Autonomous Emergency Braking System Market Grows as Automakers Adopt More of the Technology

Among the several vehicle technologies, the autonomous emergency braking system (AEBS) has emerged in the recent years. The AEBS is an active safety braking function that is increasingly being used in vehicles to prevent accidents and reduce casualties at the same time. The system makes use of sensors, cameras, radar, and LIDAR to monitor the proximity of vehicles and detects situations where a collision is inevitable and no human response is made on time. In such situations, emergency braking systems automatically apply brakes with different levels of force to stop or slow down a vehicle, preventing collisions. Based on the product, the AEBS is divided into two types - low-speed AEBS and high-speed AEBS.

The autonomous emergency braking system market is set to grow exponentially. The growth is supported by factors such as the growing number of road accidents across the world and the high adoption rate of the advanced emergency braking system. Nonetheless, the high cost associated with the emergency braking systems is likely to impede the growth of the overall market. In a recent report published by Allied Market Research, the autonomous emergency braking system market is expected to grow at a considerable CAGR from 2018 to 2023.

Companies are widely employing the AEB system in more and more vehicles, consequently boosting the market growth. For instance, Nissan, the Japanese automobile manufacturer plans to launch automatic emergency braking on 1 million vehicles in 2018. Kia plans to add autonomous emergency braking technology on Picanto in 2017. In April 2017, the Tesla Plans to add automatic emergency braking feature in all its cars. Volkswagon, another car maker announced its plans to make AEBS a standard feature across its van fleet, starting from June 2017.

Nissan Launches AEB Technology in 1 Million Vehicles in 2018

Nissan announced its plans to make autonomous emergency braking system as a standard feature on a million vehicles in 2018 in the United States. Models in which the AEBS technology will be added include the Rogue (X-Trail), Rogue Sport (Qashqai), Altima (Teana), Murano, Pathfinder, Maxima, Sentra (Sylphy) and the Leaf EV, except for those equipped with a manual transmission or a Nismo version. The system employs radar technology to track a vehicle’s proximity to the vehicle in front and gives the driver audible and visual display signals to help him reduce the vehicle’s speed if a collision is sensed. If the driver fails to act, the AEB system applies brakes, helping to avoid the collision or mitigate its effects by reducing the vehicle speed.

Kia Plans to Add AEB Technology on Picanto in 2017

Kia Australia plans to roll out its Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) technology on its already impressive feature-rich vehicle, Picanto. The technology employs a radar-based system to prevent collisions or mitigate its effects on other vehicles. This feature lends the Picanto a significant and unique selling point. It is not confirmed if Kia Australia makes the technology available as part of an option package, integrate it in the existing Picanto S’s standard specification, or launch it as part of an up-spec model that includes the technology bundled in with extra equipment. A modest price increase is also expected with the addition of AEB on the vehicle.

Tesla Adds AEB Feature in its Cars

In October 2017, Tesla recently launched a new Autopilot hardware suite, dubbed “2.5”, in its vehicles to provide them with more power and redundancy. Earlier Tesla said that the feature was activated in shadow mode in Autopilot 2.5 cars.

“During that process, Automatic Emergency Braking will temporarily be inactive and will instead be in shadow mode, which means it will register how the feature would perform if it were activated, without taking any action. This temporary calibration period is standard Tesla protocol and is done out of an abundance of caution.”

However, now sources say that the company started pushing a new software update recently that activates the AEB feature in cars with the latest Autopilot hardware. The feature will be limited to 50 mph. Tesla said that the AEB technology is designed to automatically activate the brakes to reduce the consequence of an inevitable frontal collision with another vehicle. The brakes deactivate when one presses the accelerator pedal hard, releases the brake pedal, or sharply turns the steering wheel.

Volkswagon Becomes the First Van Manufacturer to Provide AEB as a Feature Across its Vans

Volkswagon, a German automaker plans to make AEBS a standard feature in all its vans, starting June 2017. Providing its caddy, crafter, and transporter with the AEB system, the company becomes the first commercial vehicle brand to integrate AEB in all its vans.

The technology monitors critical distances to the vehicle in front and helps ensure immediate stopping. In any risky situation, AEB first warns of any danger associated with any vehicle in front with the help of audible and visual signals. Also, it prepares the vehicle for emergency braking by applying the brake pads and activating the brake assistant. If the driver fails to act to the warning, a short jolt of the brake indicates in the looming danger of a collision and the brake assistant’s responsiveness is further activated. If the driver then applies the brakes, full braking power is immediately available. If the driver does not apply brake that well, AEB increases the braking pressure to the desired level, so that the vehicle comes to a stop, thereby preventing a collision. The system also includes the City Emergency Braking function, which aids at low speeds.

Peter Shaw, CEO of Thatcham Research said, "It's shocking that AEB, a proven lifesaving technology, has not been widely available to van owners or drivers until now. We call upon all vehicle manufacturers to follow Volkswagen's lead and fit AEB as standard across all their light commercial vehicles as soon as possible."

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