The latest in-car safety technologies have been revealed by Toyota; vehicles will be able to 'talk' to each other and to roadside infrastructure. Expect to see 'vehicle-to-infrastructure' and 'vehicle-to-vehicle' communication rolled out on the company's vehicles from 2015. At the same time a new style of LED array headlamps is due to be introduced.
Wireless networking is used for vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure interaction on a frequency reserved for the purpose, known as ITS - Integrated Traffic System. Developing ITS-compatible technology involved working with government bodies, agencies and private companies.
Vehicle-to-infrastructure communication works with sensors in the road that provide information about approaching traffic and pedestrians. Other vehicles can signal their presence over the vehicle-to-vehicle link, which gives audible and visual warnings. The system also forms part of Communicating Radar Cruise Control, which sends speed and acceleration information from the car in front as well as monitoring the distance between vehicles with radar; this is said to improve safety and fuel efficiency.
LED Array Adaptive High Beam is designed to illuminate the road without dazzling oncoming drivers. Based around multiple independently controlled LEDs in a row it can light up the gaps between vehicles and also direct the light in response to steering movement.
Anything else?
Toyota will introduce the above safety systems to the Japanese market from next year and bring them to the USA and Europe by the end of 2017. Two packages will be offered, designated C and P, for mid-size and large cars respectively. Both systems feature the automatic headlamps, Lane Departure Alert and Pre-Collision System; the P package adds radar cruise control and uses millimetre radar instead of laser radar.
A version of the safety packages has been developed for Lexus, Lexus Safety System+, which includes Road Sign Assist to display speed limit and other signs in the instrument display.