Asia News: Toyota advances Brake Assist with navigation link
Toyota’s Brake Assist, which helps apply proper braking power, can now co-ordinate with a vehicle's navigation system.
Toyota’s latest Brake Assist engages when a driver suddenly applies the brakes in response to stop-sign-proximity warnings provided by the navigation system through its display screen and speaker system.
The navigation system is able to provide the warnings by drawing on stop-sign information contained within its map data. The Brake Assist optimally adjusts the braking force based on both vehicle-position information (obtained using a rear-mounted camera) and the actual force with which the driver has applied the brakes.
Toyota intends to offer the feature on vehicle models scheduled for launch in Japan in the near future.
Toyota hopes that this new technology, developed in conjunction with Aisin AW Co, Zenrin Co and Toyota Mapmaster, will help reduce collisions at intersections.
The system is currently limited to stop signs on roads with four lanes or more in Tokyo’s 23 wards and the cities of Yokohama, Nagoya and Osaka. Toyota plans to expand the coverage area in the near future.
