Toyota unveils advanced collision detection technology

Toyota has unveiled two new collision detection systems slated to make its way into new Lexus LS models shortly: first, an NEC built IMAPCAR chip which constantly monitors the rear of vehicle and will warn the driver if the car behind them is about to hit them by flashing the car's hazard lights, and will then automatically move the headrest forward to protect the driver's neck, reducing the likelihood of whiplash. We can't imagine that the hazard light warning is really worth it, since giving drivers 0.5 seconds to jam on the gas isn't exactly a practical solution to the problem of rear shunts (and what about false positives?), especially when accelerating could cause another collision, or end up provoking the second collision detection system: Toyota's new, forward facing collision detection system. Aided by a stereo camera, the new front system is capable of picking out child sized objects, an improvement over previous systems that could only detect something car sized. When an object is detected, the car will warn the driver by tightening the seat belt, and then slowing the car automatically if the driver does not respond, possibly invoking the rear collision detection system, again. You see our point? If you'd feel uncomfortable handing complete control of your car over to a computer, imagine for a second what it would be like to decide between your own instincts and that of the car's in the crucial moments before a potential accident.

[Christopher David DeBusk @ Aug 28th 2006 7:57AM]

Sounds like a movie I saw... i, Robot

[ethana2 @ Aug 28th 2006 8:17AM]

Driving is a fairly straightfoward set of logic algorithms. It should be completely offloaded to computers. The transition time's probably going to be bumpy though. I mean, you have lane tracking, navigation, collision prevention, velocity regulation, and.. I think that's just about it. Offload it all. I don't like driving.

[Top @ Aug 28th 2006 8:19AM]

I'd rather trust my own instincts.

[ethana2 @ Aug 28th 2006 8:23AM]

Oh, forgot to say. I think that before we go making our cars smarter, we need to make them electric hybrids. When that's done, vehicles will be different. And yes, Christopher, I, Robot, is a good example. Although the actual propulsion methods were a little mysterious. Anyway, It might have to get up to a higher level logically to cross mountain ranges succesfully. Anybody travelled the AlCan? Yeah. You'd need to track that thing in three dimensional space. At least we have traction and cruise control.

Eman out.

[Steph @ Aug 28th 2006 8:41AM]

A video of all these new toys here

http://www.nihoncarandbike.com/news-330-Toyota+Safety+DAY+with+some+Lexus+LS460+Taste%2C+HDTV.html

Taken last friday !

[josh @ Aug 28th 2006 1:21PM]

Toyota should install tailgating warnings into cars to tell people that they are tailgating (distance between vechicles based on speed of course). The warning should be plenty annoying and not able to be shut off. Hell, make it a federal law to have this in your vechicle, like the seat belt law. According to www.roadpeace.org, 1/3 of all highway accidents are caused from tailgating.

[Matthew @ Aug 28th 2006 12:26PM]

The odd thing is, people do not seem to realize just how much the car already adapts to save us when our instincts would cause dramatic damage to ourselves and others.

Anti-lock brakes:
Instinct, push the brake as hard as you can without thinking.
Car, alternate braking in a pattern to gain most traction and make braking more efficient.

Traction Control:
Instinct, push on the gas pedal to speed up.
Car, increase speed at safe rate by maximizing traction with the intent to arrive at requested speed.

Roll Stability Control:
Instinct, swerve to avoid something then swerve back to not leave road way or hit secondary object causing a rollover
Car, adjust acceleration and braking to individual points of the system to counteract overly aggressive and unsafe swerving actions when a rollover is about to occur.

I for one do not trust my INSTINCT over that of the logical, consistent, logic of the car, that would be a bad idea. I do however trust my JUDGEMENT over that of a computer. So, when I do catchup to what is going on, I need the ability to make the car do what I ask when I ask. I think the same would apply to any collision detection system!

[George @ Aug 28th 2006 4:56PM]

A rather negatively slanted post for someone who has nothing to do with automotive technology. Rather than assuming someone has the cognitive ability to think and react as quickly as you imagine, think of the newest and oldest drivers on the road; they are the ones that will need the most assistence when driving. They and their potential victims will benefit the most from advances in technology, like the technology mentioned above.

[Wanax @ Aug 28th 2006 9:33AM]

No one ever thinks they're a bad driver. Of course everyone here is perfect and has flawless instincts, but I'm pretty sre the rest of the world greatly overestimates their own driving abilities.

[duerra @ Aug 28th 2006 9:50AM]

Let me just say it like this - if you have thought of these things, so have they. Really, car computer systems are not like Microsoft Windows. They are extremely thoroughly tested, and the software in them tends to be very high grade, similar to that of the medical industry, aviation industry, etc.

Settle down, Luddites. Vehicles with more safety features are a GOOD thing.

[Fabian Bauhaus @ Aug 28th 2006 10:15AM]

I think Toyota should get sued.

KITT already had all that over 20 years ago.

[Justin @ Aug 28th 2006 10:29AM]

Um, isn't it likely that the hazard light flashing is for the OTHER driver? Duh.

[aeo @ Aug 28th 2006 11:17AM]

I too consider myself an excellent driver with a flawless record. However, I would gladly give up my so-called "skills" in favor of a completely computer-controlled commuting environment if it meant removing YOU from behind wheel (by "you" I mean everybody).

iRobot is a good example. The first thing Will Smith's character does after "taking control" is to have an accident after succumbing to road rage and he was a cop! Oh sure a few robots jump on his car and he goes all Mel Gibson on them.

[unhookt @ Aug 28th 2006 1:46PM]

Doesn't mercedes already do most of this, in production vehicles? Toyota is playing catch up.

[pito189 @ Aug 28th 2006 2:01PM]

Josh, make it a law that you can only be in the fast lane to pass. Because now people sit in the fast lane going under the speed limit talking on their phones. I have no desire to drive behind someone do 60 on the interstate when the speed limit is 70, because they are to dimwitted or oblivious to their surroundings to get into the slow lane.

[airpolgas @ Aug 28th 2006 5:44PM]

Thanks for those good points, Matthew. I was surprised that the tone of the post was overwhelmingly negative towards the technology - especially considering the nature of the site (gadgets!!!)

When I saw the video, I was kinda disappointed to see that they had the driver reset the cruise by hitting the stalk when the car goes to a complete stop. Living in Los Angeles, if I had that car and I was driving to work on the 405, I would hate to hit the stalk every time the traffic stops. It would have been better if you can set a certain speed and the car will vary from that speed to zero without any application of the gas or brake.

For the naysayers out there, the driver would still need to be actively controlling the steering wheel, just like we do now if we have our cruise control on.

[T-Will @ Aug 28th 2006 5:04PM]

So if some evil robot masters are blocking the only exit to a warehouse, and your only way out is to run them over and smash through the door, the car is going to force you to slow down before you hit them? Yeah that's useful Toyota...

[spymac @ Aug 29th 2006 5:52PM]

what if you are drunk off your ass like mel gibson?

[Mike Polo @ Aug 30th 2006 12:22PM]

I always thought a collision detection system should deploy some impact/scratch protection system to keep those $1000 fender benders from happening... Mini airbags from the seams of the panels or something that pops up from underneath....

[Los Angeles Orange County Nissan Honda Toyota San Diego @ Aug 30th 2006 7:31PM]

I like the concept here that Toyota has developed. I would like to see a big flashing strobe on the back of this toyota to warn the other driver behind me to slam on his brakes though. Better to not be hit then to safely be hit.