{"id":318,"date":"2017-04-24T02:48:14","date_gmt":"2017-04-24T06:48:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/info.glass.com\/?p=318"},"modified":"2022-04-04T12:38:15","modified_gmt":"2022-04-04T16:38:15","slug":"autonomous-vehicles-glass-technology","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.glass.com\/info\/autonomous-vehicles-glass-technology\/","title":{"rendered":"Car-to-Car Communication: New Tech Could Save Lives"},"content":{"rendered":"

Glass technology in vehicles is moving at warp speed. Collision warning systems, automatic braking, lane alert programs, heads-up-displays, and all the cameras and radar these features entail, are here to stay. These are likely to show up in more and more models in the very near future.<\/p>\n

Though options vary by vehicle, here are some examples of the features you might find on your vehicle (or request on your next one):
\n\u2022 Side blind zone alert;
\n\u2022 Forward collision warning;
\n\u2022 Lane keep assist;
\n\u2022 Rear-cross traffic alert;
\n\u2022 Adaptive cruise control with collision warning;
\n\u2022 Heads-up-display;
\n\u2022 Front and rear-park assist; and
\n\u2022 Night vision assist.<\/p>\n

Collectively, these types of features are known as Advanced Driver Assistance Systems, or ADAS for short.<\/p>\n Click Here<\/a>\n\n

Technology In and On the Glass<\/strong><\/h2>\n

A variety of this glass technology\u00a0shows up right on (and sometimes in) windshields.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am seeing antennas or wire in the glass,\u201d says Bill George, director of marketing at NSG Pilkington, a well-known auto glass manufacturer.\u00a0 \u201cThose transparent wires are allowing us to do a lot of different things within the glass.\u201d<\/p>\n

The benefit of these systems is that they save lives, he says.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey improve the safety of car occupants and improve the safety of pedestrians,\u201d George explains. \u201cThe National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) says\u00a0car-to-car communications could prevent 600,000 crashes and save 1,083 lives annually<\/strong>.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Cadillac 2017 model will feature Super Cruise, which is technology that takes control of steering, acceleration and braking at highway speeds of 70 miles per hour, he notes.<\/p>\n

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The 2017 Cadillac XTS will feature semi-autonomous technology.<\/em><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Improvements in Sight<\/h2>\n

George forecasts a 70 percent increase in vision, laser and radar systems over the next four years.<\/p>\n

A front camera mounted by the windshield<\/a> is used in many GM models.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs we keep finding different and better ways to do some of these driver-assistance systems, the type of sensors we use will continue to change and get better,\u201d says John Capp, GM\u2019s global vehicle safety director. \u201cThey will get more advanced and we will get into automated driving \u2026 Right now, Cadillac has six radar points, plus 10 to 12 ultrasonic sensors and cameras. Already today\u2019s cars have a lot of sensors that \u2018look\u2019 around you as you drive. It will continue to get more advanced.\u201d<\/p>\n

Several Honda and Acura vehicles feature one or more of the following systems: Adaptive cruise control, collision mitigation braking system, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, lane keeping assist system and road departure mitigation.<\/p>\n

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Audi\u2019s 2017 A4 features automatic cruise control.<\/em><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Not New, But Improved<\/h2>\n

Audi has offered driver\u2019s assistance features for years, according to Mark Dahncke, product communications manager. Among these, Audi\u2019s night vision assistant scans the area in front of the vehicle using a thermal imaging camera and highlights any pedestrians detected at distances of approximately 15 and 90 meters.<\/p>\n

With all of Audi\u2019s upper-level vehicles now offering automatic cruise control, Dahncke says it\u2019s only a matter of time for driverless vehicles.<\/p>\n

\u201cOnce you have automatic cruise control, you have cameras and radars. There isn\u2019t a lot of difference between that and offering autonomous<\/a> technology. Automatic cruise control allows you to set up the speed you would like to go as the maximum and it will calibrate the car based on traffic in front of you,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

Coming to a Car Near You<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Here are a few of the more common makes and models that were spotted at the D.C. Auto Show sporting ADAS:<\/p>\n