BMW developing self-drive emergency stop system
June 5, 2009 by George Skentzos
BMW has announced that its engineers are currently developing a system which will safely bring a vehicle to a controlled stop in the event of a health related emergency.
The system will activate an autonomous driving mode which is able to navigate the vehicle to the emergency stopping lane of a highway, activate the hazard warning lights and call for help.
The prototype Emergency Stop Assistant is being initially developed for highways and similar divided roads as a means of diffusing potentially lethal situations such as suffering a heart attack while behind the wheel.
As Ralf Decke, project manager for SmartSenior at BMW Group Research and Technology, explains: “Our primary aim is to avoid accidents caused by a health-related loss of control – or at least to reduce the severity of such accidents.”
Just how the system will determine whether the driver has suffered a serious medical problem is unclear, although according to BMW it is based on sensors designed to monitor vital data as well as existing BMW assistance systems.
With self-parking systems having already arrived on the market, this represents the next step in driverless transport which could one day see everyone become a passenger in their own car.
BMW has already showcased this technology in part almost two years ago on Top Gear with a modified 330i which was able to complete a hot lap of the test circuit without any human intervention.
No tags for this post.
The self driving 330i had to be driven around the track first to be “trained” and learn the track. This new technology is impressive; the car would somehow have to be able to read your vital signs. Why not take it one step further? Could they make a BMW that revives you if you pass out? A quick couple of volts through the seat to jump start the old ticker. What happens if the system fails and the car keeps driving with a corpse in the drivers seat? Would anyone notice?
“Hey dad, what is this button for?”
hahahaha, I can see Lexus taking on that idea Salesman,that way we could see if the driver had a pulse ;)
Clever little BMW again , now if they can just program it to take you home after too many drinks,that would be cool!
Perfect for the Toyota drivers that fall asleep at the wheel…..
hahaha you were braver than me babe! *creasing in laughter on the floor*
^^
Gee I hope I wasnt being Racist,
God help me……
hahahaha ,*dont mention monkeys* or a troop,thats a group of monkeys* Whoops, that means the the 3 wise monkeys were a troop* So whats a Troop Carrier ? And dont Toyota make one of those…….hahahaha cracking up servilely now…………shhhhhhhhhh
Maybe they have developed this for when you have a heart attack when you have realised how much you have just paid for the options on a BMW.
hahaha,I knew you would find your way here.
Nah I thinks it for the sheer excitement of the drive ;)
I had to say something as even for this website to bring Toyota / Lexus into the comments section on the third post for a completely unrelated story, is a record.
If they were worried about the excitement of the drive, wouldn’t some sort of cold shower device be better? They always say prevention is better than a cure.
Oh stop being sooooooooo serious Steve . Its all in a bit of fun now on this site and almost expected apparently, even on a Toyota thread we get bagged for mentioning Toyota!
BM, all my comments are definately tongue in cheek. Sadly it is a little difficult to express sarcasm on a comments board.
Good to hear then………….I guess you hooked me :)
Cool,
the racism policeman has just showed up.
“I wanst doing nothin” *twiddles thumbs*
Really should have the grammar police for some of your posts Andrew, but happy to serve and protect where I can.
Steve H,
Yeah probably mate, thats all you will get me on
Cars like this are very much needed in Queensland as nobody seems to be able to drive for themselves.No humour intended.
where the bloody hell r u no patients,rubber necking causing accidents somewhere ,get 1 of these beemers,then you will have to learn about patience for the first time! HA