Audi has been working hard to reduce the risks faced by drivers while driving their cars. The company knows that if it can be seen as a leader in safety, then it can attract more customers, especially in the business segment.
So what technologies is Audi working on to keep you and your passengers safe? Let’s take a look.
Adaptive Restraint System
During a car crash, the human body experiences extreme decelerative forces, often far higher than the body can tolerate. Audi accepts that accidents are going to happen - at least until we get autonomous transport solutions - so it has been busy working on ways to mitigate these forces.The company understands that mitigation technologies need to work together as a system to give passengers the best chance of survival, but currently they don’t. For instance, seatbelts lockout using mechanical methods that are independent of the action of airbag inflation. Audi says that it has developed an adaptive restraint system where safety technologies work together to increase chances of survival.
The system relies on sensors to measure the distance of the passenger body from the airbag. The seatbelt tensioner and airbag inflation rates adjust according to the real-time position of the passenger’s body, bringing it to a halt more smoothly and gradually in the event of an accident.
Piloted Driving Technology
Back at CES 2015, Audi showcased an A8 that was equipped with a front sensor, ultrasonic sensors, and a front radar. The car company hopes that it will be able to develop all these technologies in unison so that it will eventually be able to offer what it calls “piloted driving” - a play on the term autopilot used by other car manufacturers.What’s so interesting about Audi’s system is that the company is using a central controller rather than relying on a third party to supply the componentry. Using its zFAS system, its cars will take information from the surroundings, allowing the vehicle to drive itself.
Audi Pre Sense
Although “piloted driving” is still some way off, Audi is already using a range of sensor-related features to augment the driving experience. Its pre sense technology uses radar mounted to the front of the car to detect whether a collision is likely and then wrest control from the driver should he or she not react in time.The system continuously scans the road ahead and can tell if a driver is approaching a car in front too quickly. First, the system will issue the driver a warning, and then it will slow the vehicle if the driver does not respond. Finally, the car will apply maximum braking if it detects that a collision is certain otherwise. How the system works on the real world will determine whether it’s used in the future.
It will be interesting to see how safety-related technology will evolve in the next 10 years. We know that Audi will be one of the car companies to be ahead of the curve.
