AEB – ‘a giant step forward for pedestrian safety’

The new safety systems, now being fitted to British cars, include a raft of cutting-edge initiatives tested by Thatcham. They use different technologies to automatically stop a car before it hits a pedestrian – including radar, camera and lasers.
If every British car is fitted with AEB, Thatcham estimates it will prevent, annually:  64 deaths, 650 serious injuries, 2700 pedestrian casualties, 160,000 whiplash injuries and 270,000 crashes.
Matthew Avery, Thatcham research manager of Crash said: “These systems are set to make a massive impact on the number and severity of accidents on British roads and beyond.
“I believe in time they will prove as or more effective than the arrival of ESC (Electronic Stability Control) have been over the last decade or so.
Six systems have been under testing from vehicle manufacturers as diverse as BMW, Ford, Subaru, Toyota, Volvo and Mercedes.
Thatcham staff are hoping that AEB protocols, now being developed, will be considered in any future Euro NCAP testing procedures for new car safety ratings.
Nick Clarke, business manager from ANCAP, told AP&P: “AEB is on our list of technologies to be tested, and will be taken into account as manufacturers include it in their cars.”
 
What AEB could mean  in the workshop

The sensors used in AEB systems include radar, lidar (light detection and ranging and cameras). Radars are typically mounted in the front grille of the vehicle and are susceptible to damage, even in low-speed crashes. If damaged, a radar would generally have to be replaced or re-fitted, and this will require precise alignment of the new unit, however some more sophisticated radars are self-aligning. Lidar and camera sensors are generally mounted inside the front windscreen near the rear-view mirror. These units also require precise alignment if they are replaced, however their location inside the windscreen is more protected, so they are less likely to need replacing. Positioning sensors inside the windscreen might also mean the windscreen also has to be replaced. Repairers are likely to need detailed instructions on how to replace these units from each manufacturer with a system, since the exact alignment requirements will differ for each model. Repairers will also need instructions on how to calibrate the sensors with the control systems.