Volvos Now Detect And Brake For Cyclists

Rua_ri

Volvo has built a system that automatically detects bicyclists. If the driver is on a collision course, the system sounds an alarm and brakes.

A radar in the car's grille calculates the distance between the car and objects in front of it, while a camera in the rearview mirror figures out what type of objects are in front of the car.

http://www.popsci.com/cars/article/2013-03/volvos-detect-and-brake-cyclists

Doctor Bob

Great- now Volvo drivers who want to check their phone/make-up/iPad on the road can have a bit more peace of mind.

IM0

not so great if they are near a roundabout and get T boned by a massive truck when the car automatically braked to stop hitting the cyclist in front!

DirkVoodoo

IM0 wrote: »

not so great if they are near a roundabout and get T boned by a massive truck when the car automatically braked to stop hitting the cyclist in front!

Not sure I understand, or else you don't know the definition of "t-boned"...

But, if you brake to stop hitting something in front and get hit from behind, then it's clearly because the vehicle behind was too close.

seamus

IM0 wrote: »

not so great if they are near a roundabout and get T boned by a massive truck when the car automatically braked to stop hitting the cyclist in front!

They shouldn't have entered the roundabout if there was a risk of getting hit by the truck from their right.

What I like most about this is that some drivers will learn to give room to cyclists the hard way as they go to do a close overtake and their car screams at them and slams on the brakes.

07Lapierre

If this system is like the "Park Assist" sensors fitted to other cars....the driver will simply switch it OFF and carry on passing cyclists as usual :rolleyes:

Crasp

more useless technology. Drivers need to be awake, simple as.

DirkVoodoo

Crasp wrote: »

more useless technology. Drivers need to be awake, simple as.

I wouldn't agree. All these technologies are hopefully leading us to driverless cars which google have already successfully tested.

I for one would like to see a computer behind the wheel of a white van rather than some road-raged lad looking for a bit of a laugh by giving you a fright.

You can view it as a crutch, I view it as an assistant or another set of eyes on the road, I don't see how that can be a bad thing. Even the most attentive driver can make a mistake, we're only human after all.

Crasp

DirkVoodoo wrote: »

I wouldn't agree. All these technologies are hopefully leading us to driverless cars which google have already successfully tested.

I for one would like to see a computer behind the wheel of a white van rather than some road-raged lad looking for a bit of a laugh by giving you a fright.

You can view it as a crutch, I view it as an assistant or another set of eyes on the road, I don't see how that can be a bad thing. Even the most attentive driver can make a mistake, we're only human after all.

I totally but respectfully disagree.

07Lapierre

DirkVoodoo wrote: »

I wouldn't agree. All these technologies are hopefully leading us to driverless cars which google have already successfully tested.

I for one would like to see a computer behind the wheel of a white van rather than some road-raged lad looking for a bit of a laugh by giving you a fright.

You can view it as a crutch, I view it as an assistant or another set of eyes on the road, I don't see how that can be a bad thing. Even the most attentive driver can make a mistake, we're only human after all.

Driverless cars and riderless bicycles....All problems solved!

DirkVoodoo

07Lapierre wrote: »

Driverless cars and riderless bicycles....All problems solved!

Never leave the home, that's my system. Ever.

All I know is that my laptop or phone have never tried to kill me, whereas other people driving cars have. I'd trust a computer.

RobFowl

DirkVoodoo wrote: »

Never leave the home, that's my system. Ever.

All I know is that my laptop or phone have never tried to kill me, whereas other people driving cars have. I'd trust a computer.

You're laptop may not kill kill you but it'll make you sterile.....
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-330113/Laptops-threaten-male-fertility.html


(It's in the Daily mail so it must be true)

funkyjebus

I think they know what they are doing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ridS396W2BY

dreamerb

07Lapierre wrote: »

If this system is like the "Park Assist" sensors fitted to other cars....the driver will simply switch it OFF and carry on passing cyclists as usual :rolleyes:

Crasp wrote: »

more useless technology. Drivers need to be awake, simple as.

Possibly,some of them. But on the other hand, plenty of drivers will leave it on as default and it may help them adjust their driving style or give them warning if they're driving inconsiderately; for professional drivers, some insurers may make it a condition of their insurance that they keep systems like this operative to obtain significant discounts.

Developments like this are always good news IMO. These are some of the things that change driving behaviour. Of course it won't change everyone, but it might change the "I thought that was loads of space" crowd, the "I had a momentary lapse of attention" crowd, and the "My job is driving, and depends on my not killing people" crowd. That's a lot of drivers who aren't deliberately aggressive or reckless, who will now have extra assistance to make them better drivers.

Of course there are also drivers it won't change - but at least it may reduce the genuine SMIDSY factor.

And all that said, I still think the two biggest differences to driver behavior in Dublin over the last 20 years are (1) increased numbers of cyclists - really noticeable in the last five years or so - and (2) the recession (similar timeframe but who's counting...)

John_Rambo

Doctor Bob wrote: »

Great- now Volvo drivers who want to check their phone/make-up/iPad on the road can have a bit more peace of mind.

Most Volvo drivers would be fairly conscientious and are probably cyclists themselves! The only Volvo drivers that collide with cyclists are driving support cars in races!

I have had lots of cars, most of them performance based, I have a Volvo now and when it comes to the safety of whoever is inside the car or outside the car - no manufacturer comes close. The side and rear view mirror design and size along with exterior visibility is second to none.

I would look at this as a positive development, and sometime these innovations become standards in cars, if anything, it raises awareness to other road users and the fact that they exist, have a right to exist and are here to stay.

RobFowl

John_Rambo wrote: »

Most Volvo drivers would be fairly conscientious and are probably cyclists themselves! The only Volvo drivers that collide with cyclists are driving support cars in races!

I have had lots of cars, most of them performance based, I have a Volvo now and when it comes to the safety of whoever is inside the car or outside the car - no manufacturer comes close. The side and rear view mirror design and size along with exterior visibility is second to none.

I would look at this as a positive development, and sometime these innovations become standards in cars, if anything, it raises awareness to other road users and the fact that they exist, have a right to exist and are here to stay.

Volvo drivers are complete wasters without exception.....

RobFowl