Devoted Engineers Ensuring Road Safety for All Motorists
In a bid to create a safer mobility society, Toyota recently convened the Tateshina Meeting, where the focus was on car safety technologies and the well-being of older adults, particularly pedestrians. This gathering marked a significant step in Toyota's ongoing commitment to road safety.
Toyota has made strides in enhancing its Pre-Crash Safety (PCS) technology, initially designed to reduce damage in collisions. The company redesigned PCS to better align with customer needs, leveraging global strengths to amass comprehensive driving data and accident statistics. This data has been instrumental in expanding PCS's detection capabilities and improving system responsiveness to complex driving scenarios.
One of the key improvements in PCS technology is its enhanced ability to detect not only vehicles but also pedestrians and bicyclists, even in low-light conditions and during intersection turns. The latest versions can detect pedestrians at intersections during left turns and provide forward-collision warnings, along with automatic braking.
Another significant advancement is the introduction of Emergency Steering Assist, which aids drivers in emergency evasive manoeuvres to avoid pedestrians and prevent lane departure. PCS is now integrated with other advanced driver assistance features, such as Full-Speed Range Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (DRCC), Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist, Lane Tracing Assist, Road Sign Assist, and Automatic High Beams, creating a more comprehensive safety ecosystem.
The development of PCS technology faced challenges, primarily in expanding detection capabilities and improving system responsiveness to complex driving scenarios. Reliable object recognition in diverse lighting and traffic scenarios, reducing false alarms, and ensuring smooth integration with other safety features were key hurdles. Improvements were made through upgraded sensors, enhanced software algorithms, and better system integration.
Toyota Safety Sense's PCS has evolved from basic forward-collision alerts to a robust system capable of detecting multiple vulnerable road users and providing both braking and steering assistance, especially at complex scenarios like intersections and low visibility. This significant improvement in vehicle safety is a testament to Toyota's commitment to road safety.
The initial versions of Toyota Safety Sense included Pre-Crash Safety (PCS), Lane Departure Alert (LDA), and Automatic High Beam (AHB). Toyota's ultimate goal is to work towards zero traffic accident casualties. Wataru Ike, General Manager at the Advanced Safety Technology Development Division, has been involved in PCS development from the outset.
Toyota Safety Sense is a package of active safety technologies developed by Toyota. The company's approach to traffic safety encompasses three key areas: developing safe vehicles, educating drivers and pedestrians, and improving traffic environments.
However, the road to safety has not been without setbacks. In June 2013, Toyota recalled PCS-equipped vehicles due to sensor malfunctions causing unnecessary braking and accidents. This recall and subsequent vehicle assessments proved to be a turning point in TSS development, according to Yukihiro Ikeda.
Toyota Safety Sense was released in 2015, packaging multiple advanced safety technologies to help reduce fatal accidents. Today, Toyota collects several thousand new PCS use situations every month and directly from customers for further progress.
In conclusion, Toyota's evolution of PCS technology reflects the company's unwavering commitment to road safety and the well-being of all road users. The focus on pedestrian safety, particularly older adults, is a commendable step towards creating a safer mobility society.
Toyota's Pre-Crash Safety (PCS) technology, initially designed for vehicle collisions, has been expanded to detect and protect pedestrians, aligning with the company's commitment to the safety of all road users. The company is leveraging technology to improve detection capabilities in various lighting and traffic conditions, such as low-light and during intersection turns.
The development of PCS technology is part of Toyota's broader approach to traffic safety, which encompasses not only the creation of safe vehicles but also the education of drivers and pedestrians, and the improvement of traffic environments. This approach extends to the finance, transportation, and automotive industries, as Toyota aims to work towards zero traffic accident casualties.
