Autonomous Emergency Braking: Types, Benefits, and Adoption

1.1 How Does Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) Work
1.2 Limitations of AEB 
1.3 Benefits of AEB
1.4 Types of AEB
1.5 AEB and Government Regulations
1.6 AEB adoption by car manufacturers
1.7 Progress in AEB Adoption
1.8 Research Studies and Data on AEB Effectiveness
1.9 Conclusion

Have you ever imagined that a car will stop by itself when it suddenly comes across an obstacle? Well, it’s possible with AEB. Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) is an advanced safety technology that is rapidly gaining adoption in the automotive industry. AEB uses sensors and cameras to detect obstacles and applies brakes autonomously if the driver fails to take action, thereby reducing the risk of accidents and injuries. With road safety being a major concern, AEB has the potential to save lives and reduce repair costs for vehicles. In this article, we will explore the benefits of AEB, its adoption by car manufacturers, and its effectiveness in reducing road accidents.

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How Does Autonomous Emergency Braking Work?

The workings of AEB can be broken down into three basic steps: sensing, processing, and braking.

• Sensing: AEB relies on a range of sensors and cameras to detect obstacles. The sensors and cameras used in AEB are typically located on the front bumper of a vehicle. The cameras are typically designed to detect objects, and the sensors are designed to calculate the distance to the object. When an obstacle is detected, the sensors and cameras send information to the AEB computer system. Some of the sensors and cameras used in AEB include radar, lidar, and cameras.

• Processing: The computer system analyzes the data from the sensors and cameras and determines whether or not the vehicle is at risk of a collision. If the system detects a risk of collision, it alerts the driver with a visual and/or audible warning.

• Braking: When the AEB system detects a risk of collision and the driver fails to take action, the brakes are automatically applied. In some cases, the AEB system will apply full braking force, while in other cases it may apply partial braking force.

Limitations of AEB

While AEB is an important safety feature, it is not without its limitations. Some of the limitations of AEB include:

• Detection Limitations: AEB systems are not perfect and can sometimes fail to detect obstacles, especially in low-visibility conditions.

• False Alarms: AEB systems can sometimes trigger false alarms, especially in situations where there is a sudden change in the environment, such as when driving through a tunnel or under a bridge.

• Speed Limitations: AEB systems are typically designed to work at lower speeds, and their effectiveness may decrease at higher speeds.

Benefits of AEB

Here are some of the benefits of having AEB installed in a vehicle:

• Reduction in Road Accidents: The most significant benefit of AEB is the reduction in the number of accidents on the road. According to research, AEB can reduce the number of accidents by up to 40 percent. This is because AEB can detect potential collisions and apply the brakes automatically, even before the driver has time to react. By reducing the number of accidents, there will be fewer injuries and fatalities on the road.

• Lowered Risk of Serious Injuries and Fatalities: In addition to reducing the number of accidents, AEB can also lower the risk of serious injuries and fatalities. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), AEB can reduce the number of fatalities by up to 56 percent. AEB can help to prevent high-speed collisions, which are often the most dangerous, and can also reduce the severity of accidents that do occur.

• Lower Repair Costs for Vehicles: Another benefit of AEB is the lower repair costs for vehicles. In the event of an accident, AEB can help to reduce the severity of the collision, which means that there will be less damage to the vehicle. This can help to lower repair costs and also reduce the amount of time that the vehicle is off the road.

• Insurance Benefits: Insurance companies are beginning to recognize the safety benefits of AEB, and some are now offering discounts to drivers who have AEB installed in their vehicles. This can help to lower insurance costs and also provide peace of mind for drivers who know that they are less likely to be involved in an accident.

Types of AEB

There are several types of AEB systems available, each with different capabilities and levels of effectiveness. Here are the four main types of AEB:

• Dynamic Brake Support (DBS): It is the most basic form of AEB. This system uses sensors to detect if a driver is braking too slowly or not at all in response to an obstacle in front of the vehicle. If the system determines that the driver is not responding quickly enough, it will automatically apply the brakes to help reduce the speed of the vehicle and potentially prevent a collision. While DBS can be effective in some situations, it is less advanced than other types of AEB and may not be as effective in more complex driving scenarios.

• Crash Imminent Braking (CIB): It is a more advanced form of AEB that can detect an imminent collision and automatically apply the brakes to prevent or mitigate the impact. This system uses a combination of sensors, including radar and cameras, to detect the speed and distance of objects in front of the vehicle. If the system determines that a collision is likely, it will automatically apply the brakes to slow or stop the vehicle. CIB can be particularly effective in situations where the driver is unable to respond quickly enough to avoid a collision.

