Artificial Intelligence (AI) finds its way into more aspects of our lives than ever before including the many ways AI is being used for vehicle safety features.
The cynical approach to AI is that it’s the same programming as before but on a larger scale with more tools. Technology has advanced far enough that data from sensors and cameras on a vehicle lead to programmed decisions the vehicle must make. As the automotive industry works toward autonomous driving vehicles, we benefit from advanced technology, including AI, which is made to help keep us safer on the road.
Here are a few modern vehicle safety features that use AI.
Adaptive Cruise Control
This safety feature uses sensors, cameras, and radar to maintain a safe distance from the car ahead. The original version of cruise control allowed a driver to set their speed, and the car would drive at that speed. Unfortunately, due to the lack of sensors and a programmed system to maintain a safe speed, drivers had to slow down and disengage their cruise control when approaching slower vehicles. Adaptive cruise control removes this challenge; some systems even function with a stop-and-go feature that works at stop lights.
Automatic Emergency Braking
Automatic Emergency Braking is one of the most significant and useful vehicle safety features using AI. This system detects and impending collision with another vehicle or obstacle and automatically applies the brakes when the driver fails to do so. This reduces the severity of a crash or prevents the crash altogether. Many vehicles have this system for the front and the rear; using sensors and cameras, this feature will stop your vehicle before a crash occurs when driving slowly. This is a great feature for avoiding parking lot fender benders.
Lane Keeping Assist
We have more distractions than ever in our vehicles. This means we could lose our focus on the road and end up drifting out of our lane unintentionally. The Lane Keeping Assist system helps prevent your vehicle from accidentally departing your lane. This system detects when the vehicle is drifting from the lane without the turn signal being activated. It will give you an alert to correct your vehicle and intervene when you don’t.
Blind-Spot Detection
Your vehicle has blind areas that you can’t see while driving. In order to avoid a collision with a vehicle to your side that might be in this area, you typically must turn your head to see if there is a vehicle next to you before making a lane change. While you should still make the head turn, the Blind-Spot Detection system is one of the best vehicle safety features using AI because it alerts you when a vehicle is detected in this blind area. Some systems present a video of what’s in the lane you intend to move to and present it on your infotainment screen.
Rear Cross-Traffic Alert
The Rear Cross-Traffic Alert system takes a wider-angle view of the area you’re moving into when reversing out of a parking spot. It’s common knowledge that parking spaces are some of the most dangerous areas and where most fender benders occur. Using this system, you can avoid hitting another vehicle or a crossing pedestrian when reversing out of a spot. This system alerts you to vehicles and people approaching the rear area of your vehicle when you have it in reverse.
Driver Monitoring Systems
Have you ever fallen asleep at the wheel? Unfortunately, driver drowsiness is a serious problem because many drivers will push themselves beyond their limits while on long road trips. The Driver Monitoring System watches your behavior and alerts you to take a break if signs of drowsiness are detected. Some vehicles are equipped with an advanced version of this system that will engage the hazard lights, slow down, and pull the car safely to the side of the road when a driver isn’t responding to the drowsiness warnings.
360-Degree Camera Systems
More information is a good thing, and one of the best vehicle safety features that utilizes AI technology is a 360-Degree Camera System. This is a system that gives you a bird’s-eye view of the vehicle and its surroundings. This is useful for navigating tight parking spaces and avoiding obstacles that you might not see. Vehicles have gotten larger, and this system is extremely helpful in large trucks and SUVs, which are often difficult to manage in parking lots.
These vehicle safety features use AI technology to make driving safer and better for you on any road. Does your car have any of these systems helping you every day?
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