Given this pervasiveness, AAA has recommended that lawmakers, safety groups, and car manufacturers come together on nomenclature. While this space is changing by the day, AAA hopes that a report it released last month can get the conversation started. For the sake of consumer clarity, it’s important to have easy-to-understand language about this developing field. Here’s the new ADAS terminology the authors of the report would like to see replace today’s heavily branded messaging.
1) Adaptive Cruise Control:
Definition: Automatically guides acceleration and deceleration to maintain a set distance between the vehicle and objects in front of it. Typically based on radar or computer vision. Sometimes able to come to a complete stop and continue again.
2) Lane Keeping Assistance:
Definition: Automates fine steering adjustments to ensure vehicle stays in driving lane. Can stop vehicle from crossing into a different lane or act as a constantly centering guide.
Marketed As: Active Steering Assist, Intelligent Lane Intervention, Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist, Lane Keep Assist, LaneSense Lane Departure Warning Plus
3) Dynamic Driving Assistance
Definition: Controls vehicle movement along both lateral and longitudinal axes. Basic steering, braking, and accelerating functions automated. Meets SAE definition of L2 autonomy.
Marketed As: Active Lane Change Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control with Steering Assist, Autosteer, Pilot Assist, Propilot
4) Forward Collision Warning
Definition: A system that detects an object with which the vehicle will collide while traveling forward without intervention and notifies driver of the upcoming obstacle.
Marketed As: Collision Prevention Assist, Collision Warning with Brake Support, Forward Collision Warning, Proximity Warning Function
5) Lane Departure Warning
Definition: Tracks vehicle’s positioning within the current driving lane and alerts driver when the vehicle begins to drift over into a new lane.
Marketed As: LaneSense Lane Departure Warning Plus, Lane Keeping Assist System, Lane Keeping Aid, Lane Departure Prevention, Lane Assist
6) Blind Spot Warning
Definition: Notifies drivers when other vehicles enter their “blind spot,” a zone behind and to one side of the driver outside the view afforded by traditional mirrors.
(Image courtesy of AAA/SBD Automotive.)
Marketed As: Active Blind Spot Assist, Blind Spot Information System, Blind Spot Intervention, Lane Change Alert with Side Blind Zone Alert, Lane Change Assistant (Side Assist), Smart Blind Spot Detection
7) Rear Cross Traffic Warning
Definition: While moving in reverse, detects objects that cross into the path of the vehicle and delivers an alert.
Marketed As: Backup Collision Intervention, Cross Traffic Alert, Cross-Path Detection, Rear Cross Traffic Monitor, Reverse Traffic Detection
8) Parking Obstruction Warning
Definition: While parking, senses and identifies potential obstacles to that process.
Marketed As: Park Assist, Intelligent Park Assist, Active Park Assist
9) Pedestrian Detection
Definition: Monitors for pedestrians in the path of the vehicle and warns driver as they approach.
Marketed As: Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection, Pre-Safe Brake with Pedestrian Detection, Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection
10) Forward Automatic Emergency Braking
Definition: Screens path of vehicle for potential collisions while traveling forward, and when an obstacle is detected, automatically applies brakes to reduce or eliminate impact.
Marketed As: Collision Mitigation Braking System, Collision Warning w/ Full Auto Brake & Pedestrian and Cyclist Detection, Forward Collision Warning with Active Braking, Forward Collision Warning with Brake Support, Front Pedestrian Braking
11) Reverse Automatic Emergency Braking
Definition: Screens path of vehicle for potential collisions while moving in reverse, and when an obstacle is detected, automatically applies brakes to reduce or eliminate impact.
Marketed As: Reverse Collision Warning with Active Braking, Reverse Collision Warning with Brake Support, Rear Pedestrian Braking, Reverse Automatic Braking
12) Automatic Emergency Steering
Definition: Detects an upcoming collision and takes control of the steering function to reduce or eliminate impact.
Marketed As: Collision Avoidance Assist, Evasive Steering Assist, Forward Collision Warning with Mitigation Operation
13) Semi-Automated Parking Assistance
Definition: Takes over steering function during parking maneuvers while leaving acceleration, braking, and shifting gears to the driver. May be able to parallel park.
Marketed As: Active Park Assist, Parallel and Perpendicular Park-Assist, Enhanced Active Park Assist System, Parking Assistant, Parking Pilot, Parksense Active Park Assist System, Intelligent Park Assist
14) Fully-Automated Parking Assistance
Definition: Takes over not only the steering of the vehicle, but also acceleration, braking, and gear shifting during the parking process. May be able to parallel park.
Marked As: Active Parking Assist, Autopark, Parking Assistant Plus
15) Remote Parking
Definition: Handles the entire parking process without a driver in the vehicle. Shifting gears, steering, acceleration, and braking are all automated.
Marketed As: Remote Control Parking, Summon
16) Trailer Assistance
Definition: Helps driver in backing a trailer. Alternatively, may also help driver match up hitch and ball in the process of attaching the trailer to the vehicle.
Marketed As: Advanced Tow Assist, Pro Trailer Backup Assist
17) Surround View Camera
Definition: Uses the information from various camera feeds scattered around the vehicle to present a big-picture view of the vehicle’s surroundings, often at a “birds-eye view” angle.
Marketed As: 360-Degree Surround View Camera System, 360 Surround Camera, 360º View Monitor, Advanced Multi-view Monitor, Bird's Eye View Camera, Intelligent Around View Monitor, Overhead View Camera (Area View), Top View Camera System
18) Automatic High Beams
Definition: Automatically switches headlamps on or off based on lighting, traffic conditions, and other environmental data. May also reposition the lights for better visibility.
Marketed As: High-beam Assistant, Intellibeam Headlamps, Intelligent High-beam Headlamps, Light Assist OEM 4, Dynamic Light System, Plus - High Beam Assistant, Active High Beam, Adaptive Highbeam Assist, Automatic High Beam, Automatic High Beam Headlamp Control
19) Night Vision
Definition: Helps drivers see at night by displaying sharp-contrast, high-resolution images of the path of the vehicle on the HUD or instrument cluster.
Marketed As: Night Vision, Night View Assist PLUS, Night Vision with Pedestrian Detection, Night Vision Assist, Night vision assistant with pedestrian and large animal detection
20) Driver Monitoring
Definition: A system that detects various signs of drowsiness, inattention, or distraction in a driver and takes steps to bring their focus back to the road.
Marketed As: Alertness Assist, Attention Assist, Attentiveness Alert, Driver Alert, Driver Attention Alert, Lane Sway Warning, Intelligent Driver Alertness, Driver Attention Monitoring