The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Advanced Driver Assistance Systems

Over the past couple of years, artificial intelligence (AI) has begun to play a greater role in the Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) in modern vehicles.

Why do we have these advanced systems? As automakers research technology and work toward fully autonomous vehicles, AI will play a greater role in our on-road experience. Eventually, we expect these systems to take over and handle the driving for us, but until then, modern vehicles enjoy the benefits of systems made to provide warnings, alerts, and information while driving.

How does the ADAS work in your vehicle?

Your ADAS package uses an array of sensors and cameras to detect obstacles, lane lines, other vehicles, and other potential problems. The primary function of the ADAS is to maintain safety and prevent collisions, but some systems are being used to enable drivers to spend time on the road with their hands off the wheel. The advanced steering systems makes this possible. Using an AI processing algorithm, the ADAS alerts the driver of any potential problems to help them stay safer behind the wheel.

AI at work during every ride

Have you ever utilized adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assistance, or automatic emergency braking. These features do more today than five years ago. When they were first developed, these safety items warned you of potential dangers but weren’t equipped with mitigation technology. In modern vehicles, these items include collision mitigation tech, which is AI at work for you. This means the features aren’t only enhancing your driving experience but aiding you in avoiding damage to your vehicle and person by mitigating the possibilities of a crash. Human error is the most common problem in vehicular accidents and most of our current ADAS features help remove human error.

Your safety systems rely on AI

The use of artificial intelligence in the advanced driver assistance systems of your car enables your vehicle to overcome problems you might create as a driver. In addition to the features mentioned above, the AI system is constantly running and analyzing data to determine when to intervene. Most of the time, you might not notice these systems at work, but if you start backing out of a parking spot and the sensors detect obstacles in your path you’ll first hear warnings and then the vehicle could slam on the brakes to help you avoid hitting the obstacle.

Super Cruise and Blue Cruise use AI and ADAS together

GM developed Super Cruise, installing it in Cadillac models first and trickling it down to the other brands. Ford also developed a similar system called Blue Cruise. These two systems work similarly, enabling drivers to take their hands off the wheel and feet of the pedals on pre-mapped roads in the system. When driving on a road that isn’t in the mapping data, drivers cannot enable these systems. Using the data at hand, the AI algorithm can work with the ADAS package to keep the vehicle in the right position on the road, even changing lanes and passing other vehicles as desired.

Has your car ever told you to take a break?

In addition to mitigating collisions and detecting obstacles in your path, the artificial intelligence coupled with your advanced driver assistance system monitors you as a driver. In some cases, the vehicle simply puts a coffee cup on the screen to remind you its time to take a break while other vehicles are equipped with technology to slow the vehicle and pull it to the side of the road. These features help you avoid becoming the victim of an accident caused by falling asleep at the wheel.

The system is only as good as the sensors

Thankfully, most sensors used in the ADAS can function when dirty, but it’s a good idea to make sure your vehicle is clean to enable this system to provide the most accurate results. In some cases, when you hit slippery roads or hydroplane, your safety systems might shut off. This is a bit troubling considering this is when you need these electronic nannies the most. Although the ADAS is a useful package of features that put AI to work, you’re still the driver and still in charge of your safety.

Modern vehicles include impressive, advanced safety systems utilizing AI to provide the best driving experience and keep you safe. Eventually, we expect these systems to be used in self-driving vehicles, but automakers are still developing the technology that will get us to a world of autonomous vehicles.