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Automotive Research Institute Auto ©

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This article is from WeChat official account: Auto (ID: qicheyanjiuyuanauto) of Automotive Research Institute, the author is Auto of Automotive Research Institute, and the title is from Visual China

Article Summary

This article introduces the working principle and technological progress of the automotive AEB system, as well as the significant role of AEB in improving road safety and reducing accident rates.

• •    The AEB system can reduce rear end collisions by 38% in real driving environments

• •    Modern AEB systems combine radar and camera technology to enhance protection for pedestrians and cyclists

• •    The European Commission has decided that starting from mid-2022, all new cars must be mandatory with the AEB system

If you learn about a certain car safety technology, a car manufacturer may be surprised if it only costs a few hundred yuan to manufacture. The Automatic Emergency Braking System (AEB) is precisely such a technology that has become increasingly popular in new cars. According to authoritative institutions such as Thatcham Research, AEB is considered one of the most significant road safety innovations in recent years, and its importance is comparable to the popularity of seat belts.

From the actual effect, AEB shows significant security advantages. In 2015, a joint study between the European New Car Assessment Program (Euro NCAP) and the Australian NCAP found that vehicles equipped with AEB can reduce rear end collisions by 38% in real-world driving environments. This discovery emphasizes the important role of AEB technology in improving road safety.

A study from the University of Adelaide shows that Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) can significantly improve road safety. In the analysis of 104 accidents, they found that AEB can reduce fatal collisions by 20% to 25%, while reducing the likelihood of injury by 25% to 30%. This discovery is particularly important, considering that front and rear collisions account for about a quarter of all traffic accidents. The AEB system has made significant contributions to road safety by preventing such collisions or at least reducing their severity.

How does AEB work?

The Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) system uses sensors to monitor obstacles ahead to determine if there is a risk of collision. Firstly, it will inform the driver through dashboard prompts or audible warnings that a collision may be imminent and advise the driver to take braking measures. If the driver does not respond in a timely manner, the AEB system will automatically intervene, activate emergency braking, and reduce the occurrence or severity of accidents.

The basic version of the AEB system mainly operates in low-speed environments, with the aim of reducing the consequences of minor collisions in cities. And more advanced systems can be effective over a wider range of speeds, preventing more serious collisions, which may include serious injuries or fatal accidents. Top of the line systems can even recognize pedestrians, cyclists, and other vehicles, and achieve excellent results in collision tests, such as the highest Euro NCAP score.

Volvo first introduced an AEB system called "Urban Safety" in its XC60 SUV model in 2008, marking the initial commercialization of this technology. This system is specifically designed for low-speed urban driving situations, and its operating speed range is usually between 2 miles per hour and 19 miles per hour. In the best case, if the speed difference between the two cars does not exceed 9 miles per hour, the system can completely avoid collisions; If the speed difference is greater, the impact force can be reduced at least.

The original intention of the Automatic Emergency Braking System (AEB) was mainly to prevent neck sprains and other minor injuries during low-speed driving, rather than saving lives during high-speed driving. Although the optimization of AEB mainly focuses on low-speed collisions, its impact is widespread and significant. For example, Thatcham Research found that the collision accidents of the Volvo XC60 equipped with AEB were reduced by 23% compared to similar SUVs without AEB. This result indicates that even in situations where the application scope of its design is limited, the AEB system can still effectively reduce accident rates, demonstrating its potential in improving road safety.

Since its first application in 2008, the technology of Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) has made significant progress. The initial system mainly used LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) technology to monitor obstacles ahead. Nowadays, AEB systems typically combine radar and camera technology, or a combination of both, to achieve effective response to higher speeds and more complex scenes.

Matthew Avery, the research director of Thatcham Research, pointed out that as software continues to improve, car manufacturers are becoming more confident in their AEB systems. Modern AEB systems not only have a higher level of intelligence, but their braking capabilities have also been significantly enhanced. Modern systems can achieve a braking force of about 1G, compared to early systems where the braking force was only between 0.5 and 0.6G. This enhanced braking capability makes modern AEB systems more effective in preventing collisions or mitigating their consequences.

Why should I configure AEB?

There is a simple reason to consider installing an Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) system in a car: it is indeed effective. A study in the US insurance industry compared the effectiveness of AEB with other driving assistance technologies, and the results showed that cars equipped with AEB systems reduced the number of insurance claims by 10% to 14% when causing damage to other vehicles. This data indicates that the AEB system has shown outstanding performance in reducing accidents and related costs in practice.

In addition, Thatcham Research's study on AEB further confirms its effectiveness. After comparing the Volkswagen Golf Mk7 equipped with AEB (all models except the entry-level S model) with the previous generation Mk6 model without AEB, Thatcham Research found that models equipped with AEB reduced injury accidents by 45%. These data emphasize the significant role of AEB technology in improving vehicle safety and reducing accident rates, and are important considerations for future car purchases.

What about pedestrians and cyclists?

A significant advancement of modern Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) systems is their ability to protect pedestrians and cyclists. This is due to technological advancements, especially in the application of sensors. Modern AEB systems typically combine radar and at least one camera to enhance protection for vulnerable road users.

According to experts, radar systems are good at determining the position, approximate size, and metal content of objects, but they are not good at identifying the specific type of object. The accompanying camera performs excellently in this regard. Cameras can accurately identify whether an object is a car, pedestrian, or cyclist, although their ability to determine the exact location of the object is slightly inferior. Through such a combination of technologies, the AEB system can more comprehensively respond to diverse traffic situations and effectively reduce the risk of collisions with pedestrians and bicycles. This technological advancement significantly enhances the safety of all users on the road.

Modern Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) systems can accurately locate and recognize objects on the road by combining radar and camera technology, or using multiple cameras. As explained by experts, the integration of these technologies enables the system to not only determine the position and type of objects, but also predict the movement trajectory of objects through algorithms to determine whether they may enter the driving path of the car.

Furthermore, the most advanced AEB system can distinguish between humans, bicycles, and cars, and understand that there may be differences in the behavioral patterns of these different road users. This feature significantly enhances the system's response capability, enabling the vehicle to more effectively prevent potential impacts.

Since 2016, the European New Car Assessment Program (Euro NCAP) has included an assessment of a vehicle's ability to recognize, brake, and avoid pedestrians in its safety rating. In 2018, Euro NCAP expanded this assessment to include identification and avoidance testing for cyclists, and in 2019, it required all newly tested vehicles to have a camera based AEB system to meet its five-star safety rating standards. The establishment of these testing standards has driven continuous progress in automotive safety technology, ensuring that new models can provide a dynamic driving experience while also ensuring maximum safety.

Why aren't all cars equipped with AEB?

Although the cost of Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) is relatively low, not all cars come standard with this system for various reasons. According to British expert Matthew Avery, manufacturers can purchase different types of AEB systems at relatively low prices, ranging from LiDAR based systems (approximately £ 37) to more advanced radar based systems (approximately £ 146). However, some small-scale car manufacturers may still find it difficult to integrate these technologies into their models.

In addition, market demand has also affected the popularity of AEB systems. Many consumers may be more inclined to choose features that are eye-catching and attractive, such as large alloy wheels, touchscreen infotainment systems, and panoramic sunroof, rather than commonly seen or used safety technologies. In fact, among those new cars that offer AEB as an optional cost item, only about 1.6% of buyers choose to install the system.

This market situation prompts policymakers to take action. In order to enhance road safety, the European Commission has decided that starting from mid-2022, all new cars must be mandatory with the AEB system. This is part of a series of new safety measures passed in 2018, which also include new collision testing standards and other driving assistance systems, such as AEB with pedestrian and cyclist detection functions, programmable intelligent speed assistance, and lane keeping assistance systems. These measures aim to improve the safety standards of all new cars by mandating the application of advanced safety technologies.

This article is from WeChat official account: Auto (ID: qicheyanjiuyuanauto) of Automotive Research Institute, and the author: Auto of Automotive Research Institute

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