One recent advance in collision warning technology is the integration of millimetre-wave and microwave radio object detection sensors with existing vehicle electronic systems. The article reports some results of integrating two vehicles with Delco Electronics FOREWARN systems. FOREWARN is being developed as a collision warning system in harmony with the road, vehicle, and driver; it integrates object detection road sensors with vehicle electronic systems and driver human factor considerations. It uses front and rear sensors, vehicle data, and a collision-avoidance processor, to make very rapid assessments of collision threats, especially from other vehicles. A Collision Avoidance microprocessor (CAP) evaluates all the road sensor and vehicle data, and uses a newly developed threat assessment algorithm to identify and prioritise collision threats from neighbouring road objects. The collision warning system has been developed and adapted on two car models in which vehicles use radar sensors to detect objects in the spaces ahead of and behind them. Human factors support of the system was concentrated on: (1) a warning architecture to complement current driver braking behaviour; and (2) the driver-vehicle interface.
Abstract