Who Invented ADAS?

Introduction

One innovation in automotive technology that has revolutionized the driving experience over the years is Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS). ADAS has been integrated into the automotive industry for a long time and its role can’t be underestimated as it contributes a lot to modern vehicles. With many years of development, the ADAS technology changed people’s transportation and lifestyle. ADAS technology brought people who are far away from each other together and made the world smaller and smaller. ADAS technology’s importance can’t be removed in terms of automotive innovation and the inventors and pioneers of ADAS technology should also be recorded in people’s hearts. But the invention of this technology cannot be credited to one person, as it is the result of the efforts of many researchers and companies over decades. In this article, we will explore the origins and inventors of ADAS.

Who Invented ADAS?

The mid-20th century witnessed the emergence of driver assistance systems. During this time， power steering and automatic transmission laid the groundwork for more advanced driver assistance. However, it wasn't until the 1980s and 1990s that the term "ADAS" gained prominence.

Due to the complex history of ADAS, it would be unwise to attribute its invention to one person or one company. However, there are several notable people and or companies that have made significant contributions. Let's go into them one by one.

Ernst Dickmanns

Ernst Dickmanns, a German scientist and professor, contributed a lot to the development of ADAS technology. In the late 1980s, Dickmanns and his team embarked on the "VaMoRs" (Vorfeldfahrzeug-Monitoring und -Rechner-System) project. They want to create a computer vision system that can detect and track road markings and vehicles. This great project laid the foundation for ADAS technology.

Mobileye

At the beginning of the 21st century, Mobileye made a major breakthrough in ADAS technology by using vision-based systems to detect and analyze the surrounding environment. This has led to the development of lane departure warning, forward collision warning and pedestrian detection, which are already commonly used in modern ADAS systems.

Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes-Benz introduced a number of groundbreaking features that laid the foundation for modern ADAS systems. 1995 saw the introduction of the S-Class sedan, including features such as adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning and automatic braking. This marked the incorporation of advanced driver assistance features into production vehicles.

Bosch

Bosch has contributed to the development of various ADAS technologies, including systems for radar, systems for cameras and sensor fusion algorithms. Bosch is very important in radar and sensor technologies for functions such as blind spot detection, adaptive cruise control and automatic emergency braking.

NVIDIA

NVIDIA's expertise in artificial intelligence (AI) has made significant contributions to the development of ADAS. Its AI computing platforms have been used to develop advanced perception systems to accurately detect the environment in real time. NVIDIA has played a major role in autonomous driving and AI-based ADAS.

ADAS technology advances rely on research, development and collaboration by individuals, companies and organizations. From Ernst Dickmanns to Mobileye and other automotive technology companies, everyone is important to the development of ADAS technology.

When Was ADAS Created?

Driver assistance systems date back to the 1920s with the development of automatic braking systems (ABS) for aircraft. ABS was not widely used in automobiles until the 1970s, when Robert Bosch's patents were developed in conjunction with Mercedes-Benz. 

Speed warning systems have been around since the 1950s to help drivers ease off the gas pedal to reduce speed. A buzzer warns when the speed is too fast. This was new in the past, but today they are common. Although these systems were not known as ADAS technology at the time, they provided early driver assistance features.

ADAS was upgraded in the 1980s and 1990s with advances in sensor technology and computer vision. As a result, more sophisticated driver assistance features were developed. During this time, technologies such as adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning and automatic braking, which are important components of modern ADAS systems, have been explored and studied by researchers. Since then, ADAS technology has evolved rapidly, thanks to new sensors, algorithms and artificial intelligence.

Conclusion

The development of ADAS is not an easy thing. It is the accumulation and efforts of our pioneers. Without their hard work, we would not have had the opportunity to witness the progress of ADAS and to enjoy the ride safely and comfortably. ADAS technology is the result of research, development and collaboration among all companies and individuals. The inventors and companies mentioned above are just some of the people and companies that have made significant contributions to ADAS technology. Although many more inventors have not yet been mentioned, their contributions to ADAS technology remain indelible. As ADAS technology further evolves, a safer and more efficient driving experience is not far behind.

Reference:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advanced_driver-assistance_system

https://www.apex.ai/post/a-brief-history-of-automated-driving-part-three-toward-product-development

https://www.caranddriver.com/research/a31880412/adas/

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