The new Volvo XC90 becomes the world’s first production model with highly autonomous driving technology
China’s first autonomous driving test in Beijing has attracted the attention of the whole society and is a major demonstration of the world’s cutting-edge innovative technology in the Chinese automotive industry. How far is autonomous driving from us? Dr. Erik Coelingh, a technical expert at Volvo Car Group, said that in the field of autonomous driving, Volvo is leading the world. And the new Volvo XC90 also made a stunning appearance in this test.
The new Volvo XC90 is the world’s first production car with highly autonomous driving technology, and it will be launched in various markets around the world, including China, this year.
Volvo Cars will achieve autonomous driving through four stages: the first stage is driver assistance; the second stage is semi-autonomous driving; the third stage is highly autonomous driving; and the fourth stage is fully autonomous driving. The main difference between the third and fourth stages is that the third stage system can allow the car to provide long-term or short-term automatic control under the supervision of the driver. The driver only needs to control the car occasionally, so that his hands can be freed and he can engage in other activities, such as surfing the Internet, reading books, drinking coffee, etc. In the fourth stage, the car can fully realize autonomous driving without driver intervention. The first and second driver assistance and semi-autonomous driving systems have become mature, but there is still room for improvement and development in the future.
Highly autonomous driving and fully autonomous driving systems can effectively improve traffic congestion, improve traffic safety, save energy, improve comfort, and make the driving experience more enjoyable, thus becoming the development direction of future automotive technology.
The new Volvo XC90, a model with autonomous driving technology, once again defends Volvo’s unshakable leadership in "smart safety" technology with two world-first safety inventions in its IntelliSafe intelligent safety technology: road departure protection scheme and automatic braking technology at intersections.
The world’s first road departure protection solution protects against the greatest safety hazards
Driving off the road due to driver inattention, fatigue or weather is becoming the most common cause of traffic accidents and the biggest safety hazard in driving. Data show that 50% of fatal traffic accidents in the United States are caused by off-road. Volvo Cars’ major breakthrough in this field has no less impact than its invention of the three-point seat belt in 1959.
The new Volvo XC90 tightens the front seat belts when a vehicle is detected to be off the road and maintains this position until the vehicle is stopped. If the vehicle goes off the road, the energy-absorbing design between the seat and the seat frame can relieve up to one-third of the vertical impact of the vehicle when it falls, avoiding spinal injuries.
In terms of active safety, the new Volvo XC90 is also equipped with a number of safety technologies to avoid going off the road. When the driver accidentally leaves the lane, the lane departure assistance system will make the steering wheel heavier by increasing steering torque. The standard driver safety warning control system of the new Volvo XC90 also realizes the monitoring and warning of driver fatigue, distraction and other conditions. In conjunction with the rest area guide function, the driver will be guided to the nearest rest area to stop and rest.
The world’s first intersection automatic braking technology stops at the edge of danger
On busy city roads and highways, it is common to break into the opposite direction of the road due to the turn of the intersection. The new XC90 world-first intersection automatic braking technology can automatically brake when the turning encounters the opposite car, thus minimizing the damage of the collision or even avoiding the accident completely, helping the driver stop at the edge of danger.
In addition, the new Volvo XC90 is equipped with a comprehensive safety solution including: CitySafety City Safety system automatic braking function, rear-end preventive protection system, fully automatic parking system, queuing auxiliary features, and panoramic bird’s-eye view.
According to relevant statistical studies, about 1.20 million people die and more than 5 million are injured each year due to traffic accidents, and 90% of traffic accidents are caused by human factors. Volvo, with a long history of 88 years, has always been concerned about people and safety since its inception. It is still committed to the vision of "zero casualties and zero emissions" in 2020. Peter Mertens, senior vice-president of research and development at Volvo Car Group, said: "We have conducted extensive research on more than 40,000 traffic accidents and driver behavior data, and based on these results, we will make the new Volvo XC90 the safest car in the world."
"Each manufacturer has their own ideas about autonomous driving technology, but it is only Volvo that is really translating the technology into results and mass production," said Dr. Erik Coelingh, senior technical director at Volvo Car Group.
New Sensus system, humanized design brings intelligent and convenient user experience
Under Volvo’s innovative Sensus brand, the new Volvo XC90 features state-of-the-art touchscreen and software technology that allows the driver to intuitively navigate and quickly grasp the position and operation of function keys. "The way you operate with a touchscreen is so natural to you that you quickly become conditioned," says Peter Mertens, senior vice-president of research and development at Volvo Car Group. "Information, navigation and media selection are all located above the touchscreen for easy viewing; the phone, app icon and cabin temperature control are all located below the touchscreen for easy operation. The design logic behind all this is derived from research into user experience, wide applicability and state-of-the-art technology."
In addition, the large-scale touchscreen is connected to the fully digital dashboard in front of the driver, and driving-related information can be projected in real time on the head-up display under the windshield – together with the multi-function buttons on the steering wheel and advanced voice control system, forming an innovative human-machine interaction interface. The fully digital dashboard and head-up display ensure that the driver can easily access the information they need most. "It is our fundamental principle to create a simple and smooth interaction experience," said Thomas Inglat, senior vice-president of design at Volvo Car Group. "Therefore, we have designed the system to ensure that the driver can operate the system without taking their eyes off the road and hands off the steering wheel as much as possible." On the new Volvo XC90, there are countless innovative user-friendly designs similar to this system.
Leading cloud solutions for a fully connected experience
With cloud solutions from Ericsson and HERE navigation systems, the new Volvo XC90 provides consumers with a fully connected experience that not only enables remote content updates, but also simplifies the experience of the entire car. The Sensus system with a new interface integrates a wide range of cloud-based applications, including Internet radio, connected navigation, parking space search and payment, destination restaurant search, online music, and more. The combination of these applications and systems will depend on the regional market.
"On top of that, the new XC90 tells you when it’s time for a service and suggests when to book an appointment with a Volvo dealership. The introduction of the Smart Connected Service Schedule (ConnectedServiceBooking) app is the first step towards fully integrating dealerships into the connected ecosystem," said Dr. Thomas M. Müller, vice president of electrical and electronic engineering at Volvo Cars.
At present, the new Volvo XC90 has received 20,000 orders worldwide, earning high recognition and praise from the market. As the Nordic luxury flagship SUV, the appearance of the new Volvo XC90 marks the arrival of the first year of autonomous driving, showing Volvo Cars’ leadership in the field of intelligence and safety and demonstrating Volvo’s strong innovation capabilities, allowing unreachable autonomous driving technology to enter everyone’s life.