Camera-Based Safety Systems Will Reduce Vehicle Accidents, Says ABI Research.

NEW YORK -- New active safety features are being included in an increasing number of vehicles, and they are here to stay. Consumer demand is growing and the technology is advancing rapidly. Radar- and lidar-based obstacle-detection systems continue to develop at the high end of the automobile market, and ultrasonic sensors dominate the low end. Camera-based sensing systems are adding functionality at both ends of the market, and are lowering the cost of bringing safety features to consumers.

"The low cost and high performance of cameras, coupled with rapidly developing machine vision capability, are enabling automakers to offer real help for drivers to keep their vehicles on the road, avoiding accidents," says ABI Research principal analyst David Alexander. "Looking forward was the first priority, and now new systems are emerging that can watch all around the vehicle."

The first automotive camera systems were intended to supplement information when the driver is in reverse gear, and upcoming innovative options will extend that view all around the vehicle, including bumper-mounted cameras to see all side obstacles. The drawback of additional visual aides is that they increase the number of distractions vying for the driver's attention. Machine vision will be the solution in the future, with constant monitoring of the surroundings and driver notification only when necessary.

While driver assistance via warnings is helpful, the industry is steadily moving toward automatic error correction by the vehicle. With electronic control of braking and steering already implemented in many vehicles, it is only a matter of time (and extensive testing and development) before semi-automatic driving is a reality. In the much longer term, linking these systems with navigation will allow drivers to concentrate on what they really want to do in the car: read, eat, catch up with e-mail, and enjoy the latest infotainment options.

Camera-Based Automotive Systems (http://www.abiresearch.com/products/market_research/Camera-Based_ Automotive_Systems), a recent study from ABI Research, examines all aspects of the rapidly developing technology of automotive machine vision along with the latest safety features that use camera sensors. While obstacle detection is a central part of the study, driver monitoring and occupant detection are discussed at length.

ABI Research supplies an analysis of global market trends, costs, and technological evaluations regarding the different approaches and strategies used by safety system developers -- with commentary on recent product announcements. System sales forecasts are provided globally, by region and by application, through 2012. The study forms part of ABI Research's Driver Assistance Research Service (http://www.abiresearch.com/products/service/Driver_ Assistance_Research_Service).

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Founded in 1990 and headquartered in New York, ABI Research maintains global operations supporting annual research programs, intelligence services and market reports in broadband and multimedia, RFID & contactless, M2M, wireless connectivity, mobile wireless, transportation, and emerging technologies. For information visit www.abiresearch.com, or call +1.516.624.2500.