Geely’s Volvo Car Group is claiming world firsts for animal and night pedestrian detection technology due to make its debut in the redesigned XC90 crossover due out at the end of 2014.
This, the automaker said, makes the detection and auto brake technology work effectively also when driving in darkness. It includes detection and auto brake for other vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists.
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The redesigned XC90 will also get road edge and barrier detection with steer assist whcih detects if the car is about to drive off the road and autonomously applies steering torque to bring the vehicle back on track.
“Being able to monitor where the physical road ends is a world first. This means that the technology also works on roads without side markings,” Volvo said in a statement.
Adaptive cruise control with steer assist helps the driver stay in the lane and follow the rhythm of the traffic. The new system automatically follows the vehicle ahead.
“We are introducing the first Volvos with autonomous steering to avoid accidents and make driving more comfortable,” said the automaker’s senior safety adviser Thomas Broberg.
Another claimed global first is ‘collision mitigation for animals’ which detects and automatically brakes for animals both in daylight and in the dark. The technology, designed to help the driver avoid accidents or reduce the speed of impact, will be introduced after the new XC90 is launched.
The automaker is also, along with rivals like Audi and BMW, developing autonomous parking which allows a car to find and park in a vacant space by itself, allowing the driver to leave the vehicle at the entrance to the car park.
Combining autonomous driving with detection and auto brake for other objects makes it possible for the car to interact safely with other cars and pedestrians in the car park, the automaker said. The speed and braking are adapted for smooth integration in a parking environment.
“Our approach is based on autonomously driven cars being able to move safely in environments with non-autonomous vehicles and unprotected road users,” said Broberg.
