Standardizing the ADAS Lexicon

AAA says Advanced Driver Assistance Systems need common ground.

In light of the growing prevalence of advanced driver assistance systems, AAA recommends that automakers and safety organizations find some common ground in the naming of various features.

While truly autonomous vehicles remain years away at best, there’s no denying that more and more functions of driving are being taken out of human hands. Advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) are so widespread in 2019 that you can find one for practically any new make and model. An SBD Automotive report found that 93% of new car offerings as of last May had at least one ADAS feature. In spite of this pervasiveness, however, there’s relatively little in the way of a standardized naming convention for the myriad forms of assistance out there.

Given this pervasiveness, AAA has recommended that lawmakers, safety groups, and car manufacturers come together on nomenclature. While this space is changing by the day, AAA hopes that a report it released last month can get the conversation started. For the sake of consumer clarity, it’s important to have easy-to-understand language about this developing field. Here’s the new ADAS terminology the authors of the report would like to see replace today’s heavily branded messaging.

1)  Adaptive Cruise Control:

Definition: Automatically guides acceleration and deceleration to maintain a set distance between the vehicle and objects in front of it. Typically based on radar or computer vision. Sometimes able to come to a complete stop and continue again.

(Image courtesy of AAA/SBD Automotive.)

(Image courtesy of AAA/SBD Automotive.)

Marketed As: Smart Cruise Control, Intelligence Cruise Control, Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, Distronic Plus

2)  Lane Keeping Assistance:

Definition: Automates fine steering adjustments to ensure vehicle stays in driving lane. Can stop vehicle from crossing into a different lane or act as a constantly centering guide.  

(Image courtesy of AAA/SBD Automotive.)

(Image courtesy of AAA/SBD Automotive.)

Marketed As: Active Steering Assist, Intelligent Lane Intervention, Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist, Lane Keep Assist, LaneSense Lane Departure Warning Plus

3)  Dynamic Driving Assistance

Definition: Controls vehicle movement along both lateral and longitudinal axes. Basic steering, braking, and accelerating functions automated. Meets SAE definition of L2 autonomy.

(Image courtesy of AAA/SBD Automotive.)

(Image courtesy of AAA/SBD Automotive.)

Marketed As: Active Lane Change Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control with Steering Assist, Autosteer, Pilot Assist, Propilot

4)  Forward Collision Warning

Definition: A system that detects an object with which the vehicle will collide while traveling forward without intervention and notifies driver of the upcoming obstacle.

Marketed As: Collision Prevention Assist, Collision Warning with Brake Support, Forward Collision Warning, Proximity Warning Function

5) Lane Departure Warning

Definition: Tracks vehicle’s positioning within the current driving lane and alerts driver when the vehicle begins to drift over into a new lane.

(Image courtesy of AAA/SBD Automotive.)

(Image courtesy of AAA/SBD Automotive.)

Marketed As: LaneSense Lane Departure Warning Plus, Lane Keeping Assist System, Lane Keeping Aid, Lane Departure Prevention, Lane Assist

6) Blind Spot Warning

Definition: Notifies drivers when other vehicles enter their “blind spot,” a zone behind and to one side of the driver outside the view afforded by traditional mirrors.

(Image courtesy of AAA/SBD Automotive.)
(Image courtesy of AAA/SBD Automotive.)

Marketed As: Active Blind Spot Assist, Blind Spot Information System, Blind Spot Intervention, Lane Change Alert with Side Blind Zone Alert, Lane Change Assistant (Side Assist), Smart Blind Spot Detection

7) Rear Cross Traffic Warning

Definition: While moving in reverse, detects objects that cross into the path of the vehicle and delivers an alert.

Marketed As: Backup Collision Intervention, Cross Traffic Alert, Cross-Path Detection, Rear Cross Traffic Monitor, Reverse Traffic Detection

8) Parking Obstruction Warning

Definition: While parking, senses and identifies potential obstacles to that process.

Marketed As: Park Assist, Intelligent Park Assist, Active Park Assist

9) Pedestrian Detection

Definition: Monitors for pedestrians in the path of the vehicle and warns driver as they approach.

Marketed As: Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection, Pre-Safe Brake with Pedestrian Detection, Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection

10) Forward Automatic Emergency Braking

Definition: Screens path of vehicle for potential collisions while traveling forward, and when an obstacle is detected, automatically applies brakes to reduce or eliminate impact.

(Image courtesy of AAA/SBD Automotive.)

(Image courtesy of AAA/SBD Automotive.)

Marketed As: Collision Mitigation Braking System, Collision Warning w/ Full Auto Brake & Pedestrian and Cyclist Detection, Forward Collision Warning with Active Braking, Forward Collision Warning with Brake Support, Front Pedestrian Braking

11) Reverse Automatic Emergency Braking

Definition: Screens path of vehicle for potential collisions while moving in reverse, and when an obstacle is detected, automatically applies brakes to reduce or eliminate impact.

Marketed As: Reverse Collision Warning with Active Braking, Reverse Collision Warning with Brake Support, Rear Pedestrian Braking, Reverse Automatic Braking

12) Automatic Emergency Steering

Definition: Detects an upcoming collision and takes control of the steering function to reduce or eliminate impact.

Marketed As: Collision Avoidance Assist, Evasive Steering Assist, Forward Collision Warning with Mitigation Operation

13) Semi-Automated Parking Assistance

Definition: Takes over steering function during parking maneuvers while leaving acceleration, braking, and shifting gears to the driver. May be able to parallel park.

Marketed As: Active Park Assist, Parallel and Perpendicular Park-Assist, Enhanced Active Park Assist System, Parking Assistant, Parking Pilot, Parksense Active Park Assist System, Intelligent Park Assist

14) Fully-Automated Parking Assistance

Definition: Takes over not only the steering of the vehicle, but also acceleration, braking, and gear shifting during the parking process. May be able to parallel park.

Marked As: Active Parking Assist, Autopark, Parking Assistant Plus

15) Remote Parking

Definition: Handles the entire parking process without a driver in the vehicle. Shifting gears, steering, acceleration, and braking are all automated.

Marketed As: Remote Control Parking, Summon

16) Trailer Assistance

Definition: Helps driver in backing a trailer. Alternatively, may also help driver match up hitch and ball in the process of attaching the trailer to the vehicle.

Marketed As: Advanced Tow Assist, Pro Trailer Backup Assist

17) Surround View Camera

Definition: Uses the information from various camera feeds scattered around the vehicle to present a big-picture view of the vehicle’s surroundings, often at a “birds-eye view” angle.

Marketed As: 360-Degree Surround View Camera System, 360 Surround Camera, 360º View Monitor, Advanced Multi-view Monitor, Bird’s Eye View Camera, Intelligent Around View Monitor, Overhead View Camera (Area View), Top View Camera System

18) Automatic High Beams

Definition: Automatically switches headlamps on or off based on lighting, traffic conditions, and other environmental data. May also reposition the lights for better visibility.

Marketed As: High-beam Assistant, Intellibeam Headlamps, Intelligent High-beam Headlamps, Light Assist OEM 4, Dynamic Light System, Plus – High Beam Assistant, Active High Beam, Adaptive Highbeam Assist, Automatic High Beam, Automatic High Beam Headlamp Control

19) Night Vision

Definition: Helps drivers see at night by displaying sharp-contrast, high-resolution images of the path of the vehicle on the HUD or instrument cluster.

Mercedes' Night View Assist. (Image courtesy of Mercedes-Benz.)

Mercedes’ Night View Assist. (Image courtesy of Mercedes-Benz.)

Marketed As: Night Vision, Night View Assist PLUS, Night Vision with Pedestrian Detection, Night Vision Assist, Night vision assistant with pedestrian and large animal detection

20) Driver Monitoring

Definition: A system that detects various signs of drowsiness, inattention, or distraction in a driver and takes steps to bring their focus back to the road.

Marketed As: Alertness Assist, Attention Assist, Attentiveness Alert, Driver Alert, Driver Attention Alert, Lane Sway Warning, Intelligent Driver Alertness, Driver Attention Monitoring

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