Remember the old days? You know, when the only advanced collision warning system you had was called ‘your eyes’; collision avoidance meant yanking the wheel with all your might; and auto-braking involved slamming on the anchors in sheer panic? Instead of rear-view cameras, you actually turned your head to look around; parallel parking required multiple attempts, often embarrassingly off-mark, while onlookers pointed and laughed; and before cruise control existed, you put up with a cramping ankle trying to maintain speed while constantly scanning for speed cameras.
It used to be just you, the car, and the open road – no virtual intermediary, no algorithms issuing instructions to drive-by-wire controls, no semiconductors deciding you’re too dumbstruck to avoid chucking it off the road! Today’s technology is advancing faster and further to ensure that us dumbed-down drivers don’t make driving dangerous. Enter electronic nannies, working to monitor and intervene whenever necessary in all your on-road endeavours.
These days, driving feels more like co-piloting with a car that’s so clever it’s not only working hard to keep you and your passengers safe, but may also be silently judging your fashion choices, your cologne, and all the questionable life decisions you’ve made lately. Okay, I exaggerate, but you get the gist.
ADAS is the name of the game in driving in the 2020s. But what exactly does it mean? Well, it stands for Advanced Driver Assistance Systems – a somewhat clunky name for a rather sublime revolution. Increasingly guided by AI, ADAS is turning cars into intelligent companions, along for the ride… until eventually, they’ll be in charge, and you’ll just be along for the ride.
From Brakes to Brains: A Brief History of ADAS
In a way, it all started with anti-lock braking systems (ABS) in the 1980s. The concept was simple: prevent the tyres from locking during braking so you could retain steering control. Otherwise, the driver needed the presence of mind to pump the brake pedal while in a state of sheer panic. Let’s be honest, ABS was a life-saver.
ABS begat Traction Control (TC), which stopped wheels from spinning—because spinning wheels aren’t gripping wheels. Then came Electronic Stability Control (ESC), which ensured your commute didn’t turn into an audition for Tokyo Drift. These systems were the gateway drugs that got us hooked on relying on in-built electro-mechanical safety nets.
Fast forward to today, and we’ve moved from “I won’t let you crash” to “Let me handle that traffic jam for you… plus I’ll park it when we get home.” Modern ADAS systems use cameras, radar, and LiDAR to do everything from recognising road signs to nudging you back into your lane when you’re too distracted fiddling with the pho… uh, infotainment screen.
Traction control was an important stepping stone towards ADAS.
AI: The Car’s Cognitive Co-Pilot
If you drive a new car, there’s probably already AI at work. It might not be the type you can chat with on long road trips (though that’s being introduced now), but it’s there, working quietly behind the scenes, supervising an array of sensors – often up to 100 in a new car, along with 1,000 to 3,000 computer chips. Think of it as a digital sixth sense that’s ever vigilant to potential dangers.
This all-seeing system processes a flood of data from cameras and sensors, identifying vehicles in your blind spots, pedestrians engrossed in their TikTok scroll, and even the odd dhub lizard darting across a desert road at dusk. Some systems even use machine learning to get smarter as you drive.
It might brake, swerve, or reach out and slap you in the face if it detects you’re falling asleep. Okay, it won’t actually slap you, but it can vibrate the steering wheel or seat to get your attention, and in some cases, even pull over, park, and call emergency services if it detects no response from the driver.
ADAS: The Stepping Stone to Full Autonomy
The Society of Automotive Engineers defines six levels of driverless autonomy, and ADAS systems are the building blocks that will take us there. ADAS currently gets us to Level 3, but let’s quickly break down what these levels mean.
- Level 0: You’re in full control, with basic aids like parking sensors or blind-spot monitoring.
- Level 1: Single-function automation, like cruise control or lane-keep assist.
- Level 2: Partial automation – handling both steering and speed simultaneously – but you must remain in control.
- Level 3: Conditional automation, where the car can temporarily take full control (e.g. on motorways), but you need to be ready to step in.
- Level 4: Full self-driving in certain defined conditions or areas, but not quite independent.
- Level 5: KITT from Knight Rider — full autonomy, you’re not needed!
Autonomous vehicles, like this Waymco cab in Mountainview California, will become much more common around the world in the near future.
Several companies are already offering Level 3 autonomy, including Mercedes, BMW, and Audi, while Tesla’s Full Self-Driving Capability edges closer to Level 4 as you can even “summon” your Tesla from a car park.
So, what’s holding us back from Level 5? The unpredictability of human behaviour is a major hurdle. Picture a pedestrian changing their mind halfway across a zebra crossing. And it’s not just people; it’s the weird, freak stuff that machines struggle with – a dog on a skateboard, a dust devil swirling towards you, or a stubborn camel lounging in the middle lane. No matter how clever the coding, when the unexpected rears its head, even the smartest AI might be left scratching its virtual one!
ADAS: The Ideal Middle Ground
Until we get to the KITT-level of driving, ADAS remains the perfect compromise. You’re still ultimately in control, but these systems provide a safety net along with the convenience of features like auto-parking. They make your life easier, stepping in during those occasional lapses in concentration.
ADAS also acclimatises us to trusting vehicle tech to handle various driving duties. In the end, it’s preparing us all for the eventuality of Level 5 driverless cars – which, by the mid-2030s, might just be a reality. So, you’ll have more time at the wheel to kick back, relax, and surf brilliant websites like this one!
