Night View projects near-infrared beams from two lamps in the lower grill that reflect from objects ahead back to a camera mounted inside at the top of the windshield. The resulting natural-looking images are then projected onto a section of the windshield in the driver's field of vision. The LX 470 manufacturers' suggested retail price is $64,175 and the Night View (not the same system offered in Cadillac and Hummer) option is available for an additional $2,200. Mercedes offers a similar system called Pre-Safe, which also debuted last year. Lexus also has a Pre-Collision System that's a step above simple nighttime sensor technology, utilizing radar, instead of infrared, to detect obstacles ahead. A computer calculates speed, steering angle and yaw or swerve rate to determine whether a collision is unavoidable. If it is not, it can preemptively activate the seatbelts to retract the driver and front passenger's seatbelts, along with preparing a brake-assist feature that -- after the driver hits the brakes -- automatically applies increased force to reduce collision speed. The Pre-Collision System will be offered on the LS 430, but pricing has not yet been announced. The base MSRP of a 2004 LS 430 is $55,125. The LS 430 was the first car offered in the U.S. with an adaptive cruise control system that automatically adjusts vehicle speed to maintain a safe distance between vehicles. In December, Nissan announced it was designing an adaptive cruise control system with low-speed following capability. The system is designed to work in low-speed driving situations, such as in congested traffic and below 40 miles an hour, decreasing the need to accelerate or decelerate frequently. Last year, Honda engineers developed the world's first Collision Mitigation Brake System, which determines the likelihood of a collision based on driving conditions, distance to the vehicle ahead and relative speeds, then uses visual and audio warnings to prompt the driver to take preventive action. It can also initiate braking to reduce the vehicle's speed. The new system is installed in the new Inspire model, sold only in Japan. Iteris, a California firm, has been receiving a lot of attention recently for its AutoVue Lane Departure Warning System since being highlighted in a commercial by DaimlerChrysler, which helped design the technology. It's currently available as an option on Mercedes, Freightliner and International trucks, and uses a windshield-mounted camera that tracks the lane markings and "virtually" provides the effect of rumble strips. When the truck unintentionally crosses the lane markings, the system automatically emits a distinctive rumble-strip sound on the right or left side depending on the direction of travel. The turn signals automatically override the system, which helps encourage the use of turn signals. Looking down the road
So what's the future beyond this year's new high-tech anti-collision gadgets and concept cars? DaimlerChrysler is working on something called the Urban Traffic Assistant, which, among other things, could protect pedestrians by actually altering the shape of the car to minimize impact in minor accidents. Ford is also looking at external airbag technology to protect pedestrians.
In England, Cambridge Consultants Ltd., known primarily for building missile-tracking systems, has turned its attention to the anti-collision market with the unveiling of its Softcar technology. Patrick Pordage, a company spokesman, says CCL-Softcar can pick out potential hazards, such as pedestrians, better than existing systems and requires only four sensors to provide 360-degree coverage, while current systems require more. The CCL-Softcar technology is not yet on the market, but has been installed in a Honda Accord and is being demonstrated to European manufacturers. It's expected to be available to the public within two or three years. Beyond standard anti-collision technology, CCL forecasts a future for automobiles that can self-park, based on calculating distance from other objects and sensors that will monitor a vehicle's occupants and determine appropriate airbag deployment to reduce injuries caused by the occupant being either too close to the device or too small to withstand the airbag impact. "The same radar can also be used to inform emergency response teams about the condition of patients and the numbers involved," says Pordage. And if this all seems like fantasy stuff for super-expensive cars you'll never drive, remember: power steering was once a top-shelf option. What's more, as these high-tech safety features become commonplace, auto insurers are likely to discount premiums for cars equipped with them. "Auto insurers traditionally have offered discounts on premiums for recognized safety features that don't require the user to engage or manually operate -- such as anti-lock brakes and passive restraint systems," says Kathleen A. Weinheimer, a senior vice president of the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of New York. "As new advances in safety equipment begin to demonstrate they're actually preventing accidents and injuries, drivers who have these systems can look forward to further discounts." |