Cars taught to predict what happens next when driven through busy streets will take road safety to a new level, said Bosch researchers fine-tuning newly developed technology to enhance the effectiveness of the automated driver assistance systems.

Studies show 58 per cent of accidents can be avoided.

In cities like Abu Dhabi and Dubai, traffic is often congested and unpredictable. Cars share the streets with bicycles, motorcycles, trucks, and buses, and it is not unusual for pedestrians to step out into the street without warning.

“The prospect of vehicles negotiating these hazards completely autonomously is almost unimaginable, but autonomous driving is coming to our cities in the Gulf region,” said Andreas Bodemer, Vice President of Bosch Automotive Aftermarket Middle East and Africa.

“A team of Bosch researchers in Germany have developed an assistance system that intervenes to prevent a collision with a pedestrian. It teaches cars to predict what is going to happen next, and helps drivers take evasive action whenever there is a threat of a collision.

“If braking alone is not enough to prevent a collision when a pedestrian suddenly walks out in front of a car, as soon as the driver starts using the steering wheel to take evasive action, the system kicks in to support the steering manoeuvre

“According to our studies, provided the driver reacts at least half a second before a potential collision, the assistance system can help avoid it in 58 per cent of cases.“

The next step is to use technology to keep drivers‘ eyes on the road. Explained Bodemer: “Critical situations arise when drivers are distracted and not looking at the road. Bosch’s solution to this is called driver observation.

“By monitoring drivers’ line of sight, tiny cameras in the vehicle’s interior can tell whether their eyes are on the road. This makes it possible to warn them in good time before the traffic situation becomes risky. We believe it helps to place indicators in the instrument clusters or an LED display on the dashboard directly in the driver’s field of vision."

Bosch has successfully been driving a number of automated test vehicles in normal traffic on Germany freeways since the beginning of 2013.

From 2020 it is expected that vehicles featuring this Bosch technology will be capable of highly automated freeway driving without the need for constant driver supervision.

Bosch driver assistance systems, including lane assistants which warn drivers not to stray, are already in use on the roads of the UAE where Bosch operates a nation-wide network of workshops dedicated to delivering quality service and genuine spare parts. – TradeArabia News Service