Motorists and cyclists - now there's a classic oil and water combination. While both have a right to use the road, they each would prefer to operate without the other one taking up the same road space. No matter what side you're on, it's fair to say the cyclist is the one who stands to wind up with the short end of the stick when the two collide.
Volvo debuted a Cyclist Detection System last year and now the Swedish automaker has announced a partnership with fellow Swedish company POC, which specializes in helmets and other protective sports gear, to develop a car-to-cyclist communication system designed to increase cooperation between the forever feuding two- and four-wheelers.
While details are still sketchy, the helmet-integrated system could audibly warn the cyclist of the vehicle's presence and provide safety cues for passing, turning, etc. It may also increase the scope and accuracy of the car's overall cyclist detection system, an in-car innovation Volvo brought to market last year.
For those unfamiliar with Volvo's Cyclist Detection System, the technology detects and automatically brakes for cyclists swerving out in front of the car. Volvo said that the technology is an outgrowth of its existing automatic braking and detection features that instantly applies the brakes when, for example, the car senses an imminent low-speed bump or possible pedestrian collision.
Volvo points to recent accident data that claims close to 50 percent of all cyclists killed have collided with a car as the impetus for the development of both in-car tech innovations. They add that new and advanced software, including more rapid vision processing, has made it possible to extend the present detection and auto brake technology to also cover certain cyclist/pedestrian situations.
Volvo's Cyclist Detection uses a sonar-like sensor system to scan the area ahead of the car, with a central control unit continuously monitoring and evaluating the traffic situation. Early reviews on the system have been favorable so the company is anxious to add the car-to-cyclist communication system to the mix shortly.
Volvo and POC plan to reveal their initial results of both the car-to-cyclist communication system and how well the Cyclist Detection System is working thus far in the second half of this year.
