Mahindra XUV700 Owner Shows How ADAS Is A Lifesaver While Driving In Heavy Fog: Video
Many North Indian states experience extreme chill and fog during the winter season. Pollution and poor Air Quality Index (AQI) in places like Delhi make things further worse. Thick smog often limits visibility. There are times when the visibility drops to an absolute zero. This makes things too tough for drivers and riders on the road. Bikes and cars often move extremely slowly during winter to avoid getting involved in a crash. Previously, a Mahindra XUV700 used ADAS to drive through dense fog safely.
The Blue Mahindra XUV 700 was carrying a decent speed even though the visibility was close to zero due to dense fog. How? Well, the driver used the XUV’s level 2 ADAS to drive with compromised visibility. The ADAS system on the XUV 700 uses radars, sensors and camera feeds for effective functioning. The presence of these sensors and Radar made driving in dense fog possible.
A user who goes by the name Pankaj Pal Traveling Habit posted a video of this smart use of ADAS on Instagram, and the same has sparked active discussions online. In the beginning, the host, who seems to also be the owner of the XUV700, talks about the ADAS and its efficiency. He says that the XUV 700’s suite can be of great use in dense fog. The car would provide full driving assistance to its driver, and the same would be of great use in foggy scenarios.
The XUV 700 has a completely digital instrument cluster. This screen would show the path in fog based on inputs from the camera and sensor units. The SUV will then be able to drive itself based on the same. The owner says that it is safe to drive when there is a long line in front of the on-screen car. This indicates no obstruction (vehicles/pedestrians) in front of the vehicle. The ADAS can thus give drivers ample confidence in fog.
Mahindra XUV700’s ADAS
The Mahindra XUV700 comes equipped with level 2 ADAS. The suite consists of features like Forward Collision Warning, Auto Emergency braking, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, Smart Pilot Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control, Traffic signal Assist, and high beam assistance. Three companies- Visteon, Mobileye and Bosch have come together to realise the various electric and electronic architectures of this vehicle, one of which is the ADAS. Mobileye supplies the ADAS technology for various other Mahindra models as well.
The XUV700’s ADAS suite functions based on a camera-radar setup. This ensures increased efficiency and accuracy. The calibration seems to be India-friendly, and Mahindra has incorporated a few India-specific details into the vehicles- like three-wheeler detection!
ADAS systems can be of two types- radar and camera-based, and just camera-based. The latter would have slightly inferior efficiency and accuracy compared to the first. Though expensive, the radar and camera setup gets a better hang of parameters like proximity as they employ radio frequency signals for getting accurate data on distance to nearby obstacles. This will be crucial in autonomous driving.
This system uses electromagnetic waves and their reflections to measure the distance, speed, and relative movement of the objects around. This makes them suitable for use in adverse weather conditions such as this when visibility can be heavily compromised.
In camera-based systems like what you see in the Honda Elevate, the decision-making is done based on inputs from the camera unit, and there is heavy reliance on algorithms. Such systems are less effective in low-visibility scenarios or inclement weather.