technology is programmed to trace a pedestrian’s pattern of movement and also to calculate whether he or she is likely to step into the road in front of the car. The system can detect pedestrians who are 80 cm tall and upwards, that is to say including children," says Thomas Broberg, Senior Safety Advisor at Volvo Cars.

Volvo says the system can avoid a collision with a pedestrian altogether at speeds of up to 21mph if the driver does not react in time. At higher speeds, the focus is on reducing the car’s speed as much as possible prior to the impact. The company quotes statistics that show when speed is cut from 30mph to 15mph, Pedestrian Detection with full Auto Brake should reduce the fatality risk by as much as 20 per cent and in certain cases by up to 85 per cent.

Click the play button to see the new system in action

[Gridl0k]

Does this mean you get even more points for old people and dogwalkers then?

[DeadMeat_UK]

Impressive technology, although as a driver I would be very disappointed with myself if I didn't spot it before the system did.

However, I can see me having fun when I spot one of these trying to get out of a parking space in Waitrose.

[ShadownINja]

That's pretty good. I can now drive around reading the newspaper.

[LeoZwalf]

Very impressive stuff. The clip showing what the camera 'sees' as the car drives along, with the red boxes around each pedestrian, really shows what the system is constantly doing. Impressive technology for sure.

But (there always is one) - I can see how perhaps this system (and many others like it, ABS, TC, lane/park assist etc) will also mean that drivers will relax their attitude towards their responsibility of driving. "I don't have to concentrate so much on driving cos the car will stop by itself if someone comes out in front of me" In this case, that could include pedestrians too - "I don't have to bother looking so hard before crossing the road cos the cars stop automatically now".

Overall I am :-/ about this, huge upside (even if it saves just a single life, can't grumble about that) but potential downsides too...

[louismchuge]

So some drunk idiot steps in from of my new Volvo, it stops and I get rear ended by a truck? Rather slide the soft pisshead over my bonnet thanks

[soad]

Definately impressive technology as been said above.
Will it be making its way into most cars in a near future?

[Atrophy]

ShadownINja said:

That's pretty good. I can now drive around reading the newspaper.

haha that made me giggle ... I prefer to use my horn when a pedestrian strays into the road

[robert_raw]

what if i want to run someone over, like a scally for example?

Edited by robert_raw on Wednesday 10th February 11:51

[y2blade]

oh how we laughed at a dealer open day Demonstration last year.

when the XC60 drove straight into the inflatable car while showing off the advanced collision avoidance system

[Matt Evans]

What a ridiculous idea. If this is implemented in all vehicles then you'll have half the population of scallies and drunks wandering into the road whenever and wherever they want, safe in the knowledge that cars will stop for them.

Run the buggers over, and with any luck they learn their lesson, and the theory that a person vs 2 tonnes of metal will continue to work in favour of the latter.

[Fire99]

Maybe people should have 'Car detection chips' or 'look it's a bleedin road, don't wander out into it.. chips'

[nouze]

Anyone willing to bet how much the insurance premiums for the new S60 will be? All this new techonology must cost alot so even a smallest damage (eg supermarket bump) will cost thousands to repair. And all this in the name of saving pedestrians who shouldn't be on the road in the first place LOOOOOL.

[fatboy b]

Let's hope it's not wired up like a Prius then

[SteveHall30]

I'm wondering if these autobrake systems make the crash test peoples live's a chore. They try and ram the car into a corner at 30, 40mph etc and the damn car keeps putting on the brakes.

[Milks]

good news for car-jackers

[T89 Callan]

So now Volvo drivers can pay even less attention to their driving... great.

[y2blade]

T89 Callan said:

So now Volvo drivers can pay even less attention to their driving... great.

[wab172uk]

louismchuge said:

So some drunk idiot steps in from of my new Volvo, it stops and I get rear ended by a truck? Rather slide the soft pisshead over my bonnet thanks

My thought exactly.

If your stupid enough NOT to look before stepping out into a road, then you get all you deserve.

I'd rather hit someone than be hit by another car potentialy injurying me or family members.

Why should the innocent get hurt and but the person responsible for the accident walk away unharmed to do it again.

[A.S.H]

fk dwarfs then eh.

[y2blade]

A.S.H said:

fk dwarfs then eh.

sure, if you like

whatever floats your boat