Controls in action

A couple of videos that caught my eye and demonstrate how controls and the speed in which processes can be controlled in real time have made significant changes to the safety of vehicles.

Lets start with the stability demonstrated by Jean-Claude Van Damme's in a recent Volvo ad. Apparently the action star's spectacular stunt is real.If you like the music it's Enya - A Day Without Rain.


 Now looking at a closed loop in action before looking at how this works. The following video shows how a Volvo truck will automatically brake to avoid a collision how long will it be before all vehicles are fitted with this technology.


 Some additional detail on how the technology works.



Want to read more about this

Some additional Sources

• Edelstein, Stephen. "Cadillac's automatic braking system acts like a 'virtual bumper.'" Digital Trends. Sept. 18, 2012. (Jan. 28, 2013) http://www.digitaltrends.com/cars/cadillac-automatic-braking/

• Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. "Crash avoidance technologies." July 2012. (Jan. 31, 2013) http://www.iihs.org/research/qanda/crash_avoidance.aspx

• O'Donnell, Jayne. "Automatic braking in cars helps cut down on crashes." USA Today. July 19, 2011. (Jan. 28, 2013) http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/tech/news/2011-07-18-self-braking-cars_n.htm

• Sullivan, David. Subaru EyeSight expert. Personal interview conducted on Jan. 29, 2013.

• Subaru of America. "2013 Subaru Legacy Debuts New Powertrain, EyeSight Driver-Assist System and Revised Styling." Subaru.com. Aug. 12, 2012. (Jan. 28, 2013) http://media.subaru.com/pressrelease/199//2013-subaru-legacy-debuts-new-powertrain-eyesight-driver

• Volvo Car Group. "Collision Warning with Auto Brake helps prevent rear-end collisions." Jan. 11, 2008. (Jan. 31, 2013) https://www.media.volvocars.com/global/enhanced/en-gb/Media/Preview.aspx?mediaid=13830