The world often presents us with distressing news. However, there is something to brighten our spirits: Automatic emergency braking has emerged as one of the remarkable success stories in car safety technology. Auto-braking systems, abbreviated as AEB, utilize a combination of sensors such as cameras, radar, and lidar. These sensors detect when a crash is imminent and alert drivers. If drivers fail to respond, the brakes are automatically applied. In those crucial moments before a collision occurs, this feature proves to be extremely handy. According to one industry group, the voluntary installation of AEB on most cars by US automakers, in cooperation with road safety advocates, is expected to prevent 42,000 crashes and 20,000 injuries by 2025.

AAA's New Report on Emergency Braking Systems

A recent report from AAA reveals that these emergency braking systems are continuously evolving and improving. The researchers tested three model year 2018 and 2017 vehicles against three model year 2024 vehicles. The findings indicate that the AEB systems in the newer cars are twice as likely to avoid collisions at speeds up to 35 miles per hour. In fact, at speeds between 12 and 35 mph, the new systems successfully avoided all the tested collisions. Moreover, the majority of the newer cars also managed to avoid hitting a non-moving target at 45 mph. Greg Brannon, the director of automotive research at AAA, emphasizes that these systems are moving in the right direction. 2: The advancements in emergency braking systems highlight the continuous efforts of the automotive industry to enhance vehicle safety. These improvements not only save lives but also provide peace of mind to drivers, knowing that their cars are equipped with advanced safety features.

New Regulations and Their Impact

Earlier this year, the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced new regulations. By 2029, all cars will be required to be able to stop and avoid contact with any vehicle in front of them at even higher speeds, reaching 62 mph. Additionally, automakers will need to build AEB systems that can detect pedestrians during both day and night. The systems will also be able to automatically apply brakes at speeds up to 45 mph when a potential collision with a person is detected and up to 90 mph when a collision with a car is sensed. 2: These regulations aim to further enhance road safety and reduce the number of accidents and injuries. While they present a significant challenge for automakers, they also offer an opportunity to push the boundaries of safety technology and make our roads even safer.

Challenges Faced by the Auto Industry

Auto industry officials argue that meeting the 2029 target will be extremely difficult. John Bozzella, the president and CEO of the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, believes that it is practically impossible with the available technology. The government estimates that installing more advanced AEB systems on cars will cost an additional $350 per vehicle. However, the auto lobbying group estimates that the cost could range up to $4,200 per car. As a result, the group has filed a petition to request changes to the final federal rules. 2: Despite these challenges, automakers and suppliers are working hard to develop more advanced automatic emergency braking systems. They need to find a balance between improving safety and controlling costs. False positives and "phantom braking" are also concerns that need to be addressed to ensure the smooth operation of these systems.

Tech Advances for Higher-Speed Braking

Experts emphasize that getting cars to perform fast braking at even higher speeds requires a series of technological advancements. AEB works by collecting data from sensors and then using custom-tuned classification systems to recognize situations and road users. To enable AEB to work in higher-speed situations, the technology needs to have a longer range of detection. Most new cars are equipped with sensors like cameras and radar, but the auto industry trade group argues that the federal government has underestimated the need for additional hardware, such as more expensive lidar units. 2: Brake-makers also need to make adjustments to components to allow for quicker stops. This requires the pressurized fluid in the brake's hydraulic lines to flow faster. Allowing cars to detect hazards at greater distances may require different types of hardware. Automotive suppliers like Bosch play a crucial role in advising automakers on how to use the systems they build. Each automaker tunes its safety system using its own algorithms to determine when and how to automatically avoid collisions.

What Lies Ahead

Even the 2029 US federal rules do not meet all the dreams of road safety advocates. The regulations do not require safety systems to recognize bicyclists, although some automakers are already voluntarily incorporating this feature. Unlike European vehicles, US AEB systems do not undergo tests to determine their effectiveness when turning. However, some automakers are already building systems that pass these tests, indicating that they will be able to achieve similar results on US roads. 2: Despite the current limitations, there is no doubt that these advancements in automatic emergency braking will make our roads safer. The continuous efforts of the automotive industry and regulatory bodies are paving the way for a future with more reliable and effective safety systems.