Mazda, Subaru, Suzuki and Daihatsu adopt updated active safety systems

Mazda introduces Adaptive LED Headlight and Driver Attention Monitoring

2015/04/14

Summary

i-ACTVSENSE
Four sensors used in Mazda's i-Activsense system
(photo: courtesy of Mazda)
Adaptive LED Headlights
Mazda's Adaptive LED Headlights (high-beam lighting mode with lights reaching the oncoming vehicle turned off) (photo: courtesy of Mazda)

 This report focuses on the automatic braking and other active safety systems available on Mazda, Fuji Heavy Industries (hearafter Subaru as it is the parent company of Subaru), Suzuki and Daihatsu vehicles.

 The automakers are expanding the availability of such systems and incorporating new technologies in their active safety systems. Mazda and Daihatsu launched improved versions in only two years after their first systems were introduced in the market. Subaru launched third version of the EyeSight about four years after the second version reached markets.

 Mazda's i-Activsense is a generic term covering a series of advanced safety technologies that use four sensors (millimeter-wave radar, quasi-millimeter-wave radar, near-infrared laser, and camera). Starting with the improved version that was introduced in January 2015, the i-Activsense features the Adaptive LED Headlight that maintains high-beam lighting but blocks portions of lights that otherwise reach preceding or oncoming vehicles. It also features Driver Attention Alert that monitors the driver's attentiveness and warns the driver to take a rest if necessary.

 Subaru's EyeSight offers Pre-Collision Braking and Active Lane Keep that use a stereo camera. The third version that was introduced in June 2014 features Pre-Collision Steering Assist that assists the driver's steering to avoid collision. In an emergency event the driver operates the steering wheel, the system uses the Vehicle Dynamics Control (VDC: FHI's trade-name for Electronic Stability Control) to control the vehicle's behavior as needed for avoiding collision.

 Laser radar-based collision damage mitigation brake system is adopted in many mini cars manufactured by Suzuki (sold as Radar Brake Support system) and Daihatsu (sold as Smart Assist system). Starting in December 2014, the system is available on Suzuki's commercial mini vehicles as well. In December 2014, the sonar sensor-based Pre-Collision Throttle Management function was added to Daihatsu's Smart Assist system. Models supplied to the four automakers by other OEMs are not included in the report.


Related Reports:
Nissan and Honda expand and improve active safety systems (March 2015)
Toyota: Introduction of active safety packages on all cars in three years (February 2015)

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