A new, cost-effective technology designed to prevent collisions for cars will help pedestrians and cyclists feel safer.
Researchers at Cambridge Consultants in the UK have combined radar with video sensing to create the CCL-Softcar system. This system connects to the vehicle’s computer and is programmed to activate brakes or deploy airbags, reducing the dangerous consequences of accidents.
The current collision avoidance systems rely on a single technology, such as radar, laser, or camera. While radar and lasers are effective at scanning the environment, they can recognize obstacles but cannot identify what they are. Cameras can provide clear images, but they require complex and expensive software to operate effectively.
The safety technology developed by Cambridge Consultants integrates short-range radar with a camera and imaging software—devices worth less than $100—that can efficiently scan the streets and differentiate potential hazards.
“The advantage of combining radar and camera allows you to optimize the system,” said independent consultant Patrick Brunett. “Cambridge Consultants is working towards that.”
During low-speed testing, the radar continuously scans the area. It not only detects objects and measures distances within 20-25 meters in front of the car but also assesses the left-right and front-back positions relative to the vehicle. The camera will use this information to focus processing power on specific areas.
“If radar detects an object on the left, the imaging system won’t waste time looking to the right,” explained Gordon Oswald, the company’s chief technology officer.
The imaging software combines data collected from the radar and camera, including motion, shape, and color, with pre-programmed data in the system to determine whether the object is a person or not. If it is a person, the software will activate the vehicle’s safety systems, such as brakes, airbags, or tilting the car roof to mitigate the impact.
Cambridge Consultants aims to integrate the CCL-Softcar software into an in-vehicle computer and hopes to have a completed product within the next five years.
M.T. (according to Discovery)
