Advanced Driver Assistance Systems, or ADAS, is a term referring to various, high-tech, in-vehicle systems that are designed to increase road safety by helping drivers become better aware of the road and its potential hazards as well as other drivers around them.
ADAS is geared towards the creation of “smart cars” or intelligent vehicles, which are able to understand their surrounding environments, via sensors and other computerized data-gathering programs, so that they can assist their human drivers in navigating the roads. The assistance can come in the form of allowing drivers to have better control of the vehicle or in the form of automated assistance which the vehicle performs on its own.
Here are a few examples of vehicle systems that fall under the category of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems.
GPS Maps
In-dash GPS map displays are probably the most well known and used ADAS devices. Most new vehicle models come with GPS displays included. GPS maps rely on regularly updated satellite and survey map data to provide drivers with on-route directions and the locations of nearby points of interest (like restaurants, airports, etc.) among other things.
AFS
AFS stands for Advanced Front-lighting System, and it is also known as “adaptive light control”. Advanced front-lighting systems adjust the angle and intensity of a vehicle’s headlights according to the curvature of the road and the level of visibility afforded by weather and natural lighting conditions. AFSs rely on electronic sensors to detect visibility, and use GPS signals to anticipate the turns of the road ahead.
3D In-Dash Visualization
3D visualization models display terrain and elevation data and in an easy-to-understand, intuitive format. Real-time 3D renderings of the road and the surrounding terrain are designed to make information less abstract, and thus help the driver be more aware of his location and road conditions.
Collision Avoidance Systems
Collision avoidance systems use various sensors to detect possible collision hazards. The sensor warn drivers if they’re getting too close to surrounding cars, if they’re about to go off the road, or if they need to reduce their speed in preparation for an upcoming curve.
Other ADAS applications include such things as automatic parking assistance, night vision, lane change assistance and blind spot detection. All of them are continuously under development, even as some are beginning to see commercial implementation. The goal of each ADAS system is ultimately the same: to make driving easier and safer.
