Toyota to Aggressively Roll Out Active Safety Features in 2015

Advanced active safety systems working their way down to the lower cost vehicles very shortly.

Wayne Gerdes - CleanMPG - Dec. 29, 2014



Toyota demonstration of Auto Braking.



Toyota is prepping to launch its latest active safety technologies that were designed to avoid or minimize collisions. The two "Toyota Safety Sense" packages will be launched in 2015 and rolled out across most passenger models and trims in Japan, North America and Europe by the end of 2017. Both packages will be made available at price levels chosen to encourage widespread use.



Two packages will be available depending on vehicle type―a "C" package for compact cars and a "P" package for mid-sized and high-end cars.



Toyota Safety Sense C



The C package system combines laser radar (C package) or millimeter-wave radar (P package) with a camera, achieving high reliability and performance.



The Safety Sense C package features three proprietary active safety technologies, and combines a camera and laser radar for outstanding performance and reliability. The package helps prevent or mitigate collisions even at high speeds.



Toyota Safety Sense C system uses a number of the company’s current active safety technologies including:

• Pre-Collision System (PCS) helps prevent and mitigate collisions


• Lane Departure Alert (LDA) helps prevent vehicles from departing from their lanes


• Automatic High Beam (AHB) helps ensure optimal forward visibility during nighttime driving

Toyota Active Safety Systems in Detail



Pre-collision System (PCS) uses a camera and laser radar to detect objects ahead of the vehicle, and when there is a possibility of collision it prompts the driver to brake with an audio and visual alert. When the driver notices the hazard and brakes, the system provides additional braking force. If the driver fails to brake in time, the system automatically applies the brakes, reducing speed by approximately 19 mph in order to prevent or mitigate the collision. The operational range of PCS covers speeds between 6 and 50 mph where is estimated that 80 percent of rear-end collisions occur.



Lane Departure Alert (LDA) uses a camera to detect white and yellow lane markings. If the vehicle starts to deviate from the lane, LDA alerts the driver with an audio and visual alert.



Automatic High Beam (AHB) helps ensure excellent forward visibility during nighttime driving. It uses a camera to detect the headlights of oncoming vehicles and the tail lights of vehicles ahead, and then automatically switches between high beams and low beams so as not to dazzle other drivers.



Toyota Safety Sense P

2015 Toyota Prius equipped with Safety Sense P

Toyota Safety Sense P combines a camera and millimeter-wave radar. In addition to the three active safety technologies included in the C package, the Pre-collision System offered with this package also includes a pedestrian detection function.



Toyota Safety Sense P also provides Radar Cruise Control functionality.



The Pre-collision System with pedestrian detection function uses millimeter-wave radar and a camera to detect pedestrians in addition to vehicles. To help prevent or mitigate collisions, the system activates an audio and visual alert in addition to brake assist, followed by automated braking if the driver does not brake in time. Automated braking operates at relative speeds of between 6 and 50 mph for a possible collision with pedestrians, and can reduce speed by approximately 19 mph.



For potential collisions with vehicles, the enhanced PCS system operates at relative speeds of between 6 mph and the vehicle's top speed, reducing speed by approximately 25 mph.



On highways, Radar Cruise Control uses millimeter-wave radar to detect preceding vehicles and determine their speed. It then adjusts vehicle speed (within a set range) to ensure that there is a safe distance between vehicles. By using a forward-facing camera and millimeter-wave radar to monitor vehicles merging into or out of the lane, Radar Cruise Control helps maintain smooth acceleration and deceleration while driving.



Toyota's Integrated Safety Management Concept sets the direction for safety technology development by integrating individual vehicle safety technologies and systems rather than viewing them as independently functioning units.



Toyota Safety Sense PCS Capabilities by Package

Package	Hazards detected	Automated braking operational range	Automated braking speed reduction	Sensors
C	Vehicles	6 to 50 mph	20 mph	Laser radar and camera
P	Vehicles	6 mph to top speed	25 mph	Millimeter-wave radar and camera
P	Pedestrians	6 to 50 mph	20 mph	Millimeter-wave radar and camera

A great idea although it will come cost a bit more.

Toyota to Aggressively Roll Out Active Safety Features in 2015