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  • Author Author: Catwell
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Toyota aims to launch anti-collision and self-driving technology in two years (give or take a few years)

Catwell

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Toyota’s Advanced Active Safety Research Vehicle. I look forward to computer controlled autos. Mostly to avoid traffic jams (via Toyota)


Anyone who’s watched I, Robot (Will Smith version) can recall the car chase scene with an Audi that’s capable of driving itself and avoiding collisions. While that fictitious car was featured in a science fiction film, there have been several successful autonomous vehicles that are capable of the same feat, although they are not mass-produced. According to a recent press release from Toyota Motor Corporation, the company plans to introduce their advanced driving technology to consumers in only two years. Known as the Automated Highway Driving Assist (AHDA), the technology uses a series of sensors that allow the vehicle to take control and avoid collisions. The system actively looks for vehicles and other obstacles in the car’s path, and if dangerous conditions are detected, the car swings into action by taking control of the vehicle’s brakes and steering to avoid the obstacle.

 

The system does give the driver a chance to react before it is initiated, at which point it brings up a visible notice on a display as well as sounding an alarm. AHDA is actually comprised of two separate technologies, with one known as Cooperative-adaptive Cruise Control, which communicates wirelessly with the surrounding vehicles in order to maintain a safe distance from each other. The second piece of technology uses Toyota’s Lane Trace Control system, which uses millimeter wave radar along with HD cameras to aid in steering control to keep the vehicle in its driving lane. Toyota has already fielded the technology on a limited scope with test vehicles driving on Tokyo’s Shuto Expressway and is set to expand sometime in the next few years.

 

C

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  • in reply to Former Member

    Hi Jason,

     

    You are correct.  The safety issues will determine how far this technology goes and how soon.

    Insurance companies are not going to embrace the change unless they have data clearly showing that people with the technology are lower risk than those without it.

    It takes time to build up the database with credible and verified data.

     

    Until then, they are nice things to play with and the technology does have promise.

    Time will tell.

    DAB


  • While the concept is wonderful from the ten thousand foot view, there are certain aspects of this that are incredibly horrifying. Auto companies have never been the most forthcoming when it comes to disclosing safety and security precautions, and how much focus is there going to be on the security of the solution as opposed to the core functionality?

     

    Is it going to soon be possible to cause someone to have an accident simply by driving behind them (or next to them) and exploiting their car while they're in motion?

     

    BMW's already had some fairly notable flaws with onboard computer security. I hope they don't follow the path of medical device manufacturers (pacemakers) and make such an easily exploitable device.

  • Given the number of car accidents world wide, I think that permitting cars to take over the driving, especially if it can detect operator malfunction could save a lot of lives.

     

    I think most people are just bored as they drive and let their attention wander.  These new tools could enable the vehicle to engage the driver with warning cues that could quickly permit them to refocus on what they are doing.

     

    So far, this type of passive monitoring has greatly helped pilots keep up with conditions around their aircraft and there is no reason that we cannot upgrade vehicles for better safety.  Plus people might drive better when they know that their every action is being monitored/recorded by the vehicle.

     

    Just a thought,

    DAB