THE MOTOR INDUSTRY OF JAPAN 2019

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Intelligent Transport Systems aim to radically improve transport safety, efficiency and convenience through the use of information and communication technologies integrating road users, road infrastructure, and vehicles. More than 20 years have passed since the Japanese government formulated its Comprehensive Concept for the Promotion of ITS in 1996, during which time the deployment of ITS technologies has seen broad expansion. Advanced navigation systems are in wide use, as are ETC (electronic toll collection) and smart highway toll stations using ETC exclusively. Numerous technologies developed on the basis of Advanced Safety Vehicle (ASV) research are also in application. Road SafetyITS and ASVsWider ITS Applications and Advanced Safety Vehicle Technologies● PRACTICAL APPLICATION OF ASV TECHNOLOGIESEXPANDING AVAILABILTY OF ASV TECHNOLOGIES IN THE MARKETAs a result of research conducted on the Advanced Safety Vehicle (ASV) concept, a wide range of vehicle safety features, including lane-keeping assist systems, full-range adaptive cruise control systems and collision-mitigation braking systems, have been developed in the area of safe-driving assistance. Most of these advanced technologies have already been introduced to the market (see page 27 for details on the status of their onboard installation).PROMOTING PUBLIC AWARENESS OF “SAFETY SUPPORT CARS”AreamonitoredAreamonitored2. Full-Range Adaptive Cruise ControlInformation from front sensors helps a vehicle keep a safe distance from the vehicle ahead through brake or speed control according to a preset vehicle speed.Monitoring of distanceto the vehicle aheadWhen vehicle ahead slows down, auxiliary braking is activated.Radar sensors and a camera continuously monitor the distance to the vehicle ahead.When a collision is imminent, full braking power is automatically applied and seatbelts are rapidly retracted.When the distance to the vehicle ahead narrows dangerously, multiple warnings are emitted and auxiliary braking is automatically applied.Auxiliary braking activatedFull braking power activated● THE “SAFETY SUPPORT CAR” Ver 1.0 CONCEPTSafety Support Car(or “Sapocar”)Safety Support Car S(or “Sapocar S”)Automatic braking (pedestrian collision avoidance)Accelerator suppression for pedal misapplication (1)Lane departure warning (2)Advanced headlamp control (3)Automatic braking (vehicle collision avoidance)Accelerator suppression for pedal misapplication (1)Automatic braking (vehicle collision avoidance) for low-speed vehicle operation (4)Accelerator suppression for pedal misapplication (1)“Sapocar S” ClassificationThe “Sapocar S” concept has three sub-classifications,based on the safety features installed.(1) In automatic-transmission vehicles only. (2) Including lane-keeping assist. (3) Automatic high-to-low-beam headlamp control, glare-free high beam headlamp control, or adaptive front-lighting system. (4) 30km/h or lower.3. Collision-Mitigation Braking System (pre-crash safety)Based on the distance from and speed relative to the vehicle ahead obtained principally by means of radar technology, the system’s electronic control unit calculates the risk of collision. In the event of such a risk, multiple warnings are emitted and auxiliary braking is applied. When a collision is imminent, full braking power is applied and seatbelts are retracted automatically. Lane departure warningLane-keeping assist1. Lane-Keeping AssistSensors (cameras) positioned on the vehicle monitor the road ahead and, through auxiliary control of the steering wheel, help keep the vehicle centered in the lane whenever the vehicle deviates from its course because of, for example, a crosswind or road surface unevenness.Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, National Police Agency and Financial Services Agency, as well as automobile-related organizations, have been working cooperatively to promote the widespread use of “safety support cars” (or “sapocars” for short), equipped with advanced safety features such as automatic braking, to help drivers of all ages avoid road accident occurrence and to mitigate damage/injury when accidents do occur. In line with this effort, Japan’s automakers have upgraded advanced safety technologies and expanded their onboard installation rates, and aim to offer automatic braking and accelerator suppression for pedal misapplication as standard or optional equipment in all new-model passenger cars by 2020. Meanwhile, they are actively providing opportunities for test-driving “safety support cars” in order to raise public awareness of them.Type:“Wide”Type:“Basic +”Type:“Basic” Passenger cars equipped with automatic braking; suitable for all drivers Passenger cars equipped with automatic braking and accelerator suppression for pedal misapplication; suitable especially for elderly drivers 26