The European research project, PReVENT, has presented an idea to Ford, called 'path prediction', to help vehicles best deploy safety features on frequently driven routes.

Path prediction technology links a satnav system's historic data on most frequently driven routes with active safety features such as adaptive headlamps - which would be optimally controlled for known bends and corners of a journey.

Part of Ford's Aachen advanced research centre, the research project is a joint research project, co-funded by the EU, and looks into improving road safety with innovative active safety systems.

Dr Wolfgang Schneider, Ford vice-president for legal, governmental and environmental affairs, said: “Apart from environmental issues, safety is the most important topic for the automotive industry. The past few decades have seen enormous progress in improving passive safety. However, the most significant improvements in vehicle safety can be expected from the implementation of major new active safety systems, which are those helping drivers to avoid accidents.”

Within the framework of PReVENT, Ford demonstrated how digital data from navigation systems could be used to support future active safety systems in cars. By using detailed digital map data, the vehicle recognises potential hazard areas and prepares itself to react.

Lane keeping systems, in particular, can benefit from the additional information provided by digital map data. Cameras recording lane markings lead these systems. If markings are deficient or missing, for example, in slip roads or intersections, the cameras alone cannot function properly. In such situations, digital data provides the necessary and accurate information to allow the lane keeping system to continue to function.

PReVENT (PReVENTive and Active Safety Applications) is a four-year research project ending in January 2008, which links 54 partners from industry, public and private sectors, automobile manufacturers and suppliers. The PReVENT consortium receives 50 per cent of its funding from the EU and has a budget of more than 55 million euros.

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