Safety Shared Across The Network
Volvo has just launched a cloud-based connected safety system that lets in their EX90, ES90 and EX60 electric models share real time safety warnings with each other in an instant. When one of the vehicles spots a potential threat, be it black ice, a deer, a cyclist or even roadworks – it sends the information straight to Volvos servers. Before you know it, other Volvos approaching the same spot are being alerted.
What We Can Expect
Four key alerts: large animal detection, vulnerable road users, roadwork, and accidents ahead. Its worth noting these are all pretty common hazards that can catch drivers out.
No fuss: No need to open an app or press a button. It just works
Data shared in real time: Location tagged and pushed to nearby vehicles
How It Works
Its a natural progression from what they already had – cameras and radar for active safety. This new update lets the data be shared out rather than just staying on the one car. The roadwork alert for instance can even pull data from municipal traffic management systems.
This system builds on some of the existing features they have – slippery road and hazard light alerts, which are already in most Volvo models in Europe, the US and Canada. But the smaller EX30 is not included
Volvo have been careful about minimising false positives, we all know the problem of “alert fatigue” where drivers just get so used to getting warnings they just ignore them. To avoid that they are rolling this out gradually. They are also making sure it works in all sorts of conditions.
Industry Impact
Some of the alerts will tie into that European Data for Road Safety program, which could let other manufacturers get involved too. That creates a broader, more collaborative safety network rather than just Volvo vehicles looking out for each other.
What Does it Mean?
S & P Global Mobility gave Volvo the only top award they give for “level 5 software defined vehicle” status, which means the car can just get updates via the internet without needing to do any new hardware installs. This new safety system is a great example of that in practice, showing that last years car can be made better, just with some new software.
The update also shows connected safety as a real new competitive difference maker – alongside traditional things like horsepower and range. We are starting to ask – can the other manufacturers catch up and will the regulators even decide to make this a requirement?