Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) are technical features designed to enhance vehicle safety by supporting the driver’s ability to detect and react to road hazards. ADAS uses sensors such as cameras, radar, and lidar to monitor the driving environment. Based on this data, the system can alert the driver or automatically take corrective actions, such as braking, steering, or accelerating, to prevent accidents.
ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems) can be categorized into two main types:
1. Passive ADAS
These systems do not take control of the vehicle but instead alert the driver about potential safety issues, leaving it up to the driver to respond appropriately.
Common Passive ADAS Features:
- ABS (Anti-lock Braking System): Prevents wheel lock-up during hard braking.
- ESC (Electronic Stability Control): Helps maintain vehicle control during skidding.
- TCS (Traction Control System): Reduces wheel spin during acceleration.
- Cruise Control: Maintains a steady speed set by the driver, without actively adapting to traffic.
2. Active ADAS
Active ADAS systems automatically take control of certain vehicle functions to help prevent accidents or reduce their severity. These features go beyond simply warning the driver—they can intervene when needed.
Common Active ADAS Features:
- Adaptive Cruise Control: Adjusts vehicle speed to maintain a safe distance from the car ahead.
- Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB): Applies brakes to avoid or reduce the impact of a collision.
- Lane Keep Assist (LKA): Gently steers the vehicle back into the lane if unintentional drifting is detected.
- Lane Departure Warning (LDW): Warns the driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane.
- Intelligent Headlamp Control: Automatically switches between high and low beams depending on traffic.
- Blind Spot Detection System: Alerts the driver to vehicles in their blind spots.
- Emergency Stop Signal: Activates flashing brake lights during sudden braking to warn drivers behind.
ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems) Levels from 0 to 5:
ADAS Level 0 – No Automation
- The driver has full control of the vehicle at all times.
ADAS Level 1 – Driver Assistance
- Single-function automation: Either steering or acceleration/deceleration is supported, not both simultaneously.
- Example: Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) – helps maintain a safe distance from the vehicle ahead.
ADAS Level 2 – Partial Automation
- The system can manage both steering and acceleration/deceleration under certain conditions.
- The driver must remain attentive and ready to take over at any time.
- Examples: Lane Centering + Adaptive Cruise Control (combined).
ADAS Level 3 – Conditional Automation
- The system handles all aspects of driving, but only in specific environments (like highways).
- The driver can disengage temporarily but must respond when prompted.
- This level marks the transition from assisted to autonomous driving.
ADAS Level 4 – High Automation
- The vehicle can drive itself without human input in predefined areas (using geofencing).
- Capable of handling most scenarios, but may request driver takeover in rare cases (e.g., extreme weather).
- If the driver does not respond, the vehicle can safely stop automatically.
ADAS Level 5 – Full Automation
- No human intervention required at any stage.
- The vehicle has no steering wheel or pedals – completely self-driving.
- The user only provides a start and end destination; the system manages everything else.