Volvo Cars to Warn Each Other of Road Hazards
Volvo is updating three of its electric vehicle models with a new hazard alert system that warns drivers of potential dangers ahead. The new connected safety feature enables Volvo cars to communicate directly with one another.
Volvo is rolling out a new "connected safety" feature to three of its fully electric car models, designed to automatically alert drivers to hazards on the road, such as animals or vulnerable road users.
Unlike alert systems based on crowdsourced data from popular navigation apps like Google Maps and Waze, Volvo's system relies on direct vehicle-to-vehicle communication. When a Volvo car identifies a risk on the road using its sensors and cameras, it automatically logs the location and transmits it to Volvo's servers.
These servers then relay the alert to other Volvo vehicles in the vicinity that have enabled the feature. The system is already operational in Europe, as well as in the United States and Canada. While Volvo has developed similar safety features in the past, this marks the first time its vehicles will share real-time information about road hazards directly with each other.
The technology is expected to enhance road safety, particularly in areas with high traffic density. Volvo has not yet specified when this feature will be available for other models or markets.