Community Forums

cliffm · 03-10-2015, 11:15 PM

Volvo has developed a new braking system that can help avoid rear end collisions (on the part of the equipped vehicle). It can automatically apply the brakes when necessary. They have a video demonstration of it posted here:

Volvo Develops Amazing New Braking System - BuzzPo

After watching this, I'm thinking it should probably be required equipment on every single motorhome on the road.

Cliff

Mr_D · 03-10-2015, 11:26 PM

I thought the Vorad system was pretty good but it won't apply the brakes as I remember.

Indy Glenn · 03-11-2015, 03:59 AM

My 2014 Fprd Explorer has a collision warning system - but will not apply the brakes. Just a lot of dings and red lights on the windsheild - similar to a HUD.

Now the Adaptive Cruise Control, it will of course keep a speed, but it will also keep a pre-sent gap between me and the vehicle ahead and will apply the brakes, hard if necessary, to keep the gap.

I would love to have this on the coach.

Oh - I also have a lane minder, it will "nudge" the vehicle back in the lane if it senses it crossed the lane markings.

If I demonstate it to people and take my hands off the steering wheel, it dings to remind me to hold onto the "wheel".

Technology!!!!!!!!

g

Bigd9 · 03-11-2015, 05:29 AM

My coach has all of that and more. I get warnings about following to close, allowing traffic to get to far ahead, going to slow, going to fast, lane changing assistance, simulated braking, distracted driving, keeping both hands on the sheering wheel, and very loud audible warnings.

I married her 43 years ago

Pigman1 · 03-11-2015, 10:54 AM

Sorry, but I do NOT agree with these new systems that apply brakes, slow the cruise control and otherwise control the vehicle that I should be in control of. These are just another way to further disconnect the driver from the control he should be exercising as the person in charge of the vehicle.

How many times have you had to move out of your travel lane to avoid an object or dead animal at one side or another of your drive line? How many times have you purposely had a considerable overtake on a vehicle ahead so you could pull out and RAPIDLY pass a slower car as soon as oncoming traffic clears? How many times have you been faced with a situation where either more speed or slowing down would get you out of a touchy position? In all such instances I WANT TO BE THE ONE WHO MAKES THE CRITICAL DECISION, NOT SOME PRE-PROGRAMMED COMPUTER SETTING decided by some engineer.

When every single vehicle on the road is using the same technology, programmed to the same parameters so all vehicles will react identically under the same conditions, I will go along with this stuff. Right now I'll even concede that many drivers on the road who are only using half of the one brain cell they've dedicated to driving may find this technology useful. But until it ALL have it, I'll stay in full charge of my vehicle and not have to second guess what the computer thinks I should be doing, as well as what all the other idiots on the road are also doing.

Just an additional thought. After you have become completely habituated to letting the computer system do all your thinking for you in these situations (and you pay even less attention to driving than you do now), how do you know when the system is out of adjustment, or just failed as you come up to a critical situation where the computer has always saved your bacon in the past? Will you be required to do a complete pre-drive checkout of the system like a preflight on an airplane? Yep. that'll happen every time. NOT!

LouieL · 03-11-2015, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bigd9

My coach has all of that and more. I get warnings about following to close, allowing traffic to get to far ahead, going to slow, going to fast, lane changing assistance, simulated braking, distracted driving, keeping both hands on the sheering wheel, and very loud audible warnings.

I married her 43 years ago

Ha ha

**TonyDi** · 03-11-2015, 09:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bigd9

My coach has all of that and more. I get warnings about following to close, allowing traffic to get to far ahead, going to slow, going to fast, lane changing assistance, simulated braking, distracted driving, keeping both hands on the sheering wheel, and very loud audible warnings.

I married her 43 years ago

We have the same warning system, and it works just like yours. Even though I have a slightly older model.

OB-One · 03-11-2015, 10:25 PM

We have the Vorad system on our coach. It's nice. It will reduce the fuel and apply the Jake brake, but not the service brakes.

The main thing to remember is that I'm the driver and I'm responsible for the proper operation of the coach, not the Vorad system. Sometimes its better to turn it off and drive the "old fashion" way.

Indy Glenn · 03-12-2015, 06:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bigd9

My coach has all of that and more. I get warnings about following to close, allowing traffic to get to far ahead, going to slow, going to fast, lane changing assistance, simulated braking, distracted driving, keeping both hands on the sheering wheel, and very loud audible warnings.

I married her 43 years ago

You're killin' me!!! Hahahahahaha (But how true!!)

Quote:

Originally Posted by OB-One

We have the Vorad system on our coach. It's nice. It will reduce the fuel and apply the Jake brake, but not the service brakes.

The main thing to remember is that I'm the driver and I'm responsible for the proper operation of the coach, not the Vorad system. Sometimes its better to turn it off and drive the "old fashion" way.

Absolutely - the human is always the chief cook and bottle washer, not to mention driver.

Any technology is there to assist.

g