ABI: Camera-Based Safety Systems to Reduce Vehicle Accidents
November 30, 2007 // Published as a news service by IHS
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Consumer demand for active safety features is growing and technology is rapidly advancing.
According to ABI Research, radar- and lidar-based obstacle-detection systems continue to develop at the high end of the automobile market, while ultrasonic sensors dominate the low end.
Camera-based sensing systems, however, are adding functionality at both ends of the market, and are lowering the cost of bringing safety features to consumers.
"The low cost and high performance of cameras, coupled with rapidly developing machine vision capability, are enabling automakers to offer real help for drivers to keep their vehicles on the road, avoiding accidents," said ABI Research principal analyst David Alexander.
"Looking forward was the first priority, and now new systems are emerging that can watch all around the vehicle."
Analysts said the first automotive camera systems were intended to supplement information when the driver is in reverse gear. Upcoming innovative options will extend that view all around the vehicle, including bumper-mounted cameras to see all side obstacles.
The drawback of additional visual aides is that they increase the number of distractions vying for the driver's attention. Machine vision will be the solution in the future, with constant monitoring of the surroundings and driver notification only when necessary.
While driver assistance via warnings is helpful, analysts said the industry is steadily moving toward automatic error correction by the vehicle. With electronic control of braking and steering already implemented in many vehicles, it is only a matter of time (and extensive testing and development) before semi-automatic driving is a reality.
Source: ABI Research.