Overview of Future Trends
  		• People
  		• Lifestyles
  		• Travel
  		• Freight
  		• Safety
  		• The Environment
  		• Energy
  		• Vehicle Design
  		• Automated Vehicles
  		• Novel Infrastructure
  		• Conclusion / References
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    Future Trends for 2030

    Automated Vehicles
    Detailed information: Vehicle Design and Technology Factsheet   

    Relevant Visions: Co-operative Driving on the Automated Highway

    "Smart" cars

     
    78.    The potential benefits of automating the guidance of cars are extensive especially with regard to better utilisation of highway space and safety. Proposals for vehicle automation have been made for at least 50 years but a practical system has not been possible because of technology limitations. Now new advances in technology have brought a practical system within reach. Emerging transport telematics technologies offer many possibilities for improving vehicle control, comfort and safety.

     

    Advanced Vehicle Control Systems

    79.    Advanced Vehicle Control Systems (AVCS) include any vehicle or road-based systems that provide increased safety and/or control to the driver. The unifying purpose is to improve safety, whether by aiding the driver in controlling the vehicle as with anti-lock braking (ABS), or by actually removing the driver from a hazardous environment, such as with autonomous military vehicles. Ultimately the efficiency gains which AVCS systems can deliver are expected to provide significant growth to road capacity and to allow for more rapid road construction and maintenance operations.

     
    80.    AVCS has already touched every major area of vehicle dynamics: braking systems, propulsion systems, suspension systems and steering systems. These systems have provided significant improvements in vehicle safety, as well as comfort, convenience and performance. Most systems require no highway infrastructure modifications. Ultimately an AVCS must activate either the steering, propulsion or braking systems. The latest developments are "drive-by-wire" systems which allow consolidation of idle speed control, cruise control, traction control and manual throttle control to a single actuator.

     
    81.    Current autonomous systems rely on vehicle based sensors to "see" the surrounding environment and detect dangerous situations. Adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, side collision warning, lane departure warning systems are available now. Systems of active control of the vehicle to automatically control vehicles will be available within 5 years, and early collision avoidance systems are being sold in Japan.

     
    82.    Commercial vehicles are early adopters of many automated handling aids. In addition anti-rollover devices, electronic braking systems that shorten the stopping distance, reduce skidding and avoid jack-knifing are widely available.
      
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