Safety Technologies And Features by Manufacturers in 2010 (Week 3)

BMW - BMW Night Vision with Pedestrian Detection

You know, according to NCAP test, BMW X1 has get one of the highest rating as pedestrian friendly vehicle at 2009 by 63% rates. N then at 2010, it BMW 5 series got 78% rates, the highest rates for pedestrian safety.

Why and how they get the highest rates? Of course, BMW Night Vision with pedestrian detection is the answer. This technology helps drivers like us in detecting objects up to 300 meters ahead of vehicle especially in the dark night. Based on BMW research, most of the vehicle-pedestrian collisions happen at night.

This system uses an infrared-sensitive grille-mounted sensor and camera to capture what’s on the dark road ahead of the car. When the system detect pedestrian shown in yellow on the screen, it will send additional warning to driver via Control Display or Optional Head-up Display. It begins working at speeds above 25 mph and functions at or below 82 degrees. BMW design a system that avoid the collision, compare with other manufacturer that design a feature to reduce the impact of collision.

Active Bonnet System

BMW 5 series also applied Active Bonnet System that widely used on others sedans car. The combination both Pedestrian Detection Tech + Active Bonnet make this machine one of safest car to pedestrian.

HONDA - Honda CR-Z

This machine got 71% rates in 2010, second highest after BMW 5 series. However, it is no 1 of the pedestrian friendly MPVs in 2010. What system is applied in this machine that help reduce risk on the pedestrian??

Pedestrian Protection

The name is simple but meaningful. The CR-Z designed with pedestrian-protection in mind. Research has shown that these features can dramatically improve a pedestrian's chance of survival if struck by a moving vehicle. Features include

•  Windscreen wiper pivots designed to break away on impact
• Energy absorbing front wing mounts and bonnet hinges
• As well as an unobstructed area beneath the bonnet allowing greater space for deformation

TOYOTA - Toyota Corolla Verso 

Pedestrian Collision Hood design

In year 2010, NCAP rated this vehicle 71% for pedestrian safety. Compared with BMW that use electronic-based tech, this car is more focus on the design of it hood. In order to reduce impact and risk during vehicle-pedestrian crash, it design a softness at the centre of bonnet/hood to absorb the impact.

Daimler Active Bonnet System

Daimler had designed another pedestrian protection tech This system, fitted as standard, includes three impact sensors in the front section as well as special bonnet hinges pretensioned and arrested by powerful springs.

How it works?

Upon impact with a pedestrian, the sensors send information to the electronic control unit which, in turn, activates two solenoids in the hinges instantaneously. These solenoids release the arresters so that the rear section of the bonnet is pushed upwards by 50 millimetres by means of spring force. It all takes just a fraction of a second.