Hyundai Mobis develops autonomous rear-end collision prevention technology
Hyundai Mobis has unveiled defensive driving technology that it says can prevent rear-end collisions.
Rear-side radars and front cameras with driving control technology detect approaching vehicles from behind and predict their movements to move the front vehicle out of danger. It operates when drivers use Smart Cruise Control (SCC) on the highway.
Hyundai Mobis says the tech, which is expected to hit the market soon, warns drivers and automatically maintains a safe distance when a rear vehicle approaches too closely.
“If the vehicle detects that a rear vehicle is driving at an extremely close distance of approximately 10 meters or less, it first emits a beep sound or displays a visual warning on the cluster,” a press release states. “If the situation persists after a certain amount of time, the vehicle will automatically increase its speed to maintain a safe distance. During this time, the rear-side radars, which are mounted on both sides of the rear bumper, detect the movement of the vehicle behind. Meanwhile, the front camera recognizes the lane and the vehicle ahead on the driving path to assist in safe acceleration.”
Hyundai Mobis notes in the release that some global automakers already include a rear-end collision warning system that adjusts seatbelt tension in preparation for impact, but don’t allow the vehicle to control itself autonomously.
“Hyundai Mobis has now enhanced its technology to enable the vehicles to independently adjust the distance between the front and rear vehicles and avoid dangerous situations,” the release states. “Currently, the company is developing a lane-changing function to escape dangerous situations, in addition to an acceleration control function that allows the vehicle to speed up on its own.”
Jung Soo-kyung, executive vice president and head of the company’s automotive electronics business unit, added, “We will actively protect the safety of mobility users by providing solutions that can intelligently handle not only front-end safety, but also dangerous situations caused by rear vehicles while driving.”
According to a study released earlier this year by the Partnership for Analytics Research in Traffic Safety (PARTS), automatic emergency braking (AEB) continues to improve as it cuts rear-end crashes in half.
The data showed an increase in AEB effectiveness, from 46% across model years 2015–2017 to 52% across model years 2021–2023, indicating that advancements in the technology have led to tangible improvements.
The study notes that for every 1,000-pound decrease in vehicle weight, a 4% reduction was measured in front-to-rear crashes for AEB-equipped vehicles.
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