Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) are auto-based intelligent features or systems that improve safety on the road in terms of crash severity protection and mitigation, crash avoidance, as well as, post-crash phases. They can also be defined as infrastructure or integrated in-vehicle based systems that contribute to several crash-phases. 

Nevertheless, some people consider ADAS technologies a luxury. Some people don’t agree with those including features like anti-lock brakes in the list of advanced driver assistance systems. Nevertheless, ADAS are features and systems that provide essential information while automating repetitive or difficult tasks. They also enhance car safety for road users. Here are the most essential advanced driver systems. 

     1. Advanced Cruise Control 

This is a very useful advanced driver assistance system, especially on a highway. When driving on a busy highway, a driver would constantly monitor the cruise control system of the vehicle for safety purposes. But, this system enables the car to automatically speed up or slow down in response to the specific actions of the truck or car in front of it. This system will shut off automatically below a specific speed threshold. However, some vehicles come with a system that can be used even during the go and stop traffic. 

     2. Automatic Braking 

Automatic braking is generally a pre-crash technology. It’s designed to minimize high-speed collision severity in case of the attention lapse of the driver. Automatic braking can prevent collisions. However, it’s typically meant to slow down the vehicle to a point of sustaining less damage or minor fatalities. 

     3. Adaptive Light Control 

The adaptive light control system is designed to enable a driver to see further and better when driving in the dark. It’s an advanced driver assistance system that enables the headlights to rotate and swivel to illuminate a roadway better via corners and in certain circumstances. 

     4. Blind Spot Detection 

A blind-spot detection system uses different sensors to give the driver important information that would be impossible or difficult to come by via other means. For instance, this system can sound an alarm after sensing an object in a blind spot. It can also come with a camera that transmits the image to the monitor or head unit. 

     5. Driver Drowsiness Detection 

Driver awareness or drowsiness detection systems employ different techniques to determine whether the attention of the driver is wandering. This system can look for the head of a driver to nod in the telltale motion to indicate sleepiness. It can also use a technology similar to that of lane detection systems. 

     6. Collision Avoidance System

A collision avoidance system uses different sensors to detect collision danger. Typically, this system works by sensing the proximity of objects like animals, pedestrians, other vehicles, and roadway obstructions. The driver receives a warning when collision danger is detected. The system can also take a preventive action like tension application to the seat belts and brakes pre-charging. 

     7. GPS Navigation 

A GPS navigation system is an effective replacement for cumbersome, bulky paper maps. It provides vocal directions to the driver thereby saving them from looking at the screen all the time. A GPS navigation system provides life data about traffic. Thus, the driver doesn’t have to listen to the radio to get traffic updates. 

     8. Intelligent Speed Adaptation 

This is an advanced driver assistance system that relies on different information to enable the driver to drive at the legal speed. It monitors the speed of the driver and compares it with local limits. As such, this system functions in some areas only. 

     9. Hill Descent Control 

This advanced driver assistance system makes descending steep inclines easier. Typically, this system automatically activates the brakes to slow down the vehicle. Thus, it uses the same mechanism that lets technologies like TCS and ABS to function. In some vehicles, this system can allow for the modification of speed through the cruise control system. And, the system can also be overridden by accelerating or pressing the brakes. 

     10. Lane Departure Warning Systems 

This system uses different sensors to ensure that the vehicle doesn’t depart its lane accidentally. Once this system notices a drift by the vehicle, it sounds the alarm to warn the driver of a busy lane. Thus, the driver takes the right action to avoid running off a road or hitting another vehicle. This system can also take a minor corrective action without the input of the driver. 

     11. Pressure Monitoring 

A tire pressure monitoring system provides information about tire inflation levels. This is a great convenience for most drivers because they don’t have to step out of the vehicle and get down on the ground to physically check the gauge of each tire. 

     12. Night Vision 

Night vision is an advanced driver assistance system that allows a driver to view things that would be impossible or difficult to see at night. This system has different implementations that can be divided into passive and active categories. When a night vision system is active, it projects infrared light. And when it’s passive, it depends on thermal energy from objects like cars and animals. 

     13. Automatic Parking 

An automatic parking system is not the same as for different OEM providers. However, they are meant to help drivers with parallel parking. In some vehicles, this system can perform the parking job automatically. However, automatic parking provides advice to the driver in most vehicles. This advice enables the driver to know how to turn the vehicle’s steering wheel and eventually stop after parking. 

Most ADAS depend on electronics. That means they come with firmware elements. As such, their development is governed by international safety standards like ISO-26262 and IEC-61508. What’s more, they keep evolving and improving. Nevertheless, these are the essential advanced driver assistance systems to watch out for when purchasing a new car.