Autonomous Emergency Steering System
Automatically steers to help avoid accidents when a potential collision is detected
When an obstacle appears suddenly in front of a vehicle, the driver may be required to make a number of judgments and decisions. “What has appeared?” “Should I steer to avoid a collision? Should I brake?”
But when there is an impending collision, a driver may not react fast enough to avoid the risk. In such a scenario, the Autonomous Emergency Steering System can apply emergency braking when it determines that an accident is unavoidable, helping the driver to avoid a potential collision.
When the system detects the risk of collision with an obstacle in front that cannot be avoided by braking only, it determines a direction without an obstacle (an escape zone). It then automatically steers the vehicle to help avoid a collision.
Technology Functionality
If the system detects the risk of a frontal collision, the Electronic Control Unit (ECU) calculates the optimum collision avoidance response. When there is time, it warns the driver audibly and visually through a warning sound and light.
After releasing the warning, if the system determines that a collision is imminent, it automatically engages the emergency brake. However, when a collision cannot be avoided through braking, steering maneuvers are required.
Technology Configuration
Obstacle avoidance maneuvers require care not to steer into the path of oncoming vehicles. Accordingly, the Autonomous Emergency Steering System is designed to help the driver avoid such a result.
At the heart of the system are the radar sensors, laser scanners and camera installed in the vehicle, along with the ECU, which instantly processes the many signals sent from these devices.
The ECU features software that can identify the vehicle’s lane of travel, speed and the location of the vehicle’s surroundings. Using precise measuring devices, it computes various data supplied in real-time, such as imagery from the camera, and information sent by the radar sensor regarding the number of oncoming vehicles and their path of travel. In this way, not only can the system measure the speed and distance of surrounding objects, it is able to understand quickly the likely results that would arise from certain steering inputs.