ADAS

ADAS stands for Advanced Driver Assistance Systems. It refers to a range of electronic technologies designed to aid the driver, enhance vehicle safety, and reduce the likelihood of crashes. ADAS rely on sensors such as cameras, radar, lidar, and ultrasonic devices, often employing sensor fusion and onboard processing to interpret the surrounding environment and trigger warnings or automated responses. They are intended to assist the driver rather than replace them.

Common ADAS features include adaptive cruise control, which maintains a set following distance to the vehicle ahead; automatic emergency braking, which can apply braking to prevent or mitigate collisions; lane keeping assist and lane departure warning, which help keep the vehicle centered in its lane; traffic sign recognition; and parking assistance. Other capabilities include blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alerts, driver monitoring systems to detect distraction or fatigue, and automated parking functions. Some systems provide limited automated driving in certain conditions, particularly on highways.

Most current consumer ADAS operate at SAE Level 2, where both steering and acceleration may be automated but the driver must supervise and be ready to take control. They are not substitutes for attentive driving and may require driver intervention in complex or adverse conditions.

Standards and regulation encompass functional safety, cyber security, and performance evaluation. ISO 26262 governs functional safety; ISO/SAE 21434 addresses cybersecurity; and consumer ratings from organizations like Euro NCAP or IIHS assess ADAS performance. Limitations include degraded performance in poor weather, sensor occlusion, and reliance on the driver for supervision.