The Driving Woman

Each year the Automotive News Pace Awards reward innovation in the automotive supply chain.

This year, three of the 12 awards focused on parking and backing up. 

While I have used a lot of the new technology for parking, I have yet to see anything this comprehensive. But, I admit, I feel a bit worried about the future of my teenagers. With all this hi-tech stuff will they be able to park in a pinch, I asked Dr. Bill Sharfman, Director of Judging for the Pace Awards.

 “There is no substitute for learning how to operate your car properly,” he stressed. 
However, he explained that these innovations will lead to a safer, less anxiety provoking and more confident driving experience.



Following, an explanation of the three awards.

#1 Park4U by Valeo: The process of finding a parking space is begun by pressing the Park4U button. Lateral sensors scan both sides of the street and measure the lengths of empty spaces. When a parking space is detected, the driver is alerted to pull up and put the vehicle in reverse. The driver releases the steering wheel but retains control of the accelerator and brakes to stop, slow, speed up, or continue the vehicle’s progress at will. The parking sensors also inform the driver if there are any objects in the vehicle’s path, and the driver then decides if he or she must stop the vehicle.  At the end of the parking operation, if the vehicle is not aligned correctly, the steering wheels are turned towards the curb automatically, and the rest of the maneuver is carried out by the driver. This innovation was first adopted on the VW Touran and Tiguan.  It will soon be on 7 car brands, 20 models.

#2  Gentex Rear Camera Display (RCD): The patented RCD, developed by Gentex, seamlessly integrates a 2.4 inch LCD display into the center rearview mirror.  When the vehicle is put in reverse, the RCD displays a rear camera image in the rearview mirror image space.  When turned off, the camera display disappears. “A camera based system is the mosteffective way to see children, pets, or obstacles behind the car, that are not immediately visible in the rear view mirror or by looking out the back window of the vehicle,” says Dr. Sharfman.  This RCD was first seen in the Mazda CX-9, followed by the Ford F-150, Ford Expedition, Lincoln Navigator, and Lincoln Mark LT.

# 3 Xanavi and Sony’s Around View Monitor:

Nissan’s corporate commitment to innovating safety features led them to find a screen-based image that gave a clear view of all the space surrounding the vehicle, not just the space to the rear.  Enlisting suppliers Xanavi (screen-based electronics) and Sony (high capability cameras) resulted in the Around View Monitor (AVM).  This gives the effect of a “bird’s-eye view” camera, as though a real camera were suspended above the vehicle, looking down.

The Around View Monitor shows in split screen a 360˚ view of space all the way around the vehicle. When the vehicle is in reverse, a rearward view indicates the directional path and shows the view ahead when moving forward.

Initial appearance of the Around View Monitor in the United States came with the new 2008 Infiniti Ex.