How Does Automatic Braking Work?

Automatic emergency braking might seem like a rather up-to-date and modern invention, but the truth is that the first autonomous emergency braking system for cars was detailed by George Rashid in 1954! Rashid’s invention was developed with some success with the help of Paul Dudeck, but was not put into large-scale development over concerns of consistency and liability.

In 2006, however, Mercedes launched the Brake Distronic Plus system which used long and short-range radar to bring the car to a full stop when faced with collision, even if the river does not touch the brakes! These systems are now quickly advancing and extending beyond the bounds of luxury vehicles.

What is automatic braking?

To put it simply, an autonomous emergency braking system is a technological advancement which uses long and short-range radar to detect hazards and prevent collisions. 

By and large, they have been successful in reducing avoidable collisions; research completed by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (or SMMT) found that since 2012, 66.8% of new cars have come with one or more self-activating safety systems as a standard. In this time, road accidents in the UK have fallen by nearly 10%, partly as a result of these innovations.

How does automatic braking work?

Different manufacturers have their own particular systems, of course, because of the way in which an automatic car braking system has to relate to the rest of the vehicle. As a result, no two systems work  in exactly the same manner; however there are some basic principles which carry across all systems.

First and foremost, every system will have some kind of sensor which records the distance between the vehicle and objects in front of it (usually other cars). This sensor will automatically monitor the space in front of the car, and is connected to the brakes.

Secondly, the automatic braking system will function in one of two ways: preemptively or reactively.

Reactive

Reactive automatic braking systems, or collision mitigation systems, seek to prevent collisions by first making the driver aware of hazards and only removing control once a collision becomes imminent. As such, they will warn you as something approaches your car. Only once an object crosses a predetermined threshold will the brakes be engaged. This gives you, as the driver, forewarning and time to make a decision, which is why many people prefer them.

In either case, once the required conditions for automatic braking are met, an automatic car braking system will trigger a technological response which engages the brakes of your car.

Applications and limitations

So, to make it simple, automatic emergency braking systems (or AEBs) are primarily used to reduce the chances of a collision and prevent accidents. They do this by automatically engaging a vehicle’s braking system when their sensors pick up an object within a certain distance of the vehicle. They do have their limitations, however.

First and foremost, some AEB systems do not work below a certain speed. This is quite low, usually around 5 mph, but it means that they aren’t generally effective against minor parking incidents or dings in slow moving traffic. Other AEB systems will also not work above a certain speed, sometimes as low as 15 or 20 mph. In these cases, the systems are designed to prevent minor crashes in urban areas, but some work up to speeds of 155 mph and are intended to mitigate more serious accidents.

However, AEB systems do have other uses. For example, they are being adapted for use in hazardous weather conditions such as snow. Most notably they are being applied to improve friction control, thereby lowering the chances that a driver will lose control of the car in snowy conditions. These technological advancements are still relatively new, but a recent study found that they are already having an effect on the confidence of drivers facing adverse weather.

In fact, this confidence and perceived security was understood by researchers to be almost as influential as the technology itself because it allowed drivers to plan and react in a more measured and assured manner.

Automatic Braking Systems Protect Road Users!

So, to sum it up, AEB systems protect drivers and road users by automatically engaging a car's brakes when a hazard is recognized. While this technology is still advancing, there are signs that it will soon be adapted to improve safety and prevent collisions in even the most challenging of situations. As a driver, you should always be vigilant on the road and you should be sure to keep your front and rear brakes in good condition, as well as having summer tyres and winter tyres with a strong snow grip.