Volvo previews future safety technology

Volvo has announced it's examining a new safety system that will scan the surrounding environment to identify pedestrians and cyclists

Volvo has revealed its car and truck divisions are collaborating on an experimental safety technology that will perform a 360-degree scan of a vehicle surroundings, pinpointing pedestrians and cyclists and warning the driver of any potential collision.

Volvo's 'Non-Hit Car and Truck' project commenced in September 2010 and could result in a commercially viable system – applicable to both passenger cars and heavy vehicles – in five to 10 years.

Volvo says research indicates that limited visibility is a major cause of collisions with vulnerable road users in Europe; the new technology has the potential to reduce such accidents drastically.

Volvo Trucks has partnered with Volvo Car Corporation, a number of external companies and Chalmers University of Technology to develop the technology, with the program to conclude in December 2014. Development of a production system could follow pending the project's findings.

According to Carl Johan Almqvist, Volvo Trucks' Traffic and Product Safety Director, the technology relies on a series of sensors, radars and cameras to help it 'see' its surroundings in a way no human ever could.

"Today’s Volvo trucks are designed to eliminate any vehicle blind spots," he says.

"But in situations with heavy traffic it is easy for a driver to miss something important such as an approaching cyclist on the vehicle's passenger side. Now we can solve this issue and help the driver see and understand everything that is happening around the vehicle."

The technology combines the benefits of a collision warning system with an emergency brake system, plus lane changing support, lane keeping support and a driver alert support, the latter warning drivers when they're becoming tired.

Almqvist says the foundations of the technology have already been laid.

"We have the main components in place but we need to do a lot more testing in order to make sure the system is fault-free," he says.

"If we manage to solve these challenges, a future without truck accidents is within reach."

Check out the YouTube clip below for a graphic explanation of how the new technology will work…

Volvo previews future safety technology

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