What's the news?
Volkswagen has released information about the work done by its accident research team and the contribution it makes to building safer cars. For nearly two decades the team has been investigating real accidents and feeding information back to develop new assistance systems.
Work carries on around the clock, every day of the year, under the direction of department head Ralf Tenzer. The team investigate around 120 accidents every year, working at the scene, using the latest technology to record as much information as possible. Aerial photographs of the scene are captured using a remote-controlled drone and laser scanning is employed to capture a 3D image of the vehicle and surroundings.
One of the experts on the team is a doctor, who is employed to determine the cause of injuries to the vehicle's occupants. Working with the Hannover Medical School the doctor reviews anonymized patient data collected from the treating hospitals. Using this information and the results of the crash scene investigation the team can produce a 3D computer reconstruction of the accident.
At the launch of Emergency Assist in the current Passat, Tenzer made it clear how closely the accident research collaborates with the technical development department: "If the system detects that the driver is no longer able to control the car, Emergency Assist takes over the steering and brings the car to a halt". The team can use accident data to demonstrate that a controlled stop within the lane is far less dangerous than a driverless car veering into oncoming traffic.
Accident research has also helped develop pedestrian protection systems; City Emergency Braking and Front Assist both provide assistance at speeds below 30km/h, watching for obstacles and automatically braking if necessary.
In conclusion Tenzer said: "Our goal is to develop a safe and comfortable car for all. It is only possible to increase security effectively and efficiently with the correct interaction of the various components".