Collision avoidance systems

Collision avoidance systems

Intelligent Transportation Systems is a futuristic technology that allows cars to “think.” Within this broad field, there are many subdivisions like freeway management, electronic payment for tolls, and road and weather management. One of the biggest of these subdivisions is a technology referred to as Collision Avoidance Systems.

In simple terms, this is a system of sensors that a placed within a car to warn its driver of any dangers that may lie ahead on the road. Some of the dangers that these sensors can pick up on include how close the car is to other cars surrounding it, how much its speed needs to be reduced while going around a curve, and how close the car is to going off the road. See, how it works is sensors that send and receive signals from things like other cars, obstacles in the road, traffic lights, and even a central database are placed within the car and tell it of any weather or traffic precautions. A situation that provides a good example of how the system works is when a driver is about to change lanes, and there is a car in his blind spot. The sensors will detect that car and inform the driver before he starts turning, preventing him from potentially getting into a serious accident.

Significant Applications

Collision Avoidance Systems are especially useful in bad weather conditions. Obviously, there are some conditions, such as fog, sleet, snow, and rain that can affect the road and how one drives on it. Basically, the sensors in the car would be capable of detecting the poor conditions and would inform the driver on how to drive in them. For example, because fog affects visibility, the sensors would recognize this and alert the driver of any dangers that lie ahead, like a windy turn or another car. Thus, giving the driver enough time to slow down, allowing him to escape from what could have been a bad accident.

Cost Analysis

Obviously, Collision Avoidance Systems would be very useful in cars and would prevent many accidents from occurring, but the real questions are, “how much does it cost, and is it worth the expenses?” A study done in 1993 on a seventy-seven gigahertz monolithic transmitter and millimeter wave technology gave some hopeful insights. “This module, due to its small size, light weight and low production costs, is a significant advance in millimeter wave technology from traditional waveguide hybrid approaches and it now makes collision avoidance radars affordable.”(Raffaelli) As this study was done in 1993, it shows that collision avoidance systems, although very advanced, are not as expensive as one might perceive.

Cons

Even the best Collision Avoidance Systems can not be solely relied upon. Even the most advanced machines can not replace the importance of human awareness and instinct. One must always be careful and cautious on the road, no matter how safe conditions appear to be. Even the most intelligent systems malfunction from time to time.

References

*Raffaelli, Lamberto, Earle Stewart, Robert Quimby, John Borelli, Art Geissberger, and Dan Palmieri. "Low Cost 77 GHz Monolithic Transmitter for Automotive Collision Avoidance Systems." Diss. 1993. Abstract. Proc 1993 IEEE Microwave Millimeter Wave Monolithic Circ Symp (1993): 63-66.
*Grosch, Theodore O. "Radar Sensors for Automotive Collision Warning and Avoidance." Diss. Abstract. Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering 2463 (1995): 239-247.
*Khattak, Asad J., Paula Kantor, and Forrest M. Council. "Role of Adverse Weather in Key Crash Types on Limited-access Roadways." Transportation Research Record 1621 (1998): 10-19. Compendex. 21 Nov. 2005.
*Smith, Emily T. "Keep Your Eye on the Road- Your Radar Eye." Business Week 3303 (1993): 67. Academic Search Premier. 21 Nov. 2005.

External links

* [http://www.its.dot.gov/cicas/index.htm US Department of Transportation: Research and Innovative Technology Administration]
* [http://www.ford.com/innovation/automotive-technology/developing-better-ideas/wireless-vehicle-technologies/wireless-vehicle-communication-320p Ford: Safer Driving Through Vehicle Collision Avoidance Systems]
* [http://www.calccit.org/itsdecision/serv_and_tech/Collision_avoidance/lateral.html Intelligent Transportation Systems: Collision Avoidance]


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем сделать НИР

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Aircraft collision avoidance systems — Modern aircraft can use several types of collision avoidance systems to prevent unintentional contact with other aircraft, obstacles, or the ground:* Airborne Radar can detect the relative location of other aircraft, and has been in military use… …   Wikipedia

  • Traffic Collision Avoidance Systems — Traffic Collision Avoidance System Indicateur TCAS et IVSI Le Traffic alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) (en français, « système d alerte de trafic et d évitement de collision ») est un instrument de bord d avion destiné à… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Collision avoidance — may refer to: Collision avoidance (spacecraft) Collision avoidance (networking) Collision avoidance system in automobiles Aircraft collision avoidance systems Positive train control Automatic Identification System for collision avoidance in water …   Wikipedia

  • Collision avoidance system — This article is about collision avoidance in automobiles; for other modes, see collision avoidance (disambiguation). A collision avoidance system is a system of sensors that is placed within a car to warn its driver of any dangers that may lie… …   Wikipedia

  • collision-avoidance system — A noncooperative system providing cockpit indications of all conflicting traffic. The system is meant to alert the pilot about conflicting air traffic. For this purpose, all involved aircraft must be fitted with a secondary surveillance radar… …   Aviation dictionary

  • Traffic Collision Avoidance System — The Traffic alert and Collision Avoidance System (or TCAS) is an aircraft collision avoidance system designed to reduce the incidence of mid air collisions between aircraft. It monitors the airspace around an aircraft for other aircraft equipped… …   Wikipedia

  • Portable Collision Avoidance System — PCAS, which stands for Portable Collision Avoidance System, is an aircraft collision avoidance system similar in function to TCAS (Traffic Collision Avoidance System). TCAS is the industry standard for commercial collision avoidance systems but… …   Wikipedia

  • Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System — TCAS Display Das Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) ist eine Implementierung des Kollisionswarnsystems Airborne Collision Avoidance System (ACAS) an Bord eines Luftfahrzeuges. Die Funktionalität des ACAS wird definiert von der… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Airborne Collision Avoidance System — (ACAS) is an ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) standard specified in ICAO Annex 10 Vol IV which provides pilots with a system independent of air traffic control to detect the presence of other aircraft which may present a threat of …   Wikipedia

  • Airborne Collision Avoidance System — TCAS Monitor Das Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) ist ein Kollisionswarnsystem an Bord eines Luftfahrzeuges. Die ICAO und europäische Bezeichnung lautet Airborne Collision Avoidance System (ACAS). Inhaltsverzeichnis 1… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”