Advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) are electronic systems in a vehicle that use advanced technologies to assist the driver.
ADAS uses sensors in the vehicle such as radar and cameras to perceive the world around it, and then either provides information to the driver or takes automatic action based on what it perceives.
ADAS features that provide information will most commonly include “warning” in the name. For example, if the vehicle detects an object such as another vehicle or a cyclist in a location where the driver may not be able to see them, features such as blind spot warning or rear backup warning will alert the driver. Likewise, if the system determines that the vehicle is drifting out of its lane, it could activate lane departure warning to alert the driver.
When these detections are coupled with a technology that takes action beyond a simple warning, ADAS becomes an active safety system – meaning the vehicle will “actively” control braking or steering. These features most commonly include “assistance” in the name.
ADAS also includes propulsion functions such as adaptive cruise control, which varies speed to ensure that a vehicle maintains a safe distance from the vehicle in front of it. More sophisticated ADAS features can even manage steering and propulsion without the need for hands-on control from the driver under certain conditions, such as highway driving or stop-and-go traffic.
