GM developing Wireless Pedestrian Detection Technology

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Safety features for vehicles are becoming more sophisticated than ever before and pedestrian detection is high on the priority list. The ultra-safe Volvo V40 is a good example with its pedestrian detection technology that detects a pedestrian’s presence in front of the vehicle and applies the brakes accordingly. The Volvo V40 also features the world’s first pedestrian airbag, a U-shaped airbag that is deployed from underneath the bonnet when a vehicle-to-pedestrian collision is detected.

Volvo is not the only automaker making strides in pedestrian safety. Researchers at General Motors are currently in the process of developing wireless pedestrian detection technology that relies on Wi-Fi Direct to warn drivers of pedestrians or bicyclists before they can even see them. The technology will be especially useful on highly congested roads or in poor visibility conditions. The system can only detect pedestrians or bicyclists who are carrying smartphones with Wi-Fi Direct. In addition, GM also has plans to develop a complimentary app that frequent road users can download making them ‘visible’ to Wi-Fi Direct-equipped vehicles.

“This new wireless capability could warn drivers about pedestrians who might be stepping into the roadway from behind a parked vehicle, or bicyclists who are riding in the car’s blind spot,” said Nady Boules, GM Global R&D director of the Electrical and Control Systems Research Lab. “Wi-Fi Direct has the potential to become an integral part of the comprehensive driver assistance systems we offer on many of our Chevrolet, Cadillac, Buick and GMC vehicles.”

News Source: General Motors

The lifesaving Volvo V40

Tweet In today’s day and age, safety features on cars seem to be getting more and more advanced in the pursuit of saving lives. Swedish car maker, Volvo, is renowned for producing some of the world’s safest cars and has introduced the new Volvo V40 at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show, equipped with some of the most progressive safety features in the car industry.

Volvo seems to go a long way in assisting drivers with the day-to-day challenges of driving with safety features like blind spot detection and lane assistance helping drivers make safe decisions on the road.

Quite possibly the most notable of its safety features is the pedestrian detection technology that detects pedestrians in front of the vehicle and applies automatic breaking to avoid an accident.

More than this, the Volvo V40 has taken pedestrian safety to the next level with the world’s first Pedestrian Airbag System. The Volvo V40 will detect a vehicle-to-pedestrian collision, deploying a U-shaped airbag from underneath hood near the windshield, creating a soft landing for the person unlucky enough to be hit.

The effectiveness of this technology remains to be seen with many sceptics alluding to the possibility that the airbag may cause more trouble for the driver, reducing visibility and causing an accident if deployed unnecessarily.  Nonetheless, the intention of the technology is thoughtful and considerate and will hopefully save lives in the future.

What are your thoughts on this new Pedestrian Airbag System?