• Pedestrian Automatic Emergency Braking (PAEB): This is a specialized type of AEB that is designed to detect pedestrians and other vulnerable road users, such as cyclists. This system uses a combination of cameras and radar to detect the presence of pedestrians or cyclists in the vehicle’s path. If the system determines that a collision is likely, it will automatically apply the brakes to prevent or mitigate the impact. PAEB can be particularly effective in urban driving environments where there are higher volumes of pedestrian and cyclist traffic.

• Cyclist Automatic Emergency Braking (CAEB): It is a specialized form of AEB that is designed to detect cyclists in the vehicle’s path. This system uses a combination of cameras and radar to detect the presence of cyclists and their movement patterns. If the system determines that a collision is likely, it will automatically apply the brakes to prevent or mitigate the impact. CAEB is particularly useful in urban driving environments, where cyclists may be difficult to see and collisions are more likely to occur.

There are different types of AEB systems available, each with different capabilities and effectiveness levels. As the technology continues to evolve, we can expect to see even more advanced forms of AEB that can further enhance vehicle safety on the roads.

AEB and Government Regulations

Governments around the world have recognized the benefits of AEB and have started implementing regulations to promote its use in vehicles. Here are some of the regulations for AEB in Europe and the United States:

AEB Regulations in Europe

The European Union has been at the forefront of AEB regulations, and it has been a mandatory safety feature for new passenger vehicles since 2020. The regulation applies to all new passenger vehicles and requires them to be equipped with AEB that can detect pedestrians and cyclists. The regulation also sets minimum performance requirements for AEB systems, including the maximum speed at which the system must operate, and the distance at which it must detect pedestrians and cyclists.

In addition to the regulation for passenger vehicles, the European Union has also proposed a regulation for commercial vehicles that will require all new trucks and buses to be equipped with AEB that can detect pedestrians and cyclists. The regulation has been enforced since 2022.

Regulations in the United States

In the United States, there are currently no federal regulations mandating the use of AEB in vehicles as of the time of writing this article. However, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has set voluntary guidelines for AEB performance, and many automakers have pledged to include AEB in their vehicles voluntarily.

Also, in the United States, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has also been working to promote the use of AEB in vehicles. The IIHS conducts crash tests and evaluates the performance of AEB systems, and it has developed a rating system to encourage automakers to improve the performance of their AEB systems.

AEB adoption by car manufacturers

Car manufacturers around the world have recognized the benefits of AEB and have been working to implement the technology in their vehicles. In fact, many manufacturers have made AEB a standard feature in their latest models. Some of the manufacturers that have implemented AEB include:

• Audi
• BMW
• Ford
• General Motors
• Honda
• Hyundai
• Kia
• Mercedes-Benz
• Nissan
• Subaru
• Toyota
• Volkswagen

Progress in AEB Adoption

The adoption of AEB technology has been growing steadily over the years. In the United States, for example, over 12 manufacturers have increased the number of their vehicles with AEB from 30% in 2017 to 75% in 2019 (source: https://www.nhtsa.gov).

Generally, the progress in AEB adoption has been driven by a number of factors, including the growing awareness of the benefits of the technology, the increasing availability of AEB systems in new vehicles, and the development of industry standards and government regulations that promote the use of AEB.

Research Studies and Data on AEB Effectiveness

Numerous research studies have shown that AEB technology can significantly reduce the number of crashes and injuries. For example, in 2020, a study conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) found that pickup trucks with AEB were involved in 43% fewer rear-end crashes than pickup trucks without AEB. Also, another study shows that with a 100% AEB penetration rate in the Chinese auto market, fatalities could be reduced by 13.2% and injuries as a result of accidents could be reduced by 9.1%.

The effectiveness of AEB depends on several factors, such as the type of AEB system, the speed of the vehicle, and the type of obstacle or object that the system is detecting. In general, AEB systems are most effective at preventing or mitigating rear-end collisions, which are a common type of crash. AEB systems can also be effective at preventing or mitigating other types of crashes, such as pedestrian and cyclist crashes.

Conclusion

In conclusion, AEB is an important safety technology that has the potential to make our roads safer and reduce the number of accidents and injuries. The future of AEB looks bright, and we can expect continued progress and advancements in this critical safety technology. By promoting the adoption of AEB, we can work towards making our roads safer and saving lives.