All You Need To Know About ADAS

What is ADAS and why do we need it? 

ADAS is an acronym for Advanced Driver Assistance System, which was invented to minimize or eliminate human error while driving cars. Ideally, the goal is to reach zero accidents on the road. ADAS is an amplification and correction of human potential by implementing digital technologies, sensors, cameras, artificial intelligence, and even machine learning in vehicles. 

Currently, commercially available systems demand human intervention, but ultimately, automakers are experimenting with cars that can drive by themselves with no human control. Such advanced systems will help with more productive time for the drivers who would have lost in driving their cars for hours. 

Also Read- Cheapest Cars With ADAS You Can Buy Right Now
 

History of ADAS

Well, ADAS might sound like it was invented in the recent times but it’s been in some cars since the early 1990s. It began with the use of automotive radar and it was used in the early concept models of Toyota in the 1980s. However, these cars remained in concept stage and did not see mass production. 

Eaton Corporation was the first to implement radar technology for providing a collision warning system in semi-trucks in 1992. However, the system was too expensive for the time. As years passed by, a few other basic ADAS features like reverse parking camera, blind-spot monitoring, traffic sign recognition, and night vision came into existence. 

Globally, around 35% of the cars come with some form of ADAS, while India still has a long way to match that, as only 20% of Indian cars on the road have ADAS support. The main reason behind this is a lack of infrastructure and higher costs. Say, for example, some cars, like Kia Syros, offer it as an optional extra, while most cars like Honda Amaze offer it for the top-tier trims only. 

How do the ADAS systems work? 

Just like a few other sophisticated technologies in cars, the ADAS systems follow a step-by-step approach for their functioning: Perception, Processing, and Action. Following the three-step process requires the help of multiple cameras, radar, LiDAR, and ultrasonic sensors, inertial measurement unit and GPS. 

The cameras, radar, LiDAR, and ultrasonic sensors are like a car’s sensory organs that help it to know about its surroundings, road markings, pedestrians, and other vehicles. After taking a note of it and collecting data from them, it is sent to the brain of the car, i.e, its control unit or central computer, for processing the data. 

Finally, the computer accesses the most appropriate response and controls the car with corrective actions like steering, braking or accelerating in case of advanced ADAS suite . It even alerts the driver with audible, visual and haptic feedback in case of preliminary ADAS suite. 

Level 0 ADAS 

As you might have guessed, Level 0 ADAS means no ADAS features in the car. It means that the driver is the sole operator of the car and is responsible for driving and reacting to emergencies. So, avoiding accidental incidents depends on the skill of the driver and is therefore always subject to human error. 

Even today, the majority of the cars in the Indian market belong to the Level 0 ADAS category. However, most of the Indian cars today come with active safety features like 360-degree sensors, ABS, EBD, ESC, and even blind-spot warnings. But these features and their usage, too, depend upon the skills of the driver. 

Level 1 ADAS 

As they say, something is better than nothing, and a few cars like the Kia Sonet and the Hyundai Venue get these features at least in their top trims. Level 1 ADAS includes features like adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, and lane departure warnings. Well, these features intervene when necessary and can aid the driver in better control. 

It can improve the response time of the driver and help in efficient braking and acceleration, depending on what lies ahead. Say, for example, a stray cattle or dog crosses the road and the driver fails to respond in time, then this system can brake the vehicle with superfast reaction, thereby avoiding any mishaps. Also, when cruising on highways, it takes the strain away from the driver by detecting road markings and the speed of the vehicle ahead to maintain a steady speed and safe distance from the car. 

Level 2 ADAS 

As the name suggests, progression, the Level 2 ADAS allows more control of the car during emergencies to avoid any mishap. It includes features like lane-keeping assist, automatic parking, and blind-spot monitoring over the Level 1 ADAS features. However, just like the Level 1 ADAS, the driver needs to be in full control of the car and cannot rely upon these features completely. Few cars like the MG Astor, Honda Amaze, and Kia Syros come with these features. 

In the Indian context, while driving on marked roads, if the car starts to change lane and if the system detects no driver intention, then it will steer the car back into the designated lane. Also, the car can park itself into a tight parking spot with the help of a 360-degree camera system and sensors. So, it’s an upgrade over the Level 1 ADAS, but still basic compared to more advanced ADAS available globally. 

Level 3 ADAS

With countries like the USA, Germany, and Japan already seeing the successful implementation of Level 3 ADAS, India needs to upgrade its infrastructure and technological prowess to reap the benefits of this system. The system uses advanced artificial intelligence and machine learning to make informed decisions while steering, accelerating, and braking the car. 

Level 3 ADAS requires multiple RADAR, LIDAR, and V2X (vehicle-to-everything connectivity), and the driver can take their eyes off the road; however, when needed, the system with alert the driver to remain in full control of the vehicle. A few cars like the Audi A8L, BMW 7-Series, and Mercedes-Benz AMG S 63 are known to offer these features in a few countries. 

Level 4 ADAS 

The Level 4 ADAS implements the latest technologies, and the car can drive itself in most conditions. So, the driver can focus on other important activities. However, Level 4 ADAS is usually restricted to certain areas in the world where the automakers have successfully tested the technology and find it safe to allow the car to drive by itself. Also, cars with ADAS Level 4 can request human intervention when required and have a physical steering wheel, accelerator, and braking pedals for the human driver to take over anytime. 

In China, Waymo’s autonomous fleet of taxis uses Level 4 ADAS with a success rate. To be honest, Level 4 ADAS will take many decades to get implemented in India owing to the high-quality infrastructure demand and disciplined traffic sense. Even if it does get available here, it will be very costly and limited to very few areas with a lower success rate. Also, with such advanced ADAS, Indians might just depend too much on it and fail to react when the need arises, thereby resulting in an unfortunate incident. 

Level 5 ADAS

Well, Level 5 ADAS sounds like it’s clearly out of a science fiction movie. But it will soon be a reality by the end of this decade, at least in very few developed countries, paving the way for wider adoption. Unlike Level 4, cars equipped with this technology will not be required to have a steering wheel or any other physical controls for the driver. 

The driver will be more of a passenger only and will need to set the destination on the map, and the car will self-drive to the destination without any human intervention. Many automakers like Tesla and Mercedes-Benz have already taken bold steps in this direction and are working full-time to make this fiction a reality. Tesla even presented a demo of Level 5 cars within a closed facility for the journalists to witness the future. 

What are the pros and cons of having ADAS? 

Just like two sides of a coin, the ADAS functionality in cars also has two sides: Pros and Cons. However, we believe in admiring and promoting the pros, while the cons can be taken care of in the future with improvements in technology and self-discipline. 

Pros: It allows for a more relaxed driving experience for the driver. It can react faster than a human in the most appropriate way. Plus, it negates human error and improves the safety quotient of the vehicle manyfold. 

Cons: Talking about cons, it can create a lot of reliance on the car systems while driving, which is not a good thing. Just like any mechanical device, ADAS can also experience hardware and software faults. The radar functionality can be affected by rain or snow, leading to error. 

What should India expect from widespread adoption of ADAS in the future? 

Well, the proactiveness of the government in making driving safe for the vast majority of the population in India is clearly seen. However, anything above Level 2 will demand a superior level of infrastructure quality, traffic management, and self-discipline to ensure the technology does its thing without major failures. 

Also, India is a cost-sensitive market, and most buyers will not be willing to spend extra on the heavily taxed vehicles. Even automakers might not be very interested in providing these sophisticated technologies at an accessible price point. So, currently, it’s time for India to focus on the good quality of roads and stricter regulations.