Plus, a leading provider of automated and autonomous driving software solutions, has introduced a groundbreaking AI-driven software named Plus Protect. This cutting-edge technology is engineered to significantly elevate the safety systems of next-generation vehicles, ranging from passenger cars to heavy trucks.
Comprehensive Safety Features
PlusProtect is a scalable technology that integrates several advanced features designed to enhance vehicle safety and operational efficiency. Among its key capabilities are high-performance Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB), expanded-coverage lane departure warning, traffic jam assist, predictive fuel optimization, self-calibrated sensors, and over-the-air updates. These features collectively provide a robust safety net, ensuring vehicles can adapt to varying driving conditions and configurations.
Moreover, PlusProtect includes optional features such as General Safety Regulation (GSR)-compliant systems and an easily-extracted event data recorder. This recorder captures detailed operational data of a vehicle immediately before and after a safety-critical event, offering valuable insights for accident analysis and improving future safety protocols.
Addressing Critical Safety Needs
The need for advanced safety systems is highlighted by statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which reveal that heavy vehicles are involved in approximately 60,000 rear-end collisions annually. These incidents often result in severe consequences, underscoring the necessity for improved safety technologies in all types of vehicles.
PlusProtect is designed to meet and exceed the performance standards mandated for AEB systems, which are required for all passenger vehicles and light trucks by September 2029. Additionally, it is anticipated that similar regulations will soon apply to heavy vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating exceeding 10,000 pounds.
Advanced Detection and Response Capabilities
Utilizing state-of-the-art cameras and radar systems, PlusProtect can detect objects at distances greater than 650 feet (about 200 meters) ahead. This extensive detection range is complemented by full situational awareness, allowing the system to accurately determine the vehicle’s location and the movements of surrounding objects. PlusProtect can predict the paths of nearby vehicles and obstacles, enabling it to assist drivers by responding quickly to potential collisions.
This predictive ability is particularly crucial in dense traffic conditions where rapid, automatic responses can prevent accidents. The traffic jam assist feature, for example, helps maintain safe following distances and appropriate speeds, thereby reducing the risk of rear-end collisions.
Enabling Higher Levels of Automation
Shawn Kerrigan, COO and co-founder of Plus, emphasizes the transformative potential of PlusProtect in advancing vehicle safety and automation. “While improved road safety is the foundation of all our solutions, we specifically developed PlusProtect to enable Tier 1 suppliers and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to create market-leading next-generation safety systems. High-performance collision mitigation features not only require a novel technology approach but also help pave the way for higher levels of automation in their product offerings,” Kerrigan stated.
Versatile and Adaptive Architecture
A key strength of PlusProtect is its flexible architecture, which can adapt to various sensor configurations and handle different vehicle platforms, including those used in the US and Europe. The system supports both left- and right-hand driving, making it a versatile solution for global deployment.
This adaptability ensures that manufacturers can seamlessly integrate advanced safety systems across a diverse range of vehicle models, meeting various regulatory and market requirements efficiently.
