Security systems are the central focus of the development of modern cars. A serious evolutionary stage in this direction began with the advent of the first intelligent devices that prevented or reduced the risks of an accident. Today, such systems form a whole layer of tools, which are called the active safety of the car. These are mainly electronic devices that can monitor certain parameters of the state of the machine, giving timely signals about possible threats.
The concept of active safety systems
To understand what such systems are, it is first necessary to consider the principle of action of mechanisms that are their opposite. That is, we will talk about passive safety systems. As already noted, these are mechanical devices, and traditionally in no way associated with electronic controls. They work at the moments when the external influence is physically fixed. As for the active safety of the car, this is a set of devices that focus on the prevention of accidents, as well as minimizing the risks leading to other negative consequences. It can be not only electronic devices with sensors, but also structural parts of the machine. Moreover, the performance of the car, which is not directly related to security tasks, also affects the effectiveness of such systems.
Active Security Features
The main feature of this kind of systems is the element of intellectual decision-making, which is why they are called active. Of course, we are talking about conditional āintelligenceā, since the most complex device of this complex still works according to a certain algorithm. Another thing is that both the user and the control program can change individual parameters of the system depending on the specific operating conditions. It is important to consider what, from a management point of view, is active car safety. This is largely an autonomous system that is included in the work, constantly processing the source data from the sensors. According to their testimonies, certain decisions are made. Moreover, the action of the system can be completed at the stage of alarming the driver or by a direct effect on individual mechanical units and even on the nature of the movement of the machine.
Active Security Requirements
The normative regulation with requirements for active safety directly relates to devices and structural units. Electronic regulators interact with the latter, responsible for a set of functions that ensure safety. Among the main requirements for active safety of a car of this type are the following:
- All wheels must be controlled by the brake system, commands to which are given from one governing body.
- A backup braking system, also associated with four wheels, must be connected to the active safety control complex.
- Spontaneous movements of the steering wheel with the support of the hydraulic booster from a neutral position under the condition of a running motor are not allowed.
- The steering mechanism should not have traces of deformation and other structural changes.
- The level of technical fluid in the power steering reservoir must always meet the regulatory requirements for a particular mechanism. Leakage from the tank and other structural violations are not allowed.
Active Safety Features
Even a serviceable and relevant active safety complex cannot always meet the proper level of control of a machine if its organization and settings were made without regard to operational parameters. To exclude such deviations, you should focus on the working properties of this system. In particular, active safety means the properties of a car of the following order:
- Effective brake system. Indicates the ability of the machine to hold firmly in one place and quickly reduce speed.
- Stability and manageability. The ability of the machine in emergency traffic conditions to make sharp maneuvers in order to get out of an emergency.
- Visibility. A property that allows the driver to receive the maximum amount of visual information about the situation on the road, taking into account the design of a particular car.
- External informativeness of the machine. The effectiveness of the facilities that are responsible for signaling and ambient lighting.
- Soundproofing. The high level of noise in the cabin directly affects the driverās condition, reducing his attention and reaction speed.
Varieties of active safety devices
According to the functional purpose and technical and hardware execution, one can distinguish several groups of devices or complex systems that form a common active safety system based on a specific car:
- Engine management systems.
- The mechanics of the brake system.
- Steering controls
- Electronic devices.
The most promising is the last category of elements of active safety of the car - it is represented by the so-called driver's assistants who help him in difficult driving conditions. This assistance is not only the nature of an information alert, but also directly affects management by issuing commands to mechanical components and assemblies in one or another part. Now consider the most common and technological systems of this type.
Emergency steering
There is a whole family of systems designed to control the longitudinal dynamics of a vehicle. The most effective are developments that combine elements of braking and emergency steering. This combination provides the ability to control and lateral dynamics of the car. Active and passive safety in this case form a single functional complex of devices that operate at the time of threat. For example, under icy conditions, emergency braking alone is not enough. An appropriate body direction is also required through the steering control. This is how emergency steering works, while simultaneously connecting both the brake system and the steering mechanisms. Coordination of interaction is achieved through signals from the telematics complex of the car and its sensors.
Driver Fatigue Control
According to statistics, about 25% of road accidents occur precisely because of the fatigue of the car owner. 4 hours of driving without interruptions are enough for the driverās reactions to lose their necessary sharpness. Especially for such cases, the concept of an assistant was developed, which records deviations in the behavior of the driver, reporting the need for a stop. In this case, different principles are used to detect signs of fatigue - according to the driverās view (through special sensors), according to the control of the machineās movement and the nature of manipulations with the controls. Again, with an unambiguous fixation of deviations, the system can either give an appropriate warning, or intervene in the control process through the brake system, steering wheel, etc.
Motion control systems
An extensive category of systems that are constantly involved in driving, adjusting or complementing the actions of the driver. What is related to active car safety? As a basis, we can distinguish a system of support for exchange rate stability (it maintains a given trajectory of movement through dynamic stabilization), but by today this complex has expanded significantly due to narrowly targeted additions:
- Lane Assistant.
- Rebuild Assistant.
- Assists on the descent and on the rise.
These systems are combined by influencing the same working bodies and controls of the machine. The functions of the speed controller, steering column, braking systems, engine control, optical infrastructure and other warning devices are involved.
Parking sensors
The system represents a group of devices responsible for assisting in driving when performing typical maneuvers. In this case, we are talking about a parking assistant, some elements of which, however, may be involved in other situations. So, parking sensors are the active safety of the car, which, through sensors and video cameras, allows you to park carefully and without the risk of a collision. In the area of āābumpers, sensitive elements (sensors) are installed, which provide light or sound signals to the cabin in case of a dangerous approach. Video cameras are a kind of optional addition that allows the driver to focus not only on signals, but also to observe what is happening in the parking zone through a monitor connected to the rear or front camera.
Night vision systems
Poor visibility on the road is one of the most dangerous enemies of any motorist. Especially in nighttime and in bad weather, the risks of collision with objects that were not properly identified by the driver increase. To prevent such errors, devices with thermal radiation are used. Through a special camera, they perceive an infrared signal, projecting it onto the user's screen in the cabin. There are active and passive safety systems of a car of this type:
- Active are distinguished by high resolution "pictures" and the ability to distinguish objects at distances of 200-250 m.
- Passive thermal imagers are characterized by a higher range (up to 300 m), but suffer from low detail.
Conclusion
Trends in the development of automotive safety systems indicate that protective devices (mechanical and electronic) are becoming more complex and interconnected. They cover the full conditional path from the possibility of a critical error to its consequences in the form of an accident. Therefore, the appearance of a special category of tools that ensure the accident safety of the car is logical. Active and passive systems focus on preventing accidents and minimizing damage directly in a collision. As for emergency systems, they are designed to eliminate threats that may occur after an emergency. These include means of signaling and warning, automatic fire extinguishers, on-board wiring cut-off modules, etc.