A couple of years ago, Volvo announced that it would install sensors in some of its vehicles that enabled it to detect pedestrians that entered the path of the driver, which would signal the vehicle to automatically break to avoid impact. Now, the Swedish car manufacturer has announced that is has taken this technology to the next level, unveiling new technologies that will allow the sensors to stop the vehicle when cyclists present a danger.
The update to the car sensors – known as Pedestrian and Cyclist Detection with full auto brake – was revealed to the public earlier this week at the Geneva Motor Show, and will first appear in select Volvo models starting this May.
In a release, Volvo claims that 50 percent of all European cyclist deaths occur due to collisions with vehicles, an enormous problem for urban areas where individuals attempt alternative methods of transportation. The sensor will be best served in preventing cars from striking cyclists that unexpectedly cut in front of vehicles in cases where the driver would not have seen the rider in time. Bike riders will be detected by using a radar to sense the speed and location of the cyclist while the car's camera determines what kind of object it is.
"Our solutions for avoiding collisions with unprotected road users are unique in the industry. By covering more and more objects and situations, we reinforce our world-leading position within automotive safety. We keep moving towards our long-term vision to design cars that do not crash," said Doug Speck, Volvo senior vice president of marketing, sales and customer service in a press release.
Developing proper sensor housing for devices that can detect unforeseen threats on the road are just one of many ways that companies like S-Bond are making roads safer for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians alike.