Thursday, 4 October 2007
Technical highlight: Volvo Blind Spot Information System and Adaptive Cruise Control
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Motoring along an expressway with the flow of traffic in a midsize luxury-oriented car can put even the most enthusiastic of drivers into auto-pilot mode. We cruise from point A to point B in a state of moderate awareness, concentrating on the pavement directly in front of us but probably not looking down the road or to our sides as diligently as we should. A recent test drive of the Volvo S80 V8 revealed two pieces of technology, Blind Spot Information System (BLIS) and Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), that offer protective blankets for drivers less than fully tuned in.
Blind Spot Information System (BLIS)
Integrated into the sideview mirrors, BLIS uses backward-facing digital cameras that keep an eye on portions of the road that would otherwise appear invisible relying on mirrors alone. When a vehicle enters a blind spot zone an indicator on the interior mirror blank panel illuminates orange. The strength of the signal is bright enough to be noticed with sunlight pouring in through the rear window, but it really “shines” at night. As soon as the S80 exceeds 6 mph BLIS activates, although a center-stack-mounted button may deactivate the system at any time.
Functionality was just as expected, except when running in the left lane along a guardrail with opposing traffic directly across the barrier. The left indicator, which should have remained off, flashed incessantly as vehicles passed on the other side of the road (or as the guardrail was perceived?). It’s also difficult for BLIS to gauge high-speed vehicles that occupy the blind spots for very short durations of time, as illumination occurs when the vehicle has nearly passed. A second-generation system would benefit from some sort of “smart sensor” that could determine when another car was approaching rapidly and perhaps flash the indicator as a warning. Still, at just $695 across the S80 lineup, BLIS represents a solid value.
Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)
We’ve all been there before when using conventional cruise control on the highway: you’re in the right lane at a set speed, approaching a slower vehicle. You look to your left, and sure enough, another car is about to overtake you. Not wanting to rear-end the car ahead of you but unable to move because of left lane traffic, you get pinched, and deactivate the cruise. Soon after the “resume” function is employed, but your comfortable cruise has already been interrupted.
Adaptive Cruise Control fixes this situation. After you’ve set a desired speed (which is conveniently displayed digitally as well as via the analog gauge), you determine your following gap. As soon as a slow moving car is perceived within your designated gap via radar sensors, the system slows the car automatically. Once the obstacle is clear (i.e. you’ve changed lanes), your set speed resumes automatically.
Volvo also integrated Collision Warning with Brake Support into the cruise control system. An audible alarm and flashing red light in front of the driver go off in tandem when a car ahead brakes quickly and a potential collision is perceived. The system also “pre-charges” the brakes, quickening the pedal-to-rotor transition.
For everyday highway cruising, ACC is awesome. No need to brake or adjust speed down, just switch lanes when clear and allow the system to pull you smoothly back to speed. The are instances in which the system takes one by surprise; for example, when sitting in the right lane behind slow moving traffic awaiting an exit, the car will – as designed – take off as soon as you hit the exit ramp and are thus free of vehicles in front. Braking of course deactivates it, but that first exit ramp lunge still catches you by surprise. Volvo charges $1,495 for ACC, a reasonable sum considering the collision warning system built in.
Source and image: Volvo
